For most people, this year’s race for Hockey East’s Coach of the Year came down to two names: Providence College’s Tim Army and Boston University’s Jack Parker. But Parker himself thought a third candidate should be thrown into the mix.
“Maybe David Van der Gulik should get Coach of the Year for turning that team around,” Parker said, laughing. “Those type of things are more important than what we did.”
That’s the thing about postseason awards — it all depends on who you ask. And so, with that in mind, The Daily Free Press’s hockey beat writers take their best crack at projecting this year’s honors, which will be handed out tonight at the Royal Sonesta in Cambridge.
Player of the Year
Chris Collins
senior forward, Boston College
Runners-up: Greg Moore, senior forward, Maine; Brian Boyle, junior forward, BC
With all due respect to the other candidates, this one’s a no-brainer. After scoring a combined 29 goals his first three seasons in Chestnut Hill, the clever playmaker has exploded for 30 this year, to go with 27 assists. The 57 points are tops in the league and third in the nation, placing him in serious contention not just for this award, but for the Hobey Baker as the nation’s best college hockey player.
Coach of the Year
Jack Parker, BU
Runners-up: Tim Army, Providence; Dick Umile, New Hampshire
Parker said he fully expects Army to win the award after, in his first season, he completely changed the Friars’ philosophy — and fortunes. Umile certainly deserves mention for suspending seven players and sparking his team on a current streak of 7-1-3 hockey. But Army’s squad faded in the second half after opponents figured out their style, and Umile’s team was expected to be at the top of the league.
That leaves Parker — the defending winner of this award, who ought to repeat tonight and win for the fifth time overall. He turned a young 5-7-2 squad that was picked to finish fifth in the league into the Hockey East regular-season champions and, at one point, the No. 3 team in the country. And now, primed for a postseason run, he’s set to prove wrong all those who said he was starting to slip during the Terriers’ struggles in recent seasons.
Rookie of the Year
Brandon Yip, forward, BU
Runners-up: Ben Bishop, goalie, Maine; Rob Ricci, forward, Merrimack
This one’s a close call — Ricci (10-15-25) carried the offense for the Warriors, while Bishop emerged as a stalwart in net for the surging Black Bears, who have a current 10-game unbeaten streak. But it’s Yip’s versatility that wins him the award. Not only does he lead all Hockey East freshmen in points, but he stepped up as a steady point man on BU’s power play. The big British Columbian brings a physical flair to the ice and quickly proved he had the hardest shot on the Terrier squad during Hockey Mania.
Sportsmanship Award
Player: Chuck Tomes, senior defenseman, Northeastern
Team: Vermont
Runners-up: Stephen Werner, senior forward, UMass-Amherst; UMass-Amherst
On a team that took the second-most penalties (and penalty minutes per game) in the league, Tomes was a captain that only spent 26 minutes in the box the whole year. But that’s not why we’re giving him this award. He helped to have the Huskies playing hard long after their season was, for all intents and purposes, over. And his leadership was never more evident than after his final home game, when he put his emotions aside to articulately fill in for coach Greg Cronin, who skipped the press conference.
The Catamounts entered the league with dignity, establishing Hockey East’s second-stingiest defense despite only the second-fewest penalty minutes in the conference.
Best Defensive Forward
Brad Zancanaro, senior, BU
Runners-up: Derek Damon, senior, Maine; Brady Leisenring, senior, Vermont
Zancanaro’s tenacious play is impossible to miss if you’re watching the Terriers. BU’s best penalty-killer — and the only Terrier fans want to trust in a defensive zone faceoff — is a constant pest for opposing forwards. Parker has consistently called BU’s top line the Terriers’ best defensive line, as Van der Gulik could also challenge for the award had he played for the full season. But Zancanaro — who has played in 157 consecutive games and has a career-high 34 points this year — will get his due.
Best Defensive Defenseman
Travis Wight, senior, Maine
Runners-up: Peter Harrold, senior, BC; Dan Spang, senior, BU
Wight has by far the best plus/minus numbers (plus-19) on Maine’s league-leading defense, anchoring the Black Bears’ top defensive pairing. Spang and Harrold are both worthy competitors, but the Comm. Ave. duo also focused much of its efforts at the other end of the ice. Wight (2-9-11) simply locked down his own end.
All-League First Team
Forwards: Chris Collins, senior, BC; Greg Moore, senior, Maine; Brian Boyle, junior, BC
Defensemen: Marvin Degon, senior, UMass; Brian Yandle, senior, UNH
Goalie: John Curry, junior, BU
All-League Second Team
Forwards: Daniel Winnik, junior, UNH; Torrey Mitchell, senior, Vermont; Pete MacArthur, junior, BU
Defensemen: Dan Spang, senior, BU; Peter Harrold, senior, BC
Goalie: Cory Schneider, sophomore, BC
All-Rookie Team
Forwards: Brandon Yip, BU; Rob Ricci, Merrimack; Peter Lenes, Vermont
Defensemen: Brett Motherwell, BC; Cody Wild, Providence
Goalie: Ben Bishop, Maine