This season, they were roommates and friends.
Next season, forward Mike Pandolfo and defenseman Chris Dyment will be co-captains of the 2001-02 Boston University hockey team, an announcement which came Saturday night at the 38th annual Friends of BU Hockey banquet.
“We’re very honored to be captains for next year,” said Pandolfo, a native of Burlington.
The Terriers went 14-20-3 this season, only BU’s sixth losing season under BU coach Jack Parker. While Pandolfo acknowledged BU “didn’t have a typical year,” he spoke of how “we learned and we grew. We definitely have the talent to get BU hockey to where it belongs.”
Dyment, a native of Reading and Second Team All-American his sophomore season, thanked his teammates as well as Mike DiMella, the team’s equipment manager, Mike Boyle, BU’s strength and conditioning coach, and Larry Venis, the athletic trainer.
As 28-year BU coach Jack Parker explained to the crowd of 200 before announcing the captains, the players vote for next season’s captain at each season’s conclusion. Since the vote was so close this year Parker decided to hand the captain’s “C” to two players, a situation that happened last in 1997-98 with Chris Drury and Chris Kelleher.
Emceed by Bernie Corbett, the Voice of the Terriers, the banquet offered an opportunity for parents, administrators and fans to honor several Terriers who excelled this season and throughout their careers.
Senior captain Carl Corazzini — who was a Second Team All-American, First Team All-Hockey East and finalist for the Walter Brown Award, given to the top hockey player in New England — was given the George V. Brown Most Valuable Player Award by Dennis O’Connell, former chairman of the Friends of BU Hockey.
Besides thanking practically everyone associated with BU hockey, Corazzini especially gave praise to his parents, Bob and Annemarie, for their support as well as his teammates for their hard play this season with him as captain.
“My teammates, they’re like 25 brothers to me,” said Corazzini, who finished with 36 points to lead BU this season. “They’re life-long friends, and I don’t regret playing a minute with any of them.”
Senior forward Nick Gillis, who played in 144 games over his BU career and is most famous for his Beanpot goal during his freshman season, received the Albert Sidd Unsung Hero Award. The award annually goes to the player who contributes much during his four years and does not garner the proper attention.
Aside from being named co-captains, Dyment and Pandolfo each received individual accolades Saturday. Dyment won the Clifford P. Fitzgerald Scholarship, given annually to the outstanding junior or senior defenseman. Aside from his 31 points two seasons ago, Dyment has played in all 83 games of his collegiate career.
Pandolfo won the prestigious Bennett McInnis Award for Spirit. Past winners include Parker, Drury, Travis Roy and his brother, Jay Pandolfo, who plays for the New Jersey Devils.
“I’m extremely honored to receive this award,” said a soft-spoken Pandolfo. “I was reading the list of past winners here and there are a lot of great people there.”
Freshman forward Mark Mullen received the Most Improved Player award, which goes to the player who improves the most from October to April.
“This award is an award to my coaches and my teammates,” Mullen said. “Without them, there’s no way I could get better.”
Sophomore defenseman Mike Bussoli received the Regina Eilberg scholarship, given annually to the player who combines the highest standards of Terrier athletics and academic performance. Bussoli is a psychology major in the College of Arts and Sciences and was the second highest scoring defenseman (3-14-17) on the team.
Aside from honoring the hockey team, the night was also used to update the BU hockey community on the progress of the new hockey arena, which is scheduled to be finished by 2004, according to Director of Athletics Gary Strickler.
The new hockey arena will seat over 6,000 fans and contain 44 luxury skyboxes. Two parking garages will be underground, and the new arena will also house a Hall of Fame. To date, $18 million in funds and donations have been secured for the arena.
Strickler also said within the next two years, BU is planning on upgrading the women’s ice hockey club team to varsity status, in essence giving the team full financial support from the BU Athletic Department.
“Women’s ice hockey is going to receive the same kind of support we’ve been giving the men’s team,” Strickler said.
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