Men’s Hockey: Taking a look at BU’s off-season additions

By Sasha Abrams and Joe Eachus

 BU Men’s Hockey has some new faces on the roster for this season, with nine incoming freshmen and four transfers. Fresh off of a Frozen Four appearance, and with two top-flight prospects in the fold along with other key players, the goal seems to be a national championship or bust as BU has returned to to a premier college hockey program after several years of mediocrity.

Jay Pandolfo will go into his second year as head coach of the Terriers, reshaping the roster to be bigger, stronger, and older, all of which result in a team with championship hopes.

Here’s what to know about each of the newcomers to the squad.

Class of 2027  

Aiden Celebrini | Brooks Bandits

’22-’23 with Brooks: 47 GP, 5 G, 16 A

Hailing from Vancouver, Celebrini was a sixth-round draft pick to his hometown Vancouver Canucks in this year’s NHL draft. He played in the AJHL last year with the Brooks Bandits, helping lead them to the 2023 Centennial Cup, and previously played two years with Shattuck-St. Mary’s. Expected to bolster the blueline for the Terriers, Celebrini will likely slot into a bottom-pairing platoon role to start the season.

 Macklin Celebrini | Chicago Steel

’22-’23 with Chicago: 52 GP, 46 G, 40 A

Macklin Celebrini, the projected first overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, is brother to Aiden and will enter BU as the youngest player in college hockey for the 2023-24 season at 17 years old. Celebrini is a highly skilled offensive player who is known for his ability to create offense from anywhere on the ice. Playing for the Chicago Steel last year, he was the first player in USHL history to win Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Forward of the Year in the same season. He’s expected to miss the start of the season with a lingering shoulder injury, but projects to immediately make an impact once he returns.

Doug Grimes | Lincoln Stars

’22-’23 with Lincoln: 57 GP, 27 G, 31 A

Doug Grimes, a Brookline, MA native, comes from the Lincoln Stars of the USHL. The two-way power forward made a big jump offensively last season from the season prior, posting only 16 points in 45 games in 2021-22. Grimes should compete for a spot on the gameday roster, but may end up as a frequent scratch by virtue of BU’s forward depth for this season.

 Mick Frechette | Dexter Southfield

’22-’23 with Dexter Southfield: 32 GP, 11 G, 14 A

Mick Frechette is from Weston, MA, and attended Dexter Southfield where he was named MVP as senior captain last year. Playing under former BU defenseman Dan Donato at Dexter, He slots in as a defensive defenseman in a bottom-four role for the Terriers this season, after reclassifying to join this year’s freshman class.

Jack Gorton | Victoria Grizzlies

’22-’23 with Victoria: 58 GP, 11 G, 21 A

Jack Gorton comes from Granite Springs, NY and had a career in the BCHL playing for the Victoria Grizzlies. It’s unclear what exactly his role will be coming in, as he sits low on the depth chart to start the season. His father Jeff Gorton is Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations for the Montreal Canadiens. 

Jack Harvey | Chicago Steel

’22-’23 with Chicago: 68 GP, 42 G, 36 A

The Stacy, Minn native played for the Chicago Steel last year. There, he was a linemate to Macklin Celebrini, and their existing chemistry might inspire BU head coach Jay Pandolfo to at least try them on a line together. A seventh-round selection by the Tampa Bay Lightning in this year’s draft, Harvey is a powerful skater and adept playmaker with a strong work ethic and high hockey IQ. 

Shane Lachance | Youngstown Phantoms 

’22-’23 with Youngstown: 71 GP, 36 G, 24 A

Lachance brings serious BU pedigree along with him, as he’s the grandson of legendary head coach Jack Parker, and son of former Terrier and NHLer Scott Lachance. Lachance played for the Youngstown Phantoms last year where he captained the 2023 Clark Cup champions. The power forward has a quick release and a heavy shot, and was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the sixth round this year.

Gavin McCarthy | Muskegon Lumberjacks

’22-’23 with Muskegon: 42 GP, 8 G, 19 A

Another newcomer with Terrier ties, McCarthy is the brother of newly-named captain Case McCarthy. More offensively-minded than his older brother, the younger McCarthy should crack the everyday roster. He missed 20 games due to a leg injury last year, but will be fully healthy for the start of the year. Drafted in the third round by the Buffalo Sabres, McCarthy is a complete defenseman who adds a lot to the Terriers’ blueline. 

Tom Willander | Rögle BK

’22-’23 with Rögle: 45 GP, 5 G, 24 A

Tom Willander arrives from Stockholm, where he played for Rögle of the BK SHL, and also played for Sweden in the U18 World Juniors. The Swede saw a meteoric rise in his draft stock last year, and was ultimately made the 11th overall pick by the Vancouver Canucks this year. Willander is a shutdown defenseman with a high hockey IQ and powerful skating, who’s also added to his offensive game and can quarterback a power play. The highly motivated and focused player selected college over the Swedish pro league, and told NHL.com that he’s “just looking forward to the opportunity to get a lot better this year” under Pandolfo and his staff.

Transfers

Mathieu Caron | Brown

’22-’23 with Brown: 24 GP, 2.75 GAA, .911 SV%

Currently penciled in as the starter between the pipes, Caron hails from Abbotsford, BC, and transferred from Brown University where he spent the last two years. While the team went 9-18-3, Caron was an outstanding player, earning himself a Hobey Baker nomination. The third team All-ECAC selection made 48 starts during his time on College Hill.

Henry Graham | UMass Amherst

’22-’23 with UMass: 8 GP (3 starts), 2.31 GAA, .921 SV%

Graham started his college career at UMass Amherst, where he played three years for the Minutemen. He only saw minimal action for UMass last year as the primary backup. He slots in as a backup for now, but he has the ability to compete for the starting job.

Nick Howard | Saint Anselm 

’22-’23 with Saint Anselm: 30 GP, 2.41 GAA, .925 SV%

Howard has local ties, growing up in Burlington, Mass., the same hometown as his new head coach. A graduate transfer from Saint Anselm and a 2022-23 Northeast-10 champion, he departs Saint A’s as the program’s all-time wins leader, and arrives in Boston as the second straight graduate transfer goalie (Pat Schena from New England last year). He was 2023 Second Team All-Northeast-10 and 2022 Northeast-10 Goalie of the Year. 

Jack Hughes | Northeastern

’22-’23 with Northeastern: 32 GP, 5 G, 11 A

Hughes has a short commute from his former team to his new one, arriving from Northeastern where he played for two years. A second-round draft pick of the LA Kings, he was 2022 Hockey East All-Rookie and known for his playmaking and puck skills (scoring a lacrosse goal against Harvard last season). He played on the US National U18 team with current Terriers Jeremy Wilmer and Ty Gallagher and is the son of Kent Hughes, the General Manager of the Montreal Canadiens. 

To find out when to see these new additions and the rest of the squad in action, check out the 2023-24 schedule.