Q—In your two seasons at BU, you’ve experienced the
leadership style of Dom Fensore and Case McCarthy. What can your teammates
expect from you as captain?
A— Having Dom
and Case as guys to look up to coming in here at a younger age was something really
beneficial for me, getting to know those guys on a deeper level. Having those
guys lead you into battle all the time was something I’ll always remember and
I’ll always take a lot from those guys. Going into this year, for myself, I’m
just trying to lead by example. Whether that’s on the ice, off the ice, always
being respectful and a good teammate and somebody that hopefully the younger
guys and all the guys can lean on if they ever need anything.
Q—What went into the decision to return to BU for your junior
season? Did the Blackhawks, who drafted you in the second round in 2022, ask
you to turn pro?
A— It was a
tough decision, but at the end of the day I love it here. There is nowhere else
I’d rather be than here at BU with all my best friends. Having the opportunity
to get another kick at the can and hopefully get back to another Frozen Four
and maybe come out on the other side of it this time is something I’ve thought
a lot about. Last year we didn’t win as much as we hoped to with the group we
had, but hopefully we can change the narrative this year.
Q—You've had a few development camps with the Blackhawks.
How do they differ from BU pre-season practices and what will you bring from
the more recent development camp to your skills toolkit?
A— Off-ice
isn’t something a lot of the teams do. It’s their own approach and something
they’ve taken into their hands to try. I think it’s been awesome going to those
camps. I think when it’s off-ice, it’s still competitive but it feels a little
less like you’re trying to take someone’s job. You can really get to know the
guys a little more and become closer with them and get that chemistry that you
want with guys. Those camps have been really good for me.
Q—What elements of your game do you want to enhance this
season before taking the next step?
A— I want to
round out my game even more. I think I’ve been able to do that over the last
two years, round out my game and be able to play in all areas of the ice.
That’s something I’m going to continue to try and improve on this year and
grow. On top of that, I think shooting more, having more of an attack
mentality. Playing in all situations, you get to learn a lot, so I’m just
excited to learn and grow my game and try to win hockey games.
Q—BU is coming off two consecutive Frozen Four season, but
there has been a substantial turnover both on defense and at forward. Besides
skills, what attributes will this squad need to continue that success?
A— I
think a lot of the success we have comes from within the locker room. I think
we’ve established a culture here. since Jay has taken the job here. I think
he’s done an incredible job with all the teams so far. It starts in the locker
room, being close with each other and doing everything for each other. I think
last year we played to our identity a lot of the time when we were at our best,
and that’s fast, heavy and hard. That’s something I expect us to do every game
this year and something we’re looking to dial in on.
Q. Coach Pandolfo
says he wants BU to be a team that’s “hard to play against,” and one that going
to “own the puck.” What does that mean to you?
A— It means a
lot. I see myself as a player that likes to possess the puck and play fast.
Sometimes being hard to play against isn’t always laying a body check or being
the most physical guy on the ice. I think it’s being tenacious, possessing the
puck, playing fast, playing smart with and without the puck. I think that all
goes into being a hard player to play against. That’s something Pando’s
preached to all of us.
Q—With four of the top six scorers from last season
departed, how do you see your role as an offensive leader this season?
A— We’re
losing a lot of key guys that stepped up for us, both offensively and
defensively. That’s something I want to embrace this year: add offense, add a
good defensive game, a good penalty kill, a good power play, all those things.
I think I’ll have an opportunity to continue to do that at an even better rate
this year, so that’s something I’m really looking forward to.
Q—BU had one of the best power plays in Division 1 last
season. With the two top PPG scorers departed, how might the power play look
different this year?
A— Definitely
no shortage of talent. We’re all playing at BU and we have a ton of talent
between the freshmen and the returners. Obviously, it’ll look a little
different without Lane and Macklin. We’re gonna miss having them around,
obviously, but I think it opens the door for some new guys to get some looks in
those positions and we definitely have the guys to do that and be successful
with it.
Q—Last season, BU was 14-2 on home ice with both losses by
one goal. The previous year, the home record was 14-3 with two one-goal losses
and one with an ENG. How much emphasis is there on a “defend the house” mindset
and how do the captains convey it to the 10 newcomers?
A— Obviously
you want to be successful in front of your fans. You always want to be
successful, but it’s a little bit of a different feeling playing in front of
your home fans and playing at your home rink. You go into those games feeling
like you already have the advantage in a way and those are the games that you
should always win. When it comes to playing here, that’s something I take a lot
of pride in. The years go by fast so you want to take advantage of those
opportunities. I’ll do everything I can, along with the other leaders, to put
our team in the best position when it comes to playing at Agganis.
Q—Nearly every profile of you includes the words “200-foot
player,” referring to responsibility and effort on both sides of the puck. Is
that something you’ll want to impart to younger players on the squad?
A— Definitely.
I think that’s something that could help everybody as you go up the levels. I
feel like it gets more and more important to be a complete player and to be
reliable in all areas of the ice versus just being a one-dimensional offensive
player and, vice-versa, all defense. I think there’s a balance that you can
find and I think once you’re able to find that you can continue to work on that
and that’s where the 200-foot game really comes from.
Q—Finally, we
always ask, which returning player(s) do you expect to take a big step up and
surprise Terrier fans this season?
A— Guys like
Devin Kaplan, Shane Lachance, Jack Harvey, Gavin McCarthy. These guys were
obviously unbelievable players for us last year, but coming back a year older,
stronger, having a good summer in the gym. I see the work that those guys put
in every day. They have an elevated role this year and I think they’re gonna
crush it. I’m really happy for those guys. I’m excited.
