The two co-captains were the last two left by the Boston University net, waiting for their names to be called and their lengthy list of achievements to be read to the Agganis Arena crowd on Senior Night.
And it was entirely appropriate that just moments later, a trophy was waiting for them in the locker room.
Because for David Van der Gulik, Brad Zancanaro and the rest of the Class of 2006 – a class that kept all six of its entirely likable and productive members – the regular-season Hockey East title was a long time coming.
This was (and is) a class that has seen it all – from coming within a goal of a Hockey East title and a game of the Frozen Four their freshman year, to the depths of despair during a trying sophomore season. Now, they’ve come full circle, anchoring a team that has gone 16-2-2 in its last 20, charging into the postseason.
“The kids were willing to accept any role, and they accepted a lot of roles during the course of their years here,” said BU coach Jack Parker. “As it turns out, in their last two years, they accepted the big role of being the number one line, [Dan] Spang being the star defensemen.”
That first line – which has held strong, even through some injuries, for two years now – consists of Van der Gulik, Zancanaro and fellow senior John Laliberte. Two of them had goals on senior night, and Zancanaro wrapped up a four-point weekend with an assist on Laliberte’s first period score.
But scoring is just a part of what they do. Zancanaro and Van der Gulik might be the two best defensive forwards in Hockey East. Laliberte is a stalwart in front of the net and on the power play who drew comparisons to Keith Tkachuk from an opposing coach last year.
The trio is a measure of consistency and durability – Zancanaro has played in all 155 games that have occurred while has been at BU, while Van der Gulik and Laliberte have both fought through painful injuries this year to get back in the lineup to produce and lead.
And that leadership might be the most valuable part.
“We really follow these guys. We do what they do,” said sophomore Pete MacArthur. “They work that hard and it’s almost like Coach said the other day – we’re embarrassed if we don’t work as hard as they do. They did a great job of leading us in the second half.”
Spang certainly is the undisputed leader of BU’s defensive corps – and someone Parker has been campaigning for to be an All-American. His classmate and cohort on the blue line, Jekabs Redlihs, couldn’t play on Senior Night because of an injury, but when healthy, he’s been more than effective, too.
Goalie Stephan Siwiec has probably faced the most adversity of the six, but has certainly made his contributions. He fought for playing time behind Sean Fields and John Curry during his time on Commonwealth Avenue, but was always ready to step in – and did so with a huge 36-save effort in the first round of the 2005 Beanpot against Boston College in a 2-1 win.
But even more, he represents the same thing they all do – a humble, classy attitude that’s full of effort, grit and winning.
“If you meet the parents of these guys, you know why these guys are such great guys,” Parker said. “Really nice people, really know how to keep things in perspective. No big egos, nobody worrying about ‘What about my kid? What about my kid’s ice time?’ That plays right to the kids.”
And right to the rest of the Terriers.
“They do a great job of making sure the team is just a cohesive unit right from the very first day you step on this campus,” MacArthur said.
Before they step off, they might just have a few more gifts to collect.
