Their battles used to take place on the living room rug.
Tonight, the venue will shift to the ice for the first time.
When the No. 7 Boston University hockey team opens its Hockey East campaign tonight at No. 13 Providence College, twin brothers Brad and Tony Zancanaro will look at each other from a new vantage point – as opponents. And Peter and Leslie Zancanaro may be forced to sit on their hands just to stay impartial.
‘I don’t know really what it will be like yet, because it’s never happened,’ said the Terrier twin, sophomore Brad Zancanaro. ‘We’ve been on opposite teams, we’ve just never played each other. This will be our first time, and obviously it will be weird, but I just have to treat it like he’s just another guy on Providence that you’re willing to hack.’
Subplots aside, the Terriers may have a little tougher time with the Friars than many would have predicted just a few weeks ago. Despite being decimated by graduation last season (losing seven forwards, a defenseman and a star goalie), the Friars have jumped out of the gate this year, going a perfect 4-0 and thrusting themselves into the top 15.
The new-look Friars have exploded on offense, while getting strong goalkeeping from sophomore Bobby Goepfert. The closest games the Friars have played this season were 2-1 and 5-3 wins over Minnesota State University at Mankato last weekend, to go with 7-2 and 5-2 romps over Sacred Heart University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, respectively.
The Terriers have recent memories of Schneider Arena, having visited the Friars for a best-of-three series in the first round of last year’s Hockey East Tournament. And while BU came out with a two-game sweep, including a 7-1 rout to clinch the series, Zancanaro believes the revamped Friars will still be a tough test.
‘I think they lost a lot of forwards, but their defensemen – they didn’t lose anybody so they’re going to be a good defensive hockey team,’ Zancanaro said. ‘We had trouble with them last year and they’re going to be good again this year. Every team you play in this league is going to be a close game. You don’t really blow a lot of people out anyway when it comes to conference games.’
Brad Zancanaro, a year ahead of his twin brother after jumping directly to BU while Tony played a year for the Springfield Spirit of the North American Hockey League, skated at Thursday’s practice with freshman Kenny Roche and sophomore Dave Van der Gulik on the second line. The trio varies slightly from last week’s second line, which included senior Frantisek Skladany in place of Van der Gulik.
And while Zancanaro said coach Jack Parker has not set any lines in stone just two games into the season, he thinks the Terriers have turned around the offensive problems that plagued them for much of last season.
‘I think we’ve improved in that aspect,’ the 5-foot-5-inch freshman said. ‘We realized that it was a problem last year and we’re getting it going a little bit more. And I think we have a little better sense that it’s something we have to work on and so far we’re doing a pretty good job.’
After a slow start two weeks ago against Rensselaer, the Terriers seemed to loosen up, tallying five goals from five different players. And while University of Vermont goalie Travis Russell played well last week, BU was unable to connect on a lot of quality scoring chances, bringing back memories of some of last season’s problems.
But last season will be the last thing on the Terriers’ mind when the puck is dropped tonight in Providence. And while Parker and the rest of Terrier Nation will be cheering for as many BU goals as possible, there may be two people rooting for a tie.
Mr. and Mrs. Zancanaro may find it easier to face their sons that way.