A Perfect BU Hockey Season

Photo credit: Jim Rosvold

Getty Images Photo

You know the story by now. With under a minute to go in the national championship game, BU found the back of the net twice in 42 seconds. An unthinkable comeback.

Then, about 12 minutes into the overtime period, Colby Cohen’s deflected slapshot gave the Terrier hockey program its fifth national title.

Putting this game into proper historical context can be difficult in its immediate aftermath. But who’s going to argue that last night’s title game wasn’t the best collegiate hockey game ever played?

Dan Shaughnessy of The Boston Globe opened his column with this: “It simply had to be the greatest college hockey game ever played.”

Coach Jack Parker, who’s been at the helm for 36 years, said it was the best he’s ever seen.

“Wow. What a hockey game. What a finish. All I can think of is it’s the greatest comeback I’ve been involved in.”

Parker equated Nick Bonino’s game-tying goal to Red Sox outfielder Bernie Carbo’s game-tying home run in the sixth game of the 1975 World Series. Carbo’s homer set the stage for one of the most famous World Series moments, Carlton Fisk’s game-winning home run off the left field foul pole. Bonino equals Carbo. Fisk equals Cohen. Just as Fisk’s home run was anything but ordinary because it hit the foul pole, Cohen’s goal was similarly unique because the deflection threw everyone off… most notably, Miami University goalie Cody Reichard.

I’ve been a Boston sports fan all my life, but BU winning is better than a Patriots, Celtics, or even Red Sox championship. This is our school. We have a sense of ownership in this title, even if we didn’t skate a second on the ice. We have a lot more in common with the guys on the hockey team than we do with the professional athletes that some of them will become.

Last night, about 1,500 of us sat in Agganis Arena in shock. Miami University had just scored its third goal. Was this really going to happen? Were we going to win everything else this season, from the Ice Breaker tournament in October to the Hockey East tournament in March, only to have the most prized victory elude us? I began the grieving process.

Time ticked away. Two minutes remaining. 1:45 remaining. 1:30 left. Less than a minute to go. Even at this point, scoring one goal was unlikely.

The first goal was met with mild applause at Agganis. Still no reason to get too excited. But as the offense attacked in the Miami zone, hope grew. A silent, stunned arena 43 seconds prior erupted like Mt. Saint Helens when Bonino’s goal restored our view of the 2008-09 BU mens hockey team. These guys always find a way to get it done.

Under their sweaters, the players wore “Burn the Boats” t-shirts, which stands for the 100-percent commitment made by each of them this season. The phrase originates from Spanish explorer Hernando Cortez, who ordered the destruction of his boats so that no one in his fleet could bail once they reached Mexico.

The best season in Terrier history was capped with the best college hockey game ever played. On Tuesday, we celebrate with a parade down Comm. Ave. On Duck boats. Someone keep the matches away from Jack Parker.