Men’s Hockey: Offseason Tracker
By Michael Wax
Cover Photo Credit: Joe Eachus
Following Boston University Men’s Hockey’s loss to the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the NCAA Frozen Four, changes were expected to hit the Terriers’ roster thanks to 11 members of the senior class, the transfer portal and the prospect of players jumping to the NHL.
Here’s is an offseason tracker of moves that will affect the Terriers’ roster for 2023-24. Check back often for updates:
APRIL 11
D Sean Driscoll – Transfer Portal
As one of two BU transfers on April 11, senior defenseman Sean Driscoll seeks consistent playing time in his next stop. After appearing in 15 games as a freshman, Driscoll skated in just eight games over the next three seasons. His only collegiate goal and point came in the 2020-21 season opener on Jan. 8, the 3-1 goal in an eventual 7-3 loss to Providence.
Driscoll skated in just one game this past season, a 5-3 win against Maine on Feb. 3. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
D Thomas Jarman – Transfer Portal
Like Driscoll, junior defenseman Thomas Jarman will also look for more consistent playing time at his next destination. Jarman played in 16 games as a freshman, recording his first collegiate point with an assist against Boston College on Feb. 5, 2021, and adding an assist on the game-winning goal on Feb. 12 against Vermont. After missing the first 31 games of the 2021-22 season due to injury, Jarman would play in seven games over the next two seasons.
APRIL 10
F Brian Carrabes – Transfer Portal
The only non-senior skater in the transfer portal for Boston University, sophomore forward Brian Carrabes will look for a fresh start. After playing in 24 games and putting up eight points during his first year, Carrabes skated in just 11 games this past season for the Terriers. Carrabes’ final three games of the season all came against Merrimack, skating in losses on Feb. 17 and 18, and the Hockey East Championship victory on March 18.
Carrabes put up two points, a goal and an assist, in his sophomore season, both of which came in a 5-1 victory over Air Force in the Desert Hockey Classic on Jan. 6.
F Ethan Phillips – Transfer Portal
The first of the seniors to enter the transfer portal, Ethan Phillips provided a critical piece to the Terriers’ top line down the stretch. While falling short of his season-highs in goals (6) and points (17) from the year prior, Phillips (4g, 7a) still provided an important presence next to fellow seniors Matt Brown and Jay O’Brien. After an injury in the Dec. 11 game against UConn sidelined him for over two months, Phillips returned to the lineup in the Beanpot consolation game against Boston College on Feb. 13.
After 10 scoreless outings, Phillips broke out in the Manchester Regional, compiling three points (one goal, two assists) in the semifinal win over Western Michigan and the game-winning goal against Cornell to send the Terriers to the Frozen Four.
Phillips has one year of eligibility left.
D John Copeland – Transfer Portal
An unsung hero of the Terriers’ blue line, Copeland only registered a single point in his three years on the roster. This past season, Copeland was tasked with a more prominent role. Solidifying himself on the third pair during the season, Copeland provided a steady presence.
When senior defenseman Case McCarthy went down with an injury in the Hockey East semifinal, Copeland stepped into a bigger role. Copeland blocked four shots through the playoffs.
Copeland has one year of eligibility left.
F Jamie Armstrong – Transfer Portal
A staple of the fourth line along with senior Sam Stevens and freshman Devin Kaplan, Jamie Armstrong is heading to the transfer portal. Armstrong put up five goals and eight assists for 13 points in his senior season, more than doubling his career-high in points and more than doubling his collegiate total of points. Armstrong provided two game-winning goals this season, including in the final regular-season game on March 4 against Providence, before scoring in the Hockey East Quarterfinal against Vermont on March 11.
Armstrong also assisted on the tying goal of the Hockey East Finals on March 18 and picked up a secondary assist on Stevens’ opening goal in the Frozen Four.
Armstrong’s crowning achievement with the Terriers came in the 2022 Beanpot, sending a cross-crease pass on a 2-on-1 to Dylan Peterson for the game’s only goal with 2:46 to go.
Armstrong has one year of eligibility left.
G Vinny Duplessis – Transfer Portal
Boston University will experience a drastic change in goaltending in the upcoming season. Duplessis was a part of three Terriers teams, averaging a .915 save percentage over 40 games. Duplessis played in a career-high 17 games in his sophomore season and took the Terriers to their first Beanpot title since 2015 while goaltending partner Drew Commesso was at the 2022 Olympic games. Duplessis’ 19-save shutout was the first shutout in the Beanpot Final since 2016.
Duplessis has one year of eligibility remaining.
G Drew Commesso – NHL
The most significant news of the day came when it was announced junior goaltender Drew Commesso would be forgoing his senior season for the Terriers and signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. The 2020 second-round pick wore the Scarlet and White for three years, posting a 43-22-4 record with a .914 save percentage, a 2.57 goals against average and three shutouts.
Commesso also had the honor of joining the 2022 USA Olympic team during his sophomore season, playing in and winning two games and putting up a .964 save percentage and 1.00 goals against average.
In 34 games this season, Commesso compiled a 24-8-0 record with a .912 save percentage. Between a Feb. 18 loss to Merrimack and the Frozen Four defeat to Minnesota, Commesso won nine consecutive games and put up a .935 save percentage to lead the Terriers to their first Frozen Four since 2015.
Commesso will join former Terrier teammate Alex Vlasic in the Blackhawks organization.
D Lane Hutson – Returning
Also of note, Hockey East Rookie of the Year and Hobey Baker Top 10 finalist Lane Hutson announced via Instagram that he will return for his sophomore season in 2023-24.
The 2022 second-round pick to Montreal was a flight risk after scoring the most points (48) by a freshman defenseman in Hockey East history, passing Brian Leetch (47 in 1986-87).