The regular season has come and gone, and that tends to mean one thing for the Boston University women’s hockey team.
Playoff hockey is on the horizon, and this year’s senior class is no stranger to the win-or-go-home mentality that often defines February and March. After all, they’ve played a crucial role in BU (20-12-2, 17-5-2 Hockey East) advancing to six straight NCAA Tournaments and capturing four straight Hockey East championships.
The quest for even more silverware kicks off this weekend against the University of Vermont, and it’s fair to postulate Walter Brown Arena has produced a mini dynasty of sorts over the past half decade. BU head coach Brian Durocher attested the success to one part luck, one part talent and one part composure, but there may be something else at play.
“From my freshman year to my senior year, it might sound cliché, but I really do think there’s something special about Boston University and our hockey team in terms of us being a family,” senior forward Rebecca Russo said. “I just really think we recognize that when the word ‘playoffs’ comes about, we flip on a switch and we’re a different type of team.”
While staunch competition in the form of No. 1 Boston College and No. 6 Northeastern University stands in the way this year, the Terrier’s focused approach is purposeful. Senior forward Kayla Tutino, who has the chance to become the first Hockey East player ever to capture five titles, said the team breeds confidence this time of year.
The captain said anxious nerves, confidence and a second gear all coalesce, as BU uses every edge it can get.
“Without a doubt, that momentum you create and the psychological advantage can work both ways,” Durocher said. “Your kids are innately confident, and the other team is saying, ‘Uh oh, here come the lucky ones.’ There’s a little bit of that with your opponent, and you’ve got a little bit of that positive feeling and momentum yourselves.”
A perhaps unrecognized explanation for BU’s playoff surge is team culture, as the players spend countless hours together on and off the ice. Whether it’s meals in the dining hall, taking the same classes, living together or spending time in the weight room, Russo said the Terriers have created a unique environment.
Much of that stems back to storied players of Terrier teams past, as legends Marie-Philip Poulin, Louise Warren, Kaleigh Fratkin, Jenn Wakefield and Tara Watchorn all set a winning standard. This year’s senior class embodies that too. As Durocher said, “You can go right down the line, and they’re all bringing certain things to the table.”
Through familiarity and comfort, BU continually tightens its belt and finds a way to win, even if it’s not the odds-on favorite to do so.
“You see it in many teams,” Tutino said. “What happens off the ice and away from the rink and the locker room translates to on the ice. We’re definitely a really close group this year, and we have each other’s backs. We communicate really well, and that’s the key. If you communicate really well, you’re not afraid to give each other constructive criticism, and that’s really important come playoffs.”
With well-documented success, BU know extending its dominance will be no easy task, as it’s not afforded the luxury of an underdog or Cinderella run. Rather, the Terriers plan to lean upon a measured, patient approach.
“This weekend we’re playing UVM, so that’s our first concern,” Tutino said. “We’re going to make sure we come out strong and not play them any differently than any other team.”
Regardless of what’s in store, this year’s senior class has been a part of something that doesn’t come around often. Many players advance through their college hockey careers without winning a single title, never mind a coffer-full.
The eight-member class, Tutino said, definitely wants to “leave with a bang” and “finish the right way.” With history on its side and Durocher at the helm, BU knows just how to make that reality.
“I just think it’s something special,” Russo said. “Our senior class is already leaving behind a huge personality and talent type of legacy, so I think with this Hockey East Championship coming up, it’s just an honor to put the BU jersey on every day. To think we’re next to each other and have each other’s back, we’re just looking forward it.”
Jonathan's a New Englander who writes about sports, features and politics. He currently covers men's hockey at BU, worked as Sports Editor during the spring 2016 semester and is on the FreeP's Board of Directors. Toss him a follow on Twitter at @jonathansigal.
