6 Bruins draftees further boost Boston College’s prospects

Followers trying out the Boston College males’s hockey group can count on to see members of the Bruins entrance workplace now and again this season. That had already been the case final yr, when the Eagles’ roster featured three forwards — Andre Gasseau, Oskar Jellvik, and Dean Letourneau — drafted by the Bruins.

All three are again at Chestnut Hill this season, and may have three extra members of the group skating alongside them.

Defenseman Kristian Kostadinski, a seventh-round choose in 2023, and ahead William Moore, chosen within the second spherical this previous June, be part of the squad as freshmen. After which there’s James Hagens, the sophomore ahead who unexpectedly fell into the organization’s lap with the seventh pick within the early summer season.

Aside from Jellvik, who was recovering from surgical procedure, all participated in Bruins growth camp in July. BC coach Greg Brown thought the expertise was useful for all 5, however significantly for newcomers Kostadinski and Moore to get conversant in their teammates.

“I believe it’s helpful for everybody if they will do it simply to see what professional hockey is all about,” mentioned Brown. “Get a really feel for it. See the depth wanted. See among the element that goes into professional hockey, and simply to get a style of it, in order that it’s not all overseas or all new after they come to varsity.

“Faculty hockey basically is detailed, however not as detailed as professional, so to listen to the coaches speak, and to be taught the expectations and type of the way you going to want to play to be efficient, is a superb introduction to them as they make the step up.”

Having six gamers from the identical NHL group on the roster, whereas enjoying in that franchise’s yard, might be seen by some as a distraction, however Brown doesn’t view it that method.

“They’ve demonstrated that they’re all in on on being at Boston Faculty and seeing how good we will be,” he mentioned. “After all, it makes it simpler for the Bruins to get a variety of seems at them, so we all know they’ll be shut and watching.

“However all six youngsters are levelheaded and perceive that professional hockey is one thing sooner or later, and so they should do their job right here and do every part they will right here to get themselves prepared for that. They’ve been wonderful that method, and the Bruins have been nice so far as, they need the youngsters to be right here.

“Should you’re not one hundred pc centered on what you’re doing, you then’re not going to have the ability to play your finest,” added Brown. “So I believe the angle and the steerage that the Bruins have as to wanting the youngsters and serving to them be as centered on enjoying right here as they will, and the youngsters having that very same angle to date has been every part we will hope for.”

The ice at Conte Discussion board will probably be much more crowded with Bruins prospects for BC’s season opener in opposition to Quinnipiac on Friday. Defenseman Elliott Groenewold, a fourth-round choose in 2024, and ahead Chris Pelosi, a third-round choose in 2023, are returning sophomores for the Bobcats. And that doesn’t embrace goalie Dylan Silverstein, who went undrafted however was invited to Bruins growth camp.

Rand Pecknold is getting into his thirty second season as head coach for Quinnipiac and believes he’s by no means had a sport the place among the many two competing groups eight prospects from one group took the ice, not even in his stint as coach for america within the 2023 World Junior Championships.

“I didn’t even have that there, and each child was a draft choose,” mentioned Pecknold with amusing. “That’s loopy that BC has six of them, and we’ve two. We love the 2 that we’ve, and we’re hoping the Bruins ship us extra down the highway.”

Each skated common shifts for a Bobcats squad that gained a fifth consecutive ECAC regular-season title and certified for the NCAA Event.

“I used to be thrilled with each of them,” mentioned Pecknold. “Not solely are they nice gamers, however they’re nice folks, and I believe they’re each poised to have actually good seasons.”

The veteran coach’s solely concern concerning the duo facilities round precisely how for much longer he’ll have them plying their commerce on the Hamden, Conn., campus.

“Should you can ask the Bruins if they will let me have them for no less than another yr after this, I’d admire that,” added Pecknold, maybe half-jokingly. “I’d love them for 2 extra, and get all of them the way in which to senior yr, however I believe we have to be life like.

“However critically, they’re excellent gamers and leaders already as sophomores on our group.”