Men’s Ice Hockey: Meet the Freshmen
BY: Jake Reiser
The 2016-17 college hockey season is fast approaching, and with students back on campus, it’s time to learn about the freshman who are joining the team this year. The class of 2020 recruiting class runs a large gamut, from late bloomers to multiple first round NHL draft picks. Here is each new Terrier in order by the number they will don for the Scarlet and White.
5 – Chad Krys
Drafted in the second round by the Chicago Blackhawks in last year’s draft, Krys figures in as one of the smaller defenseman on the blueline. He takes over a place last held by Brandon Fortunato, who transferred to Quinnipiac this summer.
9 – Kieffer Bellows
It will take a lot to live up to the last Terrier to wear number 9, Jack Eichel, but Bellow’s shot is just as NHL-ready as the now Sabres standout. His chemistry with Clayton Keller from the US Development team will be tremendously helpful to settle into the lineup.
10 – Gabriel Chabot
A very late inclusion to the freshman class, Chabot is coming off an impressive campaign with the Rochester Jr. Americans, where he led the team in scoring. He’ll add a lot of depth to the roster.
11 – Patrick Curry
Another late addition to the class of 2020, Curry comes to BU after three seasons with the USHL, most recently with the Bloomington Thunder.
17 – Dante Fabbro
BU’s second highest drafted player coming into this season, taken 17th overall this year by the Nashville Predators, Fabbro adds a strong right-handed shot to the defensive corps. It takes a lot of pressure off of Charlie McAvoy to be the only consistently point producing right-handed d-man.
19 – Clayton Keller
The highest drafted incoming Terrier, drafted 7th overall by the Arizona Coyotes, Coach David Quinn says, “I don’t think there’s been many players that I’ve ever seen that have been able to create offense off the rush the way Clayton can.” Expect Keller to be a highly significant member of the Terriers’ point production.
21 – Patrick Harper
Coming from the prestigious Avon Old Farms prep program, Harper is a speedy, smaller winger who will be able to blow past defenseman going down the wall. Drafted in the 5th round by the Predators, watch to see if Harper can add some size to his play.
28 – Johnny McDermott
McDermott comes out of prep school, like Harper, and will provide winger depth to the BU lineup.
29 – Jake Oettinger
Oettinger comes out of the US Development program already poised to content for some starting time with junior Connor LaCouvee. Like the last goalie to wear number 29, Matt O’Connor, Oettinger brings a tall frame in net.
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