Boston University Terriers men's ice hockey

The Boston University Terriers men’s ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team that represents Boston University. They played their first game in 1918[2] and have won five national championships, while making 22 appearances in the Frozen Four.

Boston University Terriers men's ice hockey
Current season
Boston University Terriers athletic logo
UniversityBoston University
ConferenceHockey East
First season1917–18
Head coachJay Pandolfo
2nd season, 29–11–0 (.725)
Assistant coaches
  • Joe Pereira
  • Kim Brandvold
  • Brian Daccord
CaptainCase McCarthy
Alternate captain(s)
ArenaAgganis Arena
Boston, Massachusetts
Student sectionThe Dog Pound
ColorsScarlet and white[1]
   
Fight songGo BU
MascotRhett the Boston Terrier
NCAA Tournament championships
1971, 1972, 1978, 1995, 2009
NCAA Tournament Runner-up
1950, 1967, 1991, 1994, 1997, 2015
NCAA Tournament Frozen Four
1950, 1951, 1953, 1960, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2009, 2015, 2023
NCAA Tournament appearances
1950, 1951, 1953, 1960, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1984, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023
Conference Tournament championships
1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1986, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2006, 2009, 2015, 2018, 2023
Conference regular season championships
1965, 1967, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2006, 2009, 2015, 2017, 2023
Current uniform

BU has won 12 major conference tournament championships as well as 31 titles in the historic Beanpot tournament featuring the four major Boston collegiate hockey teams. BU played in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) from 1961 to 1984, winning five tournament championships; and has since competed in the Hockey East Association, winning seven tournament titles. Ice hockey is the most popular sport at Boston University and has a large fan base on campus and among BU alumni nationwide.

Season-by-season results edit

[3]

National Championships edit

The Terriers have won five national championships, and are the only eastern team to win back-to-back NCAA titles. They won their first title in 1971 and repeated in 1972, with both titles won under head coach Jack Kelley.[4] BU won their other three titles under head coach Jack Parker, in 1978, 1995, and 2009.[4] In 1972, 1995, and 2009, BU won the "triple crown," consisting of the Beanpot, conference tournament and NCAA championships. In 1995 and 2009, the Terriers also won the Hockey East regular season title, giving the team four major trophies in a single season. The Terriers have appeared in the Frozen Four 22 times and were the runners-up on five occasions. BU has made it to the NCAA Tournament an additional ten times without advancing to the Frozen Four, in 1984, 1986, 1992, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2012, and 2015.

National Championships
1971 (28–2–1, defeated Minnesota in NCAA final, 4–2)
1972 (26–4–1, defeated Cornell in NCAA final, 4–0)
1978 (30–2, defeated Boston College in NCAA final, 5–3)
1995 (31–6–3, defeated Maine in NCAA final, 6–2)
2009 (35–6–4, defeated Miami University in NCAA final, 4–3 in overtime)

Runners-up in 1950, 1967, 1991, 1994, 1997, 2015

ECAC Conference Championships edit

BU competed in the ECAC from 1961 to 1984, winning six regular-season titles and five tournament championships.

ECAC Tournament Champions.
1972 (defeated Cornell in final, 4–1)
1974 (defeated Harvard in final, 4–2)
1975 (defeated Harvard in final, 7–3)
1976 (defeated Brown in final, 9–2)
1977 (defeated New Hampshire in final, 8–6)

Hockey East Conference Championships edit

BU has competed in the Hockey East conference since the 1984–85 season, winning nine ten-season titles and eight tournament championships.

Hockey East Tournament Champions
1986 (defeated Boston College in final, 9–4)
1991 (defeated Maine in final, 4–3 in overtime)
1994 (defeated UMass Lowell in final, 3–2)
1995 (defeated Providence in final, 3–2)
1997 (defeated New Hampshire in final, 4–2)
2006 (defeated Boston College in final, 2–1 in overtime)
2009 (defeated UMass Lowell in final, 1–0)
2015 (defeated UMass Lowell in final, 5–3)
2018 (defeated Providence in final, 2–0)
2023 (defeated Merrimack in final, 3–2 in overtime)

Beanpot results edit

Boston University is sometimes jokingly referred to as “Beanpot University”[5] because of its success in the annual mid-season hockey tournament called the Beanpot. This highly anticipated single-elimination tournament is contested by Boston University, Northeastern University, Harvard University, and Boston College, with the winner receiving the coveted Beanpot trophy[6] and bragging rights over its Boston rivals. The four-team tournament is played on the first two Mondays of February at the TD Garden. Of the 62 Beanpots played since the 1952–1953 season, Boston University has been victorious on 31 occasions. The Terriers' last win came in 2022 as they defeated Northeastern University 1-0 in the final round.

List of Beanpot championships: 1958, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2015, 2022

Recent seasons edit

2009–2010 edit

BU's season started off with a banner-raising ceremony to commemorate the previous season's Beanpot, Hockey East and NCAA championship victories. But it was a disappointing year for the Terriers overall. BU lost six of its first eight games, and the team finished with an 18–17–3 record that was not good enough to secure a berth in the NCAA tournament. The season's second half was better than the first, with BU defeating Boston College in a unique game played outdoors at Fenway Park, one of nine wins in a span of 12 games. But the Terriers lost to BC in the title game of the Beanpot tournament and to Maine in the semifinals of the Hockey East tournament, putting an end to BU's defense of its national championship.

2008–2009 edit

The Terriers ended the season as national champions with a 35–6–4 record, setting a team high for games won. They finished the season ranked #1 in both the USCHO.com/CBS College Sports Poll and the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll, earning the #1 overall seed in the 2009 NCAA championship. BU won a school record 7 championships: the Ice Breaker Invitational, the Denver Cup, the Beanpot, the Hockey East regular season title, the Hockey East tournament, the NCAA Northeast Regional, and finally, the National Championship. The team's success was aided by a strong freshman class (especially goaltender Kieran Millan) and the decisions of senior defenseman Matt Gilroy and sophomore forward Colin Wilson to stick with the team instead of taking offers to go pro.

Following victories against the Ohio State Buckeyes, the UNH Wildcats, and the University of Vermont Catamounts, they defeated the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks 4–3 in OT to capture their first National Championship since 1995 (their fifth ever, and Parker's third as coach). BU trailed 3–1 with one minute left in the game, but scored 2 goals in 42 seconds to tie the score and force sudden death overtime. Sophomore defenseman Colby Cohen scored the game-winning goal on a shot that deflected off a Miami player. The championship game brought the senior class to 100 wins in four seasons.

Longtime head coach Jack Parker, a former Terrier, achieved his 800th win in the January 30th game against Merrimack College. He became only the third college hockey coach to do so, and the first to have all 800 wins be with the same team.

In the Beanpot, the Terriers beat Harvard University 4–3 in the first round and then Northeastern University 5–2 in the championship round. In the Hockey East tournament, they defeated Maine in the quarterfinals, Boston College in the semifinals, and UMass Lowell in the championship game. Down by one goal in the third period against BC, the Terriers scored three goals in 44 seconds – a tournament record. BU defeated Lowell 1–0, with goaltender Kieran Millan earning tournament MVP honors with the shutout.

BU was ranked #1 in the country for most of the season, thanks in part to non-conference victories over powerhouses such as Michigan, North Dakota, Michigan State and Denver. But Northeastern held the top spot in Hockey East play for most of 2008–09, thanks to a better conference record. BU finally overtook Northeastern on the final day of the season, clinching the Hockey East regular season title by one point with a 3–0 victory at home over Providence.

At the end of the season, Gilroy was awarded the Hobey Baker Award, given to the top NCAA men's ice hockey player each year. Colin Wilson had also been among the three finalists. Kieran Millan was named the national Rookie of the Year. During the celebratory parade in Boston a few days after the national championship game, it was announced that Parker had been voted NCAA coach of the year.

2007–2008 edit

BU struggled through the first half of the 2007–2008 season. Inconsistency was a major problem, BU lost to Boston College in the first round of the Beanpot, but played well in the second half of the season to finish in 2nd place in Hockey East. BU's season ended with a loss to Vermont in the Hockey East tournament semifinals. With a 19–17–4 record, BU was not ranked high enough to make the NCAA Tournament.

2006–2007 edit

BU went 20–10–9 in 06-07, finishing in third place in Hockey East and advancing to the NCAA tournament. The team won its 28th total and third consecutive Beanpot tournament title, defeating rival Boston College in overtime.[7] At the end of the season, BU continued their surge for the NCAA tournament by earning home ice in the Hockey East quarterfinals and knocking off the University of Vermont two games to one. BU advanced to the Hockey East semifinals at the TD Banknorth Garden but suffered a devastating 6–2 loss to Boston College, the eventual tournament champions and national runners-up. Boston University was then placed in the NCAA tournament as the 2nd seed in the Midwest Regional (Grand Rapids, MI) and 9th seed overall.[8] BU met 10th overall seed Michigan State University in the first round and lost 5–1. Michigan State eventually went on to win the national championship. Highlights from the season include multiple awards by senior goaltender John Curry, including Hockey East Player of the Year, All-America First Team, national leader in shutouts, and Hobey Baker Award finalist.[9][10] Senior Sean Sullivan and sophomore Matt Gilroy were named to the All-America Second Team. Junior Pete MacArthur finished first on the team in all scoring categories with 36 total points off 16 goals and 20 assists.[11]

2005–2006 edit

The first full season in Agganis Arena was in many ways a return to glory for the BU hockey program. The Terriers finished 26–10–4, winning the Beanpot, Hockey East regular season title, the Hockey East tournament championship, and a first-round game in the NCAA tournament. BU won hard-fought games against rival Boston College in the Beanpot and Hockey East title game, ultimately winning 18 of their final 21 games heading into the NCAA tournament (with one loss and two ties). The regular season title was BU's first since 2000 and the HE tournament title was its first since 1997.

BU defeated Nebraska-Omaha 9–2 in the first round of the NCAAs, but suffered a 5–0 loss to BC in the regional final. The 2006 squad was led by seniors such as John Laliberte and captains Brad Zancanaro and David Van der Gulik, and received many contributions from underclassmen such as junior goalie John Curry and sophomore forward Pete MacArthur.

The season was also notable for the entrance of six freshmen who would make significant contributions in their inaugural season and ultimately win a national title as seniors. Three of these first-year players – Jason Lawrence, Chris Higgins and Brandon Yip – collaborated to set up perhaps BU's biggest goal of 2006, an overtime strike to win the Hockey East championship over Boston College (Yip tipped in the goal off assists from Lawrence and Higgins).

2004–2005 edit

After a disappointing 2003–2004 season in which BU lost the Beanpot and finished with a losing record, the Terriers were able to turn it around with a 23–14–4 record and an appearance in the 2005 NCAA tournament. BU won the Beanpot over Northeastern with an overtime goal by freshman Chris Bourque, son of Boston Bruins defensemen and Hockey Hall of Famer Ray Bourque.

BU opened the new Harry Agganis Arena midway through the season, with a Jan. 3, 2005 victory over Minnesota, which was ranked number one in the country at the time. Agganis Arena replaced Walter Brown Arena, which had been BU's home ice since 1971.

BU Terriers in the Olympics edit

BU Terriers on the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey team edit

The' Miracle on Ice' team that defeated the Soviet Union and won the gold medal during the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, featured four Boston University players including Olympic team captain Mike Eruzione. Along with Dave Silk, Jack O'Callahan, and goalie Jim Craig, these Terriers played key roles and were the only players from eastern schools on a U.S. squad composed predominantly of Minnesotans.

Eruzione scored the famous winning goal against the Soviets with 10 minutes remaining, and Craig made 36 saves to preserve the 4–3 victory. Silk, who assisted on the United States' second and third goals, was mentioned in sportscast Al Michaels' final call: "Eleven seconds, you've got ten seconds, the countdown going on right now! Morrow, up to Silk. Five seconds left in the game. Do you believe in miracles? Yes!"

O'Callahan, who had injured his left knee in an exhibition match, returned for the famous "Miracle on Ice" game and in his first seconds on the ice, delivered a massive hit on a Soviet player that turned the puck over to the Americans near the Soviet defensive zone. The hit caught the Soviets off guard and set up a goal scored by William "Buzz" Schneider to tie the game at 1–1.

After defeating the Soviet Union squad, the U.S. players went on to defeat Finland to secure the gold medal.

Boston University Olympians edit

This is a list of Boston University alumni who have played on an Olympic team.[12]

Name Position BU Tenure Team Year Finish
Gordon Smith Forward   USA 1932, 1936   Silver,   Bronze
Paul Rowe Forward 1932–1935   USA 1936   Bronze
John Lax Forward 1932–1935   USA 1936   Bronze
Jack Garrity Forward 1949–1951   USA 1948 DQ
Joseph Czarnota Forward 1948–1951   USA 1952   Silver
Don Rigazio Goaltender   USA 1956   Silver
Richard Rodenhiser Forward 1951–1953   USA 1956, 1960   Silver,   Gold
Olivier Prechac Forward 1970–1971   France 1968 11th
Tim Regan Goaltender 1969–1972   USA 1972   Silver
Herb Wakabayashi Forward 1966–1969   Japan 1972, 1976, 1980 9th, 9th, 12th
Dick Lamby Defenseman 1976–1978   USA 1976 5th
Dick Decloe Defenseman 1972–1973   Netherlands 1980 9th
Mike Eruzione Left Wing 1973–1977   USA 1980   Gold
Jim Craig Goaltender 1976–1979   USA 1980   Gold
Jack O'Callahan Defenseman 1975–1979   USA 1980   Gold
Dave Silk Right Wing 1976–1979   USA 1980   Gold
Grant Goegan Left Wing 1978–1980   Italy 1984 9th
Scott Young Right Wing 1985–1987   USA 1988, 1992, 2002 7th, 4th,   Silver
Clark Donatelli Center 1984–1987   USA 1988, 1992 7th, 4th
Scott Lachance Defenseman 1990–1991   USA 1992 4th
Shawn McEachern Left Wing 1988–1991   USA 1992 4th
Joe Sacco Right Wing 1987–1990   USA 1992 4th
Keith Tkachuk Right Wing 1990–1991   USA 1992, 1998, 2002, 2006 4th, 6th,   Silver, 8th
David Quinn Defenseman 1984–1988   USA 1992
Adrian Aucoin Defenseman 1991–1992   Canada 1994   Silver
John Lilley Right Wing 1991–1993   USA 1994 4th
David Sacco Center 1988–1993   USA 1994 8th
Tony Amonte Right Wing 1989–1991   USA 1998, 2002 6th,   Silver
Chris Drury Left Wing 1994–1998   USA 2002, 2006, 2010   Silver, 8th,   Silver
Tom Poti Defenseman 1996–1998   USA 2002   Silver
Rick DiPietro Goaltender 1999–2000   USA 2006 8th
Ryan Whitney Defenseman 2001–2004   USA 2010   Silver
Kevin Shattenkirk Defenseman 2007–2010   USA 2014 4th
Chris Bourque Left Wing 2004–2005   USA 2018 7th
Jordan Greenway Left Wing 2015–2018   USA 2018 7th
Matt Gilroy Defenseman 2005–2009   USA 2018 7th
John McCarthy Left Wing 2005–2009   USA 2018 7th
David Warsofsky Defenseman 2008–2011   USA 2022 5th
Drew Commesso Goaltender 2020–Present   USA 2022 5th

† cut from team before Olympics.

Rivals edit

Boston College edit

Boston University's biggest rival is Boston College. Referred to as the Green Line Rivalry or The Battle of Commonwealth Avenue because of the proximity of the schools and the means of transportation to get from one campus to another,[13] the Terriers and Eagles have played each other well over 200 times since their first meeting in 1918. The rivalry is considered one of the best in NCAA hockey, both in terms of intensity and quality.[14] The schools have combined for ten national championships and even played each other in the NCAA championship game in 1978, with BU skating off to a 5–3 victory.[15]

After the 1978 national championship victory over Boston College, BU co-captain Jack O'Callahan was quoted as saying "We shouldn't have to beat BC for the nationals. Hell, we can do that anytime."[16] But every game between the teams is highly anticipated. "You could wake up both teams at three o'clock in the morning and tell 'em we're playing on Spy Pond in Arlington, and they'd be there," BU coach Jack Parker once said.[17]

BU and BC have played at least once a year since 1946, and at least twice a year since 1949. They usually play two Hockey East regular season games each year, and typically face each other once more in February during the Beanpot, with BU holding a substantial edge in tournament and head-to-head victories. The teams have twice played each other for the Hockey East Championship, in 1986 and 2006, with BU winning both titles. In 2005–06, BU and BC played six games—three in the Hockey East regular season, and once each in the Beanpot, Hockey East tournament, and NCAA tournament. At every game, regular season and playoffs, the spirited student sections – BU's nicknamed the Dog Pound and BC's the Superfans – are seated in proximity to each other and hurl insults and chants back and forth. BU and BC ratcheted up their rivalry on Jan. 8, 2010, when they played each other at Fenway Park in front of 38,000 fans, the biggest crowd to ever watch the teams play. BU won the game, 3–2.

Sports Illustrated columnist Steve Rushin went so far as to call BU-BC the biggest rivalry in all of sports.[17] Despite substantial bitterness between the fan bases of the two schools, the hockey teams and coaches generally agree that the magnitude of the rivalry has benefited both hockey programs. "The best thing that ever happened to BU hockey was BC," Parker told Rushin.

The first varsity ice hockey game BU ever played was a 3–1 loss to Boston College on February 6, 1918.[2] As of the 2010–11 season, BU led the all-time rivalry 125–112, with 17 ties.

Cornell edit

The rivalry between Boston University and Cornell dates to 1925 when Boston University beat Cornell 7–2. The teams played each other in the NCAA championship game in both 1967 and 1972, with Cornell defeating BU 4–1 in '67 and the Terriers taking the '72 title with a 4–0 win. Between the years 1967 and 1977, Boston University and Cornell won the ECAC crown five times each.

The schools renewed the rivalry over Thanksgiving weekend of 2007, with a sold out game dubbed "Red Hot Hockey" at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. After scoring three goals in the first several minutes of play, BU went on to win 6–3. Red Hot Hockey returned to Madison Square Garden on November 28, 2009, with the two teams skating to a 3–3 tie after one overtime period. The event again sold out the arena. The third meet up on November 26, 2011, resulted in a 2–1 win for BU in overtime.

University of Maine edit

In the first half of the 1990s, the BU-Maine rivalry was one of the most talked about in college hockey, with the teams battling each other both for eastern and national college hockey supremacy. Boston University defeated Maine in the 1991 Hockey East championship game, in overtime, and Maine returned the favor by soundly beating BU in the HE title game in 1993. In the '93 season, Maine won the national title and lost only one game all year, and it came at the hands of their rivals at BU. Maine had to forfeit most of its wins in the 1994 season because of recruiting violations. BU coach Jack Parker criticized the Maine program, calling the use of ineligible players a "black mark on the league."[18] In 1995, both teams were at the top of their games and faced off in the NCAA championship game in Providence, R.I., which BU won 6–2.

Harvard and Northeastern edit

BU's rivalries with Harvard and Northeastern stem mainly from regular meetings in the Beanpot, the tournament in which Boston bragging rights are on the line. BU also plays Northeastern three times each year in conference regular season play, and sometimes plays the ECAC-based Harvard in a nonconference game early in the season. BU, BC, Northeastern and Harvard formerly played their home games in the Boston Arena,[19] the site of the first Beanpot in 1952 and the current home of Northeastern. BU stopped playing home games in Boston Arena when it opened the Walter Brown Arena in 1971.[20]

Awards and honors edit

Hobey Baker Award winners edit

 
2009 Hobey Baker winner Matt Gilroy

The Hobey Baker Award is an annual award given to the top National Collegiate Athletic Association men's ice hockey player. It is named for hockey player and World War I hero Hobey Baker.

Hobey Baker Award winners
1998 Chris Drury
2009 Matt Gilroy
2015 Jack Eichel

Forward Chris Drury became BU's first Hobey winner after a senior campaign in which he scored 28 goals and assisted on 29 more. Drury's 113 career goals are the most in BU history. Drury has gone on to a successful NHL career, which included the 1999 rookie of the year award and a 2001 Stanley Cup championship with Colorado. After captaining BU as a senior, Drury has also worn the captain's "C" for both the Buffalo Sabres and New York Rangers.

Defenseman Matt Gilroy won BU's second Hobey Baker trophy after a senior season in which he scored 8 goals and posted 29 assists. Gilroy came to BU as a walk-on and became a three-time All-American. After winning the Hobey and national championship, Gilroy signed a two-year contract with the New York Rangers.

Forward Jack Eichel won the Hobey Baker in 2015, after putting a 71-point year in only 40 games, becoming the third BU player to win the MVP trophy. He edged the two others nominees that year, Zane McIntyre from North Dakota, and Jimmy Vesey from Harvard University. Vesey went on and won it the year after. Following his stellar first year in BU, Eichel went on to be drafted second overall by the Buffalo Sabres, and would sign his entry level contract after, putting an end to his short NCAA career.

Other awards edit

NCAA edit

Individual awards edit

All-American teams edit

First Team

Second Team

ECAC Hockey edit

Individual awards edit

All-ECAC Hockey edit

First Team

Second Team

Hockey East edit

Individual awards edit

All-Hockey East edit

First Team

Second Team

Third Team

All-Rookie Team

† Hockey East made no distinction between first- and second-team all-conference teams from 1994–95 to 1996–97.

Travis Roy edit

On Oct. 20, 1995, BU raised its fourth national championship banner as it opened a new season, yet just moments later the program suffered its greatest on-ice tragedy. On that night Travis Roy, a freshman recruit who grew up in Maine, was paralyzed from the neck down just eleven seconds into his first college shift. The 20-year-old Roy crashed head-first into the boards after a University of North Dakota player, Mitch Vig, avoided his check. Roy cracked his fourth vertebra and was left a quadriplegic.

Roy missed a year of college, but ultimately returned to BU, earning a degree in communications in 2000. Roy has remained a presence with the BU hockey program, attending games and on several occasions joining his teammates on the ice to celebrate Beanpot championships. Roy, (now deceased), has become an inspirational figure for sufferers of spinal cord injuries. In 1997 he founded the Travis Roy Foundation[21] to raise money for research and individual grants, and in 1998 he published an autobiography titled Eleven Seconds. Roy remains close with Coach Jack Parker.

"It's very special to be a part of the BU hockey family," Roy wrote in a new afterword in the 2005 edition of his autobiography. "Coach Parker looks after his players long after they have played their last game for him."

In October 1999, Roy's #24 was retired, and raised to the rafters of Walter Brown Arena. Roy was the only BU hockey player to have been honored with a retired number until former head coach Jack Parker's number was retired in March 2014, though Roy was the only player to have his number retired under Parker's long tenure.[22]

Roy died on October 29, 2020, at the age of 45.[citation needed]

All-time scoring leaders edit

Career points leaders edit

Player Years GP G A Pts PIM
John Cullen 1983–87 160 98 143 241 163
David Sacco 1988–93 153 74 143 217 182
Chris Drury 1994–98 155 113 101 214 236
Rick Meagher 1973–77 124 90 120 210 170
Mike Eruzione 1973–77 127 92 116 208 70
Shawn McEachern 1988–91 120 79 107 186 153
Dave Tomlinson 1987–91 152 77 102 179 176
Mark Fidler 1977–81 116 77 101 178 144
Mike Kelfer 1985–89 139 83 89 172 115
Mike Hyndman 1967–70 88 52 119 171 105

Single-season points record:

Goaltending leaders edit

Notable coaches edit

Wayland Vaughan edit

Wayland Vaughan coached Boston University from 1928 until 1943, compiling an 87–82–8 record. Vaughan was far from the most successful coach in terms of winning percentage, but maintained the Terriers program in the face of both the Great Depression and World War II. Without any conference affiliation, Boston University played erratic schedules, with anywhere from 10 to 15 games per season.[23]

Harry Cleverly edit

Harry Cleverly, the BU coach from 1945 until 1962, guided the Terriers into the era of the NCAA tournament, which began in 1948, and brought BU to its first national championship game in 1950 and an additional three appearances in the tournament, which consisted of just four teams in those years. Under Cleverly's watch, BU helped create the Beanpot tournament and joined the ECAC hockey league.

Jack Kelley edit

Jack Kelley was the first coach to bring BU to the summit of college hockey. Kelley coached just ten seasons but appeared in four NCAA tournaments and won back-to-back titles in 1971 and 1972, his final years behind the bench. Kelley also won three ECAC regular season titles, one ECAC tournament title, and six Beanpots. Kelley recruited Jack Parker, who captained the Terriers in 1968 and became an assistant coach under Kelley.

Leon Abbott edit

Leon Abbott succeeded Kelley, and picked up where Kelley left off with a sterling 22-win season in 1972–73. However, eleven of his wins were forfeited due to an ineligible player. Six games into his second season, Abbott was abruptly fired for withholding information about two Canadian players who had played junior hockey in their home country. The ECAC had ruled them ineligible, only to be cleared to play by a judge. At a conference meeting, Abbott admitted not pressing the players to disclose the compensation they received as juniors. Although the judge hinted that the eligibility rules were unconstitutional, BU's administration was concerned enough about possible sanctions that it fired Abbott and named his assistant, Jack Parker, his successor.[24]

Jack Parker edit

Jack Parker is the longest-tenured and winningest coach in Boston University history. Parker's accomplishments are almost unparalleled in college sports. In 40 years, he won 876 games, the highest tally for a hockey coach who has spent his whole career at just one school, while winning 21 Beanpot titles, 11 conference tournament titles and three national championships in 1978, 1995, and 2009. Parker helped found Hockey East in 1984, when several teams broke away from the ECAC to form their own conference, and played a crucial role in building Boston University's state-of-the-art arena. The ice sheet at Agganis Arena bears his name – Jack Parker Rink. Parker was voted NCAA hockey coach of the year in 1975, 1978, and 2009, and his 30 NCAA tournament wins are among the most of all time. At the conclusion of the 2012–2013 regular season, on his birthday, Parker announced his retirement.

All-time coaching records edit

As of the completion of 2022–23 season[25]

Tenure Coach Years Record Pct.
2022–Present Jay Pandolfo 1 29–11–0 .725
2018–2022 Albie O'Connell 4 58–49–16 .537
2013–2018 David Quinn 5 105–68–21 .595
1973–2013 Jack Parker 40* 897–472–115 .643
1972–1973 Leon Abbott 2* 15–19–1& .443
1962–1972 Jack Kelley 10 206–80–8 .714
1945–1962 Harry Cleverly 17 211–142–10 .595
1940–1941 Syd Borofsky 1 7–6–1 .536
1928–1940, 1941–1943 Wayland Vaughan 14 86–83–7 .509
1924–1928 George Gaw 4 22–19–3 .534
1922–1924 John O'Hare 2 3–14–0 .176
1919–1920 Harold Stuart 1 0–2–0 .000
1917–1918 Edgar Burkhardt 1 0–1–0 .000
Totals 12 coaches 101 seasons 1,639–963–181 .621

* Leon Abbott was fired in December of 1973.
& Abbott's record was 26–8–1 before the school was forced to forfeited 11 wins from the 1972–73 season.

Terriers in the NHL edit

As of July 1, 2023.

= NHL All-Star team = NHL All-Star[26] = NHL All-Star[26] and NHL All-Star team = Hall of Famers Team initial circled to indicate Stanley Cup winning teams.

† Mike Sullivan won two Stanley Cups as the head coach for the Pittsburgh Penguins

WHA edit

Additionally, three former Terriers played in the World Hockey Association, a rival league that folded and merged with the NHL in 1979.