BU freshman Coyle taken 28th in NHL draft

Boston University men’s hockey incoming freshman Charlie Coyle was selected as the 28th pick in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft by the San Jose Sharks on Friday. Coyle, who is expected to fulfill his commitment to the Terriers in the fall, becomes the 10th BU player picked in the first round in the history of the draft, the first since former Terrier Colin Wilson was taken seventh by Nashville in 2008.

The Weymouth, Mass. native is coming off a season in which he tallied 63 points (21 goals, 42 assists) in 42 games for the South Shore Kings of the Eastern Junior Hockey League. Those numbers were good enough for him to land the EJHL Rookie of the Year award and John Carlton Award, given to an eastern Massachusetts high-school or junior-hockey player who exhibits both exceptional skills on the ice and in the classroom.

Coyle’s draft stock only improved after a solid showing at the NHL Combine, during which he placed in the top 10 of all skaters in several key tests like aerobic and anaerobic tests as well as the tests for leg power and pull strength. Before the combine, NHL Central Scouting ranked him as the 24th best North American skater.

If his draft position and past performances both in the rink and out aren’t enough to raise Terrier fans’ expectations of the local product, his hockey pedigree certainly could be. Coyle is the cousin of retired NHL star and former Terrier Tony Amonte, who totaled 126 points in his two seasons on Commonwealth Avenue and exactly 900 points in his 17 seasons as a professional.

When Coyle finally follows in the footsteps of his cousin and takes the ice for the Terriers this fall, he will wear number three, which was left up for grabs following fellow BU first-rounder Kevin Shattenkirk’s jump to the pros after last season, and is expected to contribute immediately as a two-way forward for coach Jack Parker.