Frozen in time

MANCHESTER, N.H. – Three years later, Jack Parker once again sat before the media following an NCAA regional final. Only this time, for the first time in 12 years, he spoke as the head coach of a team headed to the Frozen Four.

After more than a decade’s worth of seasons that fell short of expectations, the 2008-09 edition of the Boston University men’s hockey team put those haunting memories to rest Sunday with its 2-1 victory over the University of New Hampshire in the Northeast Regional final at Verizon Wireless Arena.

‘Coming into this game, I thought all the seniors did a good job explaining to the young guys that you don’t want to experience that feeling,’ BU senior co-captain John McCarthy said in reference to the Terriers’ last appearance in a regional final, a 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Boston College in 2006.

‘It’s not a good feeling to have,’ McCarthy continued. ‘So right from the beginning of the week, we made sure we were ready to play. And that was the responsibility of our seniors.’

For a program dogged by an assortment of misfortunes during a national championship drought that has spanned 14 seasons, the road back to college hockey’s biggest stage has been anything but a cakewalk.

‘Sometimes, it’s just a difficult thing to get by,’ Parker said of his team’s 12-year absence from the Frozen Four heading into Sunday. ‘I have been there many times as a player, as a head coach and as an assistant coach. It’s always best when it’s this one, because the guys you’re working with now get a chance to feel that. I wanted my players to get this opportunity that so many other BU players have had the opportunity to experience.’

While boasting an eye-popping overall record of 33-6-4 and a pair of Hobey Baker Award finalists in senior Matt Gilroy and sophomore Colin Wilson, the Terriers’ most impressive attribute this season has been their ability to rise to the occasion when the stakes are raised.

In many ways, BU’s winning mentality was instilled during its impressive showing in the season-opening Ice Breaker Invitational. Faced with the daunting task of hosting perennial powers in the University of North Dakota and Michigan State University to start the year, the Terriers responded by beginning their journey toward establishing themselves as national title contenders.

Months later, they have never looked back.

One year removed from a 2007-08 season that ranks as one of the biggest letdowns in recent program history, there would be no repeat performance from a BU squad so starved for championship glory.

The team-wide confidence founded on that fateful October weekend laid the groundwork for a season that has since seen BU capture every piece of hardware it’s played for – the Wells Fargo Denver Cup, Beanpot Tournament title, Hockey East regular-season crown and Hockey East Tournament championship. In each circumstance, the challenge was great. But the Terriers were greater.

Now two wins away from college hockey’s ultimate prize, BU’s toughest obstacle just might be itself.

Although Parker is the first to admit that his team’s gaudy win total is primarily a result of superior talent, there’s no mistaking the fact that the Terriers’ rise to prominence has coincided with a rededication to effort.

‘The best team doesn’t always win because, besides talent, you have to have effort and you have to have focus,’ Parker said. ‘That’s how you really win. When you get to a certain level, in Hockey East especially, nobody can win on talent. There’s not one team in our league that can win on talent. You have to win with talent, and the most important stuff – character, effort and discipline.

‘We’ve got an awful lot of guys who are able to play hockey on this club. This is as strong a team I’ve had, all four lines. This is the best core of defensemen I’ve ever coached for six guys. Our goaltender’s been Jimmy Craig-like, Cleon Daskalakis-like. You need that obviously, so that’s the major reason. But the thing that sets this team apart is the senior class. We’ve had great captains and great seniors. This team is as good as I’ve ever coached that way.’