Duluth native Chris Connolly scored the first goal in last year’s pre-season exhibition game and then added 30 points to become the top scoring freshman. Besides holding down the left-wing spot on BU’s all-rookie line, he filled in on the Terriers’ top line when Colin Wilson was at the World Junior Championships and when Chris Higgins was injured. Coach Jack Parker expects Chris to be on one of BU’s top two lines this season. He recently answered questions from THFB contributors:
Q—Chris, you’re not the first Terrier from Minnesota. John Curry, Ryan Priem and Justin Maiser are a few of those who preceded you here. So what brought you to BU?
A—I grew up in Duluth, Minnesota and had only experienced the Midwest (Omaha and Fargo), so I wanted something completely different for my college experience. I came on my visit out to Boston already knowing how accomplished both the coaching staff and program itself were, but I also fell in love with the city.
Q—Your younger brother Jack was also a freshman last year at Minnesota-Duluth in your hometown. Did you have any interest in joining him with the Bulldogs?
A—Yes I did. It was a very difficult decision for me to turn down my home town University, especially having the chance to be a freshmen with my younger brother; but at the same time, I had also been on my own for a few years playing juniors so leaving home wasn’t an issue for me. The opportunity to play for such an historic program was too good to pass by.
Q—You became a fan favorite last year due to your non-stop motor on the ice, as well as your contributions at both ends of the ice. Has that always been your style of play?
A—Not exactly. I have always loved the offensive side of the game, but as I moved up levels from high school to juniors and juniors to college, I began to realize how important defense was. I wanted to get as much ice time as possible and have come to realize that you can earn just as much, if not more, defensively as you can offensively.
Q—Last year’s freshmen class had several players who, when the year began, were better known to BU fans—Trivino, Warsofsky, Saponari—because they were NHL draft choices. That allowed you to fly a bit under the radar in terms of expectation. But this year, expectations for you will be high. How to you plan to raise the level of your game?
A—Last year all I wanted to do was contribute as much as I could and play in as many games as possible. Every year you want to get better, and to do that, you can’t take anything for granted. Just because you played a lot last year doesn’t necessarily mean you will this year. I just try and work as hard as possible every day.
Q—You played both wing and center last season. Which do you prefer?
A—I played center throughout most of my junior career, but now that I am playing more wing, I like it a little better. I don’t dislike center by any means though.
Q—Your penalty-shot goal against BC’s John Muse had to be one of your highlights last season. Muse described your move saying “he came straight down the ice and he kind of slowed down.” Is that how you planned it? Had you been involved in shootouts while with Omaha in the USHL and used that move before?
A—I had a couple of different ideas running through my head, along with, “Oh my God!” and “Don’t mess up!” but I had used that in Omaha before and it was the move I was most comfortable with at the time.
Q—We have heard a lot about the final seconds of the championship game when Colby Cohen’s deflected shot sailed over the goalie’s shoulder, but less about how the play started. Walk us through your role in it.
A—I believe the play slowed down in our end and Colby came up the ice with the puck; he made a pass to Trivino through the middle and he deflected it into the corner. Trivino had a full head of steam and was able to forecheck the defenseman and chip the puck up the wall to me. I didn’t even have to pick my head up because I heard Shatty yelling for the puck. Shatty made an unbelievable play to Colby, and after that, I just remember standing off to the side of the net watching Colby’s shot float into the net. It was indescribable.
Q—Your line hadn’t seen much—if any—ice time during the overtime. How hard was it to just watch after playing a regular shift all game and also killing all those penalties?
A—Of course we wanted to get out there, but at the same time, we understood that at such a crucial time in the biggest game of our lives, coach was more comfortable with the upper classmen. All you can do is stay as focused as possible because you could be called upon at any moment.
Q—Coach Parker has already said that you will probably be promoted to one of the top two lines this season. How do you see your role on the team this year compared to last year?
A—We lost a lot of talented forwards, so I hope to work hard and fill some of the open roles left by those seniors. I enjoyed my role last year, now I hope I can contribute even more.
Q—In 2008 you led the Omaha Lancers to the Clark Cup title and followed that with an NCAA championship? While only a second-year player, do you feel you can help teach the freshmen what it takes to be a winner and what Jack Parker defines as “a BU hockey player”?
A—In the past two seasons I have played for two incredible coaches, Mike Hastings (Omaha) and Coach Parke. The thing they have in common is that they both demand a good work ethic. One of my favorite quotes is “hard work beats talent if talent doesn’t work hard.” That statement sums it up for me; I’m not a big talker in the locker room, but I like to set the best example as possible by working hard.
Q—Chris, you’re not the first Terrier from Minnesota. John Curry, Ryan Priem and Justin Maiser are a few of those who preceded you here. So what brought you to BU?
A—I grew up in Duluth, Minnesota and had only experienced the Midwest (Omaha and Fargo), so I wanted something completely different for my college experience. I came on my visit out to Boston already knowing how accomplished both the coaching staff and program itself were, but I also fell in love with the city.
Q—Your younger brother Jack was also a freshman last year at Minnesota-Duluth in your hometown. Did you have any interest in joining him with the Bulldogs?
A—Yes I did. It was a very difficult decision for me to turn down my home town University, especially having the chance to be a freshmen with my younger brother; but at the same time, I had also been on my own for a few years playing juniors so leaving home wasn’t an issue for me. The opportunity to play for such an historic program was too good to pass by.
Q—You became a fan favorite last year due to your non-stop motor on the ice, as well as your contributions at both ends of the ice. Has that always been your style of play?
A—Not exactly. I have always loved the offensive side of the game, but as I moved up levels from high school to juniors and juniors to college, I began to realize how important defense was. I wanted to get as much ice time as possible and have come to realize that you can earn just as much, if not more, defensively as you can offensively.
Q—Last year’s freshmen class had several players who, when the year began, were better known to BU fans—Trivino, Warsofsky, Saponari—because they were NHL draft choices. That allowed you to fly a bit under the radar in terms of expectation. But this year, expectations for you will be high. How to you plan to raise the level of your game?
A—Last year all I wanted to do was contribute as much as I could and play in as many games as possible. Every year you want to get better, and to do that, you can’t take anything for granted. Just because you played a lot last year doesn’t necessarily mean you will this year. I just try and work as hard as possible every day.
Q—You played both wing and center last season. Which do you prefer?
A—I played center throughout most of my junior career, but now that I am playing more wing, I like it a little better. I don’t dislike center by any means though.
Q—Your penalty-shot goal against BC’s John Muse had to be one of your highlights last season. Muse described your move saying “he came straight down the ice and he kind of slowed down.” Is that how you planned it? Had you been involved in shootouts while with Omaha in the USHL and used that move before?
A—I had a couple of different ideas running through my head, along with, “Oh my God!” and “Don’t mess up!” but I had used that in Omaha before and it was the move I was most comfortable with at the time.
Q—We have heard a lot about the final seconds of the championship game when Colby Cohen’s deflected shot sailed over the goalie’s shoulder, but less about how the play started. Walk us through your role in it.
A—I believe the play slowed down in our end and Colby came up the ice with the puck; he made a pass to Trivino through the middle and he deflected it into the corner. Trivino had a full head of steam and was able to forecheck the defenseman and chip the puck up the wall to me. I didn’t even have to pick my head up because I heard Shatty yelling for the puck. Shatty made an unbelievable play to Colby, and after that, I just remember standing off to the side of the net watching Colby’s shot float into the net. It was indescribable.
Q—Your line hadn’t seen much—if any—ice time during the overtime. How hard was it to just watch after playing a regular shift all game and also killing all those penalties?
A—Of course we wanted to get out there, but at the same time, we understood that at such a crucial time in the biggest game of our lives, coach was more comfortable with the upper classmen. All you can do is stay as focused as possible because you could be called upon at any moment.
Q—Coach Parker has already said that you will probably be promoted to one of the top two lines this season. How do you see your role on the team this year compared to last year?
A—We lost a lot of talented forwards, so I hope to work hard and fill some of the open roles left by those seniors. I enjoyed my role last year, now I hope I can contribute even more.
Q—In 2008 you led the Omaha Lancers to the Clark Cup title and followed that with an NCAA championship? While only a second-year player, do you feel you can help teach the freshmen what it takes to be a winner and what Jack Parker defines as “a BU hockey player”?
A—In the past two seasons I have played for two incredible coaches, Mike Hastings (Omaha) and Coach Parke. The thing they have in common is that they both demand a good work ethic. One of my favorite quotes is “hard work beats talent if talent doesn’t work hard.” That statement sums it up for me; I’m not a big talker in the locker room, but I like to set the best example as possible by working hard.
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