Terrier import will go against his dated group-Providence College or university-this weekend
Jay O’Brien (COM’23) averaged a couple situations for each and every online game a year ago, hence year is actually best the brand new BU men’s hockey group during the items per games with the 2nd year consecutively. Pictures of the Matt Woolverton
Terrier import will go against his dated group-Providence College or university-this weekend
He is obtained five at this point this current year, and work out your the newest BU men’s hockey frontrunner within the products for each and every game (0.93). It is a long way off of his hard freshman campaign during the Providence School, but 36 months after, O’Brien (COM’23) is back during the Hockey East, with BU, and contains produced the most out of his second chance.
“I recently decided I experienced a number of incomplete business,” O’Brien says. “I wanted to go back in order to Hockey East to prove so you’re able to me and prove to individuals as much as myself what type of member I am, and i also discover I have been carrying out one to.”
A beneficial Hingham, Mass., native, O’Brien played through the his high school ages around previous Terrier Tony Amonte at Thayer Academy, and he would always important the institution game. Each February, he would anticipate Boston’s storied men’s Beanpot contest.
“I’d come dreaming to be a school hockey player,” O’Brien claims. “I think the institution games is the nearest matter you’re going to locate so you can specialist. Should you want to become a player, I do believe university is the greatest answer to get it done.”
O’Brien chose to enjoy during the Providence School immediately following high school. “At the time, I guess Providence was just the right school for me personally,” he states. “We committed on a young age.” But after his freshman seasons produced five circumstances from inside the 25 online game, the guy felt like the time had come to go towards. “I believed that it actually was the best move personally,” according to him.
O’Brien possess registered one point in five regarding BU’s history seven game-having about three multipoint game during that stretch. Pictures because of the Patrick Donnelly
Shortly after becoming drawn up by Philadelphia Flyers nineteenth total in the 2018 NHL Draft, O’Brien left the new Friars below the following year. Into probabilities of collegiate, junior, and you may professional hockey streams before your, he had been uncertain from the and that guidance to pursue.
“There was a time where I did not know if I became gonna return to university,” he says. “There had been a number of different teams and you can leagues one to hit aside. I attempted to speak with as many as I am able to, in order to obtain advice and you will listen to him or her out.”
He ultimately year towards Penticton Vees-an application that had before invited five current Terriers. “Penticton try in the course of time where I thought extremely home,” O’Brien says. “Along, they have been merely greatest-level. You earn handled eg a professional. I recently considered that try the right place, where I was browsing develop my personal video game.”
The change out-of landscape generated a change within his show into the ice. He tallied 66 factors when you look at the 46 video game on Vees, averaging a goal and you may an aid in for every playoff game just before new postseason is slash quick from the onset of the latest COVID-19 pandemic. Compliment of it all, though, the guy kept considering doing school-the question was in which.
“We generated the choice in advance of We went so you’re able to Penticton that I happened to be planning to come back to university,” he states, incase he was ong his alternatives for college, Boston College was an earlier contender.
“They were the original college to arrive over to me personally when We joined the new transfer portal-it had been virtually the afternoon I found myself regarding portal one I experienced a visit,” he says. “In my opinion there is something really cool regarding getting a student athlete, particularly here at BU.”
O’Brien based BU’s greatest range in good six-cuatro win facing reigning NCAA champion College away from Massachusetts toward herst. Photos because of the Patrick Donnelly
“From the watching your while the an earlier child,” says Terrier direct advisor Albie O’Connell (CAS’99). “If it didn’t quite work-out [on Providence], they are a guy we spotted plenty of.”
They don’t just take much persuading. “We sort of knew immediately that this is the place We wanted to be,” O’Brien claims. “It absolutely was one of what exactly one felt right in my personal instinct and i also caught inside.” Along with his very first game for the a great Terrier uniform throughout that 2020-2021 seasons try facing Providence. As the luck will have it, he obtained BU’s basic goal against his dated class.
“It was high to see your get that one out of brand new earliest [period],” team captain Logan Cockerill (SHA’22) told you following game. “We had been most happier having your.”
O’Brien completed the entire year revealing the team lead-in requirements (5) and you may finishing next inside the issues (10) even with looking within five game through the COVID-reduced campaign. He hasn’t overlooked an overcome inside the second year in the BU, tallying 13 things inside the fourteen game at this point this present year.
“When he or she is been in this new lineup, he’s already been great for people,” O’Connell claims. “We have been another type of hockey cluster whenever he is in there.” To own his area, O’Brien states he could be thankful with the service from O’Connell and you may the rest of the classes personnel.
“The biggest thing is probably just playing with confidence, truly,” he states. Brand new educators provides set me on best places-[I delight in] the belief that the fresh new classes employees possess from inside the me.”
The fresh new Terriers, and you will O’Brien, have a tendency to skate up against Providence twice regarding the upcoming weeks, that it Weekend, January 30, in the home and also at Providence to your March ten. Regardless if he’s encountered new Friars in advance of, he says having admirers regarding the strengthening, unlike this past year once they had been prohibited by the pandemic standards, makes this new matchups so much more important.
“I’m delighted to locate back to Providence and you may enjoy in front of those fans, and then have her or him already been here and you may gamble facing our admirers,” O’Brien says. “We do not such her or him and so they dislike all of us, which makes for an excellent series.”
Fans can find passes toward video game anywhere between BU and you may Providence Sunday, , on the internet and in the Agganis Stadium solution place of work, 925 Comm Ave. The video game will be televised to the NESN and you can safeguarded as a consequence of to the Myspace. Stick to the BU men’s hockey people towards Fb.
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