Q&A With Tom Ryan

Terrier radio analyst Tom Ryan was co-captain—with current BU assistant head coach David Quinn—of BU’s 1987-88 team. Before arriving at BU, he starred at Newton North High School and this past season he returned to his high school alma mater as head coach. Now in his 16th season as Bernie Corbett’s partner on BU broadcasts, Ryan, a Pittsburgh Penguins draft choice, answered our questions in the latest THFB guest Q&A interview.

Q How has the level and/or style of play changed in Hockey East since you played for BU in the late 1980s?
A As far as the style of play , it was much more of a free wheeling game in the 80's .I think the coaching is so much better now from top to bottom with the advent of film study as well as the different defensive systems . Teams really focus on center ice play and transition as opposed to creating offense on forecheck and odd man rushes, which we used to see more often during the course of a game. I personally enjoyed playing and watching the game in the 80's compared to today’s game, but that's just my opinion.

Let me give you an example. The 1984-85 Boston College team had 240 goals and 637 total points. The current BC team, which is very talented, has thus far 110 goals and 295 total points. Which would you rather watch? That being said, the biggest difference of course is the goaltender. No position in sports has evolved in the past 20 years as much as the goaltender in hockey. Goalies are much more athletic now and that, along with bigger and better equipment, has produced some great goaltenders in recent years.

Q You’ve commented on the air about how today’s players have already been in elite level programs and have performed in pressure situations many times before college. Does that account for freshman who adapt faster to the college game?
A If you look at college hockey rosters, the majority of the players come from the U.S. development program or elite junior hockey programs in Canada or the U.S. As a result, they’re much more prepared to make the jump to Division One college hockey. As kids growing up, they also play in high-end, pressure-filled tournaments and sometimes travel as a team all season long, just as a junior or college team would do. Another reason they adapt better is that in many cases, they are 20 years old as freshman, not 18. There is a big difference not only physically but mentally.

Yet another difference now compared to years ago is that the kids are in much better condition and make hockey a year round commitment. Example: my son attended Mike Boyle's conditioning program at age14, whereas I did zero weight training before i got to BU.

Q Much has been made about the offensive ability of the BU defense this year, However, in a one-goal game in the third period at Regionals or (hopefully) the Frozen Four, does this defense corps (including Kieran Millan) have what it takes to hold a challenging opponent in check?
A I am absolutely positive that BU's defense and goaltender will handle any pressure situation successfully as they have demonstrated all season long. The defensive ability of BU's defensemen gets overlooked because of their great offensive ability. They have defended extremely well all season and are much improved from last year in that area. Millan has proven to be very good under pressure, playing with great poise, which has a calming influence on the whole team. Millan has made several important saves during this season. Remember, critical saves can come at all different times during a game. We’ve seen several different times this season when Kieran made a big save with BU leading 2-0, and that allowed BU to get the third goal and break the spirit of its opponent. That may not appear to be a pressure save, but it is.

Q On the broadcast, you often talk about defensemen maintaining gap control? Can you explain what that is?
A Gap control has always been important on defense. It's just that we started using the phrase recently. Someone must have heard Barry Melrose use it and now we broadcasters all copy it. Basically it's making sure defense man are staying up the ice and keeping opposing forwards within a stick length away to limit their time and space (more hockey lingo ) when they have the puck . This forces the puck carrier to make a play quicker than he wants to and enables the backchecking forwards to alter his options as well. This is called back pressure, another new phrase created in recent years.

Q Tom, you often give voice to the frustration Terrier fans –and coaches—feel when players make casual plays and don’t respond to opponents beating them to puck by playing with more urgency. Can a coach do anything during a period to reverse that trend and regain the upper hand?
A Casual play occurs for several reasons. First, it's impossible to play full speed all the time. As a broadcaster, I’m get involved in some games more than in others. It's human nature, and I can assure you, I’ll be involved Friday night, just as the team will.

At times, very athletic, talented and poised players will look like they are not playing full speed, when, in fact, they are. And sometimes, a team is playing with such confidence that they feel they don't have to play 100% and they will still win or the goalie will make the critical save. As far as the coaching part, I'm sure they call attention to it during the game but focus on it more in practice. That is when coaching is really done. I'm sure if you watched a practice, you would see a sense of urgency on the coaches’ part when they feel kids are not working hard enough. Lastly, as we have seen on occasion this season, the coaches will bench a player if they feel he is not putting out 100%. That, in my experience, seems to work the best. (Editors’ note: Those fans who sit on the opposite side of Agganis Arena from the BU bench have likely noticed Jack Parker taking a player “down the tunnel” to make a point.)

Q What is Jack Parker like in the locker room before big games? Does he successfully make in-game adjustments when things aren’t going well?
A My experience with Coach Parker on game day of a big game was that he made sure he came across as relaxed yet very focused. Teams tend to take on the identity of their coach and the last thing a coach wants to do is look uptight and nervous .The days prior to the game is when he really amps up the intensity in practice and does his best to get the team prepared. I think that, as opposed to his words, his actions are what separate him from any other coach I have played for or coached with. He carries himself in a way that exudes confidence and intensity. He understands that the team, on a Friday for instance, will be highly motivated and in this situation, he will probably preach playing "fast and loose." That’s one of his favorite quotes from “Fast” Eddie Felson, played by Paul Newman in the movie, The Hustler. Another ability that separates him is being able to sense how the team is playing and make subtle in-game changes. I don't want to give away all his secrets.

Q Terrier fans often debate whether Brandon Yip should remain at forward on power plays and David Warsofsky should be on the power play, as he was during the Denver Cup? Which side of that discussion do you favor?
A It’s tough to debate anything about BU’s power play, which has executed better than any other power play I’ve seen over the course of 30+ games. I think teams favor the umbrella formation now as opposed to the strong side defense look because it allows more passing options and better shooting lanes. Teams block shots so much better now, so you need to allow more creativity to get shots to the net. That being said, David Warsofsky is extremely talented and will be the quarterback on the power play, probably as soon as next year. I think you may see him get more power play time this season.

Q Among the Terrier defensemen, Eric Gryba has really turned it up a few notches this year. What has made the difference in his play?
A I’d say Eric Gryba has been the most improved player on the team along with John McCarthy. He appears to be playing much faster and with more confidence. Part of it is that he is 100 % healthy this year. Eric understands one of his jobs is too provide a physical presence, while focusing on his defensive play. That being said, he is moving the puck very well and showing great poise on the breakout as well as in the offensive zone. At times last year, he was playing afraid to get a penalty and was thinking to much, whereas this year he is much more relaxed. He and David Warsofsky are playing great and seem to be very comfortable with each other.

Q Jack Parker has pointed out more than a few times that this year's group of captains [McCarthy, Matt Gilroy, Brian Strait] is one of the best in his coaching tenure and has been a factor in the team's success. As a former BU captain, what kinds of things do captains do that have an impact on what we see on the ice?

A There is no question that this year’s team is getting great leadership not only from its captains, but from the entire senior class as well. The members of that class are having their best season, which is very unusual.

Captains are expected to be the hardest workers on the ice as well as off the ice, must always work within the team concept and can't be selfish no matter how well their season is going. Like coaches, the captains have to manage the egos on the team, so that everyone is focused on the team goals and not individual success.

You’ll see this if you watch the power play. See if the players fail to change up when they should or if they stay out longer trying to get a goal. This season, I can't remember an instance when either has occurred. Check the body language of the group coming off the ice. You’ll notice the group coming off usually supports the unit coming on; that is not always the case from team to team.

Lastly, the captains are the go-betweens with the coaches and their teammates, so it's important that they be good communicators. Obviously, these three have done a wonderful job this season.

Q Who were the top players you ever played with and against?
A Played with—John Cullen, Scott Young, Clark Donatelli, David Quinn, Peter Marshall, Joe Sacco to name a few. Anyone who reaches Division One is a great talent People just don’t understand how hard it is to get there. Played against—Brian Leetch, Craig Janney, Tony Hrkac, Tony Granato, Jon Morris, and many other great ones.

Q During your year as a BU co-captain, 87-88', the Terriers got off to a very rough start, but then came back to have a very good second half. As captain of the team, how did you keep your teammates focused?
A 11 When I look back on my senior season, I do so with great memories. Prior to the season, we lost Young and Donatelli to the U.S. Olympic team, Jim Ennis to the pros and Quinn, who also would have gone to the Olympics, but he had an illness that ended his career. And the previous year’s seniors—John Cullen, Ed Lowney, Terry Talifer and many others—were all key players. We dressed between 8 and12 freshmen. That and playing the interlocking schedule with the WCHA led to a slow start record-wise. As a captain I just tried to keep everyone positive and make sure the freshman felt comfortable and understood they were the future and the future was now. As the season progressed, we got great goaltending from Peter Fish and the freshman took control which led to the team’s improvement. I believe we ended up in third place in Hockey East, which was a great accomplishment. That group of freshman help lead the resurgence of the program and that led to the great successes BU had in the 90's.

Q Can you share one funny or memorable incident from your broadcasting career?
A Bernie and I have had many funny moments and many memorable moments together on the broadcasts. Broadcasting the 1995 championship season, however, is my greatest memory because the team had so many close calls on its way to experiencing that NCAA title.