WASHINGTON ‘-‘- When Matt Gilroy tried out for the Boston University men’s hockey team as a walk-on his freshman year, he couldn’t even stick on at his natural position. Coaches told Gilroy, a native of North Bellmore, N.Y., to switch from forward to defense if he wanted to make the squad. Four seasons later, the three-time All-American defenseman is now the Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner as the most outstanding player in college hockey.
‘I was in sheer panic for the move back to defense,’ Gilroy said Friday night at Verizon Center. ‘They gave me the option, and I just said ‘Yes’ immediately without even thinking. Going to a system like BU really helped me out’ because they demand defense first.’
Gilroy earned the award on the eve of Saturday’s NCAA national championship game, in which his Terriers defeated the RedHawks of Miami University, 4-3. As the wise, elder statesman manning the blue line for BU, the 24-year-old co-captain brings all of the intangibles his team demands ‘-‘- and plenty of talent, too.
He beat out sophomore teammate Colin Wilson and Northeastern University junior goaltender Brad Thiessen to win the award.
On a team stacked from top to bottom with skilled athletes, Gilroy’s body of work this season stands out as a driving force that has kept the Terriers’ motor running from start to finish. He is regularly the lone defenseman disrupting odd-man rushes or the calm presence settling the puck behind the net to begin the breakout.
In Thursday’s national semifinal against the University of Vermont, with the pressure mounting as the clock ticked toward zero and the Terriers leading by a goal, Gilroy skated over to his goalie to impart some confidence. Freshman Kieran Millan had allowed four goals ‘-‘- his second-worst outing of the season ‘-‘- and looked visibly shaken after letting in a soft score earlier in the game. The defenseman glided toward his 19-year-old netminder ‘-‘- as he has done after every tough goal this season ‘-‘- and told him to settle down.
Gilroy then helped Millan by staying out on the ice in the final minute to push the team into the title game.
‘I actually love going out there the last minute of the game when the game’s on the line,’ Gilroy said.
Gilroy’s impact on the Terriers this year has been equal parts leadership and on-ice performance. His defensive positioning makes him an impenetrable wall in front of opposing forwards trying to break in on the BU goal. With the puck on his stick, he seamlessly navigates the ice, often looking like ‘a man amongst boys,’ as BU coach Jack Parker likes to call him.
The last piece of the game to fall into place for the forward-turned-defenseman, surprisingly, was at the offensive end. While he tended to let up on the attack in past years in favor of playing shutdown defense, Gilroy has put it all together this year. His eight goals and 28 assists have him third in the nation in scoring amongst defenseman with 36 points. All this from a kid who came to BU without a spot on the team and had to push his coaches to give him a chance.
‘I emailed every team in the country,’ Gilroy said of his search to find a college that would take him. ‘I tried calling every team in the country. No one was calling back, and then a powerhouse like BU gave me an opportunity. All I can do is thank them.’
For Gilroy, who turned down several contract offers to play professional hockey after his junior season, the decision to return to BU has certainly proven to be a good one.
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