Q.
With the addition of four veteran transfers and a talented group of nine
freshmen, is BU reloading rather than rebuilding?
A. I believe we're reloading this year at BU. We have high expectations within this program to win trophies every year. We believe these new players can help us accomplish that. We have returned several keys players who played significant roles last year who want to finish the job.
Joe Pereira with assistant coach Kim Brandvold
Photo credit Matt Woolverton
Q. Coach Pandolfo has said that having a veteran
group last year led by 10 seniors, all familiar with him from the previous
year, was instrumental to the team’s buy-in to his game philosophy and team
culture. With nearly 50% newcomers, does that present a challenge to get
everyone quickly on the same page?
A. Having seniors definitely helps, but with the leadership we have on this team with Case, Sam, Luke, Cade, Lane and the rest of the returners who played in many meaningful games last games, we believe we can accomplish a lot this year. We have a hungry group of players that want to get back to the frozen four.
Q. Last season’s successes invariably led to high expectations. How do you channel those expectations to be a strong motivation rather than a burden?
A.
It's a new year, we'll have new challenges, but we just need to live in the
moment. All we can do is be where our feet are. Continue to work and improve
every day and the results will take care of itself.
Q. BU will have a new primary goalie for the first time in four years and an all-new goalie room, as well. What goes into establishing coordination and chemistry between a goalie and the defense corps?
A. That's a great question, I think communication is critical as is trust. Communication on goalie touches and what they want the defensemen to take away. It helps when you have four veteran defensemen who logged a lot of minutes in previous years.
Q. Last season, BU primarily played five defenseman with Lane and Dom logging substantial minutes. With four returning starters plus several highly regarded freshman, how will that impact blueline rotations?
A. It will push all of them to become better every day in practice which, I believe, will translate into making us a better team. You need good defensemen to win a championship. All six defensemen of the 2009 national championship got NHL games.
Q. Since the beginning of December 2021, BU is 21-4-1 on home ice, with three of the losses coming in overtime and the other a 2-0 loss with an ENG. How much emphasis does the coaching staff place on being a dominant team at home and defending the house?
A. That's a great stat that to be honest I didn't know. I think we take pride in playing in front of the BU fans. We believe we have some of the best fans / students in the country and it's important to play with the passion and pride to make them proud.
Recruiting
Q. Whether a potential recruit is someone who will immediately be top six or first D pair or someone who, like yourself, began on the fourth line and then advanced over the years, what are the common characteristics that you look for in a BU recruit?
A. Competitiveness, a player who loves to compete. We obviously want great hockey players but we want great kids as well. Kids that love to come to the rink every day. Nobody wants to be around an energy vampire!
Q. In a little more than 15 months as associate head coach, you’ve won commitments from more than a dozen players, generally considered to be high-end and likely/already high drafts picks. What skills, traits and intangibles distinguish those players?
A. I think once again competitiveness and the love to compete every day. When I was at BU, I watched Colin Wilson and Nick Bonino compete against each other every day which made the team and themselves better. When Jay was at BU, he had the same thing.
Q. Is it more difficult to evaluate goalies than skaters?
A. The biggest thing I look for in a goalie is: can they make the save when the game is on the line? They're human, even though we want them to play great every night: can they make a save to win the game?
Q. What would your scouting report say if you had to evaluate the 18-year-old Joe Pereira today?
A. Oh boy, that's a tough one!! But I think a kid who was willing to do whatever it took to help his team win. Was willing to play in any role for the team.
Q. Which returning player or players do you expect to take a big step up this season?
A. I'm excited to watch all the seniors. I think to win a national championship you need your upperclassman. Having Case, Stevens, Tuch, Peterson, Webber and Zabaneh, I believe we have a fabulous group of guys that will lead us on and off the ice!
