Doyle Somerby didn’t have to wait very long for his first true test as a captain.
In the Boston University men’s hockey team’s 10-2 exhibition win against the University of Prince Edward Island on Saturday, the Terriers found themselves in a contest marred by penalties. The two teams combined for 39 total penalties, and there were some instances where BU players let their emotions get the best of them.
Most noticeably, sophomore forward Jordan Greenway was ejected at the end of the second half for fighting. The over-aggressive nature of the game gave Somerby, the senior defenseman who took over for the now-graduated Matt Grzelcyk as captain, a challenge — keeping his team level-headed while continuing its high level of play.
After the Greenway ejection, BU did exactly that, as they were called for just three penalties in the third period while winning the frame 2-0. Somerby, who picked up two assists in the win, said postgame that the second period scrum helped put an end to the chippiness on the Terriers’ end.
“We have some big games coming up, and I knows that guys don’t want to get into it and lose games in the season for scrums in an exhibition game,” Somerby said. “That kind of helped out a little bit, but just throughout, [I was] just reminding them that it’s an exhibition game and we’re trying to make statements here and improve each period. [We] just kind of have to stay to our own and just keep working.”
If there’s one person on this year’s stacked Terriers team who knows how to just keep working, it’s Somerby. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound blue-liner has been through it all during his college career, from a losing season his freshman year to a National Championship appearance in his sophomore campaign.
Now the on-ice leader of a young, promising squad, the experienced Somerby will look to guide the Terriers back to the Frozen Four in his final season. One of three seniors on the roster, Somerby has the unique task of serving as captain for a star-studded group of freshmen.
BU head coach David Quinn said he has been impressed by the leadership of the senior class so far. Much of that can be credited to Somerby who, along with classmates Nick Roberto and Tommy Kelley, have done a nice job leading by example, according to their head coach.
“I know it’s only a short sampling, but I certainly love the feel of our team right now,” Quinn said. “And I don’t mean talent wise, just the feel of it. There seems to be a work ethic that you’re going to need, and we’re going to need it if we’re going to have success, and so far so good.
Somerby, a Marblehead native, has come across many challenges in his career. He originally played the forward position before switching to defense his freshmen year of high school at St. Mary’s High School in Lynn. On top of that, Somerby transferred to Kimball Union Academy in New Hampshire after a year at St. Mary’s.
Despite playing on the blue line for only a few years and changing schools in the midst of his high school career, Somerby excelled and was taken by the New York Islanders in the fifth round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, just months after committing to BU.
Somerby impressed in his first collegiate season, but the team as a whole struggled, managing only a 11-21-4 record. The next year, of course, was a complete reversal as Somerby and the Terriers were a clean third period away from a National Championship. Last season, BU collapsed at the end of the year, losing four of their last six contests and suffering a first-round exit in the NCAA Tournament.
Somerby has dealt with the highs and lows of college hockey, and Quinn said he believes that senior experience will prove to be key this year.
“I think our upperclassmen are smart enough to use that wisdom to help us this year,” Quinn said. “Our guys understand what consistency is and how to be mentally tough and how mentally tough we’re going to need to be if we’re going to have success, because at the end of the day, we understand when we go into a rink, we face everybody’s A-game.”
He could have moved on to the NHL after last season, but Somerby decided to stay on Commonwealth Avenue for one more year. The stacked freshman class recruited by the coaching staff is the main reason for remaining a Terrier. Somerby knows this team can make a deep tournament run, and he’s looking forward to it.
“I knew we had nine freshmen coming in,” Somerby said. “It was something that I wanted, to take a younger team and just kind of mold them into what they need to be in the future, so it was exciting.”
Needless to say, the freshmen are some of the best in the nation. Forwards Clayton Keller, Kieffer Bellows and defenseman Dante Fabbro were all drafted in the first round of this year’s NHL Draft. Defenseman Chad Krys and forward Pat Harper were taken in the subsequent rounds, and goaltender Jake Oettinger is projected to be the first netminder selected next year.
As evidenced by nine of the 10 goals in Saturday’s exhibition coming from freshmen, the new guys should be a huge factor in the team’s success. Somerby said he informed the freshmen that expectations will be high, but to make the most of those expectations.
“It’s something that you really have to enjoy, and you can’t put pressure on yourself,” Somerby said. “This year, I was just saying that with the defensive line being crowded, it almost feels like a game mentality, because everybody knows they have to be at their best to be in the lineup. It’s just competing every day and trying to get better throughout the year.”
Since it’s about an hour drive from Marblehead to Agganis Arena, Somerby was able to drive into Boston to spend time with the freshmen and show them the way. He even had the team over his house for a Fourth of July party. That’s gone a long way in building rapport between the new guys and the upperclassmen.
“He’s been a great captain so far. He was here in the summer a little bit, made us feel really comfortable and kind of reached out to us before we were actually on campus and just asked us how things were going,” Keller said. “It’s little things like that that help build relationships. It’s good to have him as a captain, and I believe in what he’s doing and I believe that he’s a good leader.”
Of course, there’s still plenty to be done if the Terriers are going to come away with their sixth national championship in April. The frenzy and hype surrounding this team is astounding, and the pressure is as intense as ever. Anything less than an appearance in Chicago will be a disappointment.
For the senior defenseman, this added pressure and scrutiny is just another challenge to overcome.
“I think there’s going to be pressure no matter what,” Somerby said. “You really just have to go in there and not expect much at the beginning, because there’s definitely a learning curve with a lot of the freshman, and you’re going to be judged at the end of the year more than you are at the beginning. It’s just kind of bringing everyone together and being comfortable around each other.”
Nick is currently writing for the Boston Hockey Blog. In the past, he has served as associate sports editor, and has covered men's and women's cross-country, women's soccer, men's basketball, and men's lacrosse for the Daily Free Press. You can keep track of Nick's exciting life by following him on Twitter at @nikfraz14
