With senior co-captain Matt Gilroy headed off to the National Hockey League next season, and his running mate John McCarthy graduating next month, the Boston University men’s hockey team is ready for some new leaders. Gilroy and McCarthy will turn their C’s over to junior Brian Strait and sophomore Kevin Shattenkirk to keep next year’s Terriers in line.
The new captains were announced at Saturday night’s 46th Annual Friends of Hockey Banquet at the George Sherman Union. Shattenkirk was a second-team All-American defenseman in his second season as a Terrier. Strait filled the role of assistant captain on BU’s blue line during the team’s NCAA title run. Both defensemen served as captains during their time on the U.S. National Under-18 Team.
Gilroy signs with Rangers
Matt Gilroy will be heading home to New York next season to take the next step in his hockey career.
One week after winning the Hobey Baker Award as the nation’s top college hockey player, the senior defenseman signed a free-agent deal Friday to join the New York Rangers, according to ESPN.com. The deal is reportedly worth $3.5 million over two years.
Gilroy, a native of North Bellmore, N.Y., turned down two dozen offers to sign pro contracts after his junior year, returning to BU to finish his college career. He capped off his time as a Terrier with a 37-point season, good for second in the nation among defensemen, and was an All-American for the third time.
One night after winning the Hobey Baker Award, Gilroy helped BU overcome a two-goal deficit in the final minute of the NCAA championship game to defeat Miami University, 4-3, in overtime. Fans will be left with the indelible image of Gilroy setting up sophomore Nick Bonino for the tying goal with 17.4 seconds to go in regulation after sending a Miami player flying by with a shot fake.
He will not be allowed to join the Rangers for their playoff run, but because the team signed him to a one-way deal, he will have to be on New York’s opening-day roster next fall.
Wilson signs with Predators
Colin Wilson proved himself to be an elite talent at the college level. Now he’s ready to move on to the pros.
The Nashville Predators signed BU’s sophomore center to a three-year entry-level contract Friday, according to a report in The Tennessean. Wilson was drafted seventh overall by Nashville in the 2008 NHL draft.
Last week, the 19-year-old from Winnipeg, Manitoba helped lead the Terriers to the NCAA Division-I title, the program’s first since 1995. Wilson finished the 2008-09 season ranked second in the nation with 55 points on 17 goals and 38 assists, and was named a First-Team All-American.
Wilson could be assigned to the Milwaukee Admirals, Nashville’s minor league affiliate, who are currently playing the Rockford IceHogs in the American Hockey League playoffs. If he does not join the Admirals, the 6-foot-2-inch, 215-pound forward will likely compete for a roster spot with Nashville during this summer’s training camp.
Additionally, Wilson was added to the U.S. National Team that will compete in the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships from April 24 to May 10 in Switzerland.
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