Terrier transfer will go facing his dated class-Providence College or university-on the weekend

Jay O’Brien (COM’23) averaged a couple points per games a year ago, and therefore year try best the latest BU men’s hockey class in the factors for every single games on next 12 months in a row. Pictures because of the Matt Woolverton

Terrier import will go facing his dated team-Providence School-on the weekend

He is scored four yet this present year, making him the fresh BU men’s hockey leader inside the points each game (0.93). It’s a country mile off out of his difficult freshman promotion from the Providence College or university, however, three-years later on, O’Brien (COM’23) has returned in the Hockey East, which have BU, and has now made the absolute most regarding his 2nd opportunity.

“I just decided I experienced many unfinished organization,” O’Brien states. “I wanted to return so you can Hockey East to prove to help you me personally and prove to the individuals up to me personally what sort of athlete I am, and i also know I have been starting that.”

Good Hingham, Size., local, O’Brien starred through the their senior school ages under previous Terrier Tony Amonte within Thayer Academy, and you can however constantly esteemed the college online game. For every March, however look ahead to Boston’s storied men’s room Beanpot tournament.

“I would personally started thinking to be a school hockey user,” O’Brien claims. “I believe the college video game is the closest thing you’re going discover so you’re able to pro. Should you want to feel a person, I think college is the best way to do so.”

O’Brien chose to play during the Providence University after high school. “At the time, I suppose Providence was the best university personally,” according to him. “I the amount of time during the a young age.” However, immediately after his freshman seasons produced four activities inside 25 game, he decided the time had come to maneuver Illinois title loan into. “I felt that it actually was an informed move personally,” he says.

O’Brien possess registered one or more part of five off BU’s last 7 video game-which have about three multipoint video game throughout that increase. Photographs by the Patrick Donnelly

Shortly after becoming drawn up from the Philadelphia Leaflets nineteenth complete in the 2018 NHL Draft, O’Brien leftover the brand new Friars lower than the following year. To your possibilities of collegiate, junior, and you can professional hockey streams ahead of your, he was unsure from the which guidelines to pursue.

“There was a time in which I didn’t know if I was going to come back to school,” he says. “There are a number of other teams and you may leagues one hit away. I attempted to speak with as many as I will, simply to get their opinion and hear him or her aside.”

The guy sooner or later year for the Penticton Vees-a course which had in past times invited five current Terriers. “Penticton is actually eventually the place where I experienced extremely at home,” O’Brien claims. “Down and up, they might be only top-notch. You earn managed such as for example an expert. I just thought that are the right place, where I happened to be probably build my personal video game.”

The alteration off scenery made a change in his overall performance into freeze. The guy tallied 66 activities within the 46 online game for the Vees, averaging a goal and you will a help in for each playoff game before new postseason is actually slash small because of the start of new COVID-19 pandemic. Using it-all, even though, he leftover considering doing college-the question is actually in which.

“I produced the possibility ahead of I went out in order to Penticton you to I was planning to return to college,” according to him, of course, if he had been ong his alternatives for school, Boston University is actually an early on competitor.

“These were the first university to arrive over to me personally whenever We registered brand new import site-it absolutely was actually the afternoon I was throughout the site you to I’d a trip,” he says. “I believe there’s something great regarding getting a student athlete, particularly here at BU.”

O’Brien based BU’s most useful range when you look at the an effective six-cuatro earn up against reigning NCAA champion School off Massachusetts to your herst. Photos by the Patrick Donnelly

“I remember watching your just like the a young son,” says Terrier head mentor Albie O’Connell (CAS’99). “Whether it did not a little workout [within Providence], they are a person that individuals noticed a great amount of.”

It don’t take much persuading. “I particular know right away that this is the perfect place We wanted to become,” O’Brien states. “It was one of what exactly you to considered inside my personal gut and i trapped inside.” With his earliest game during the an effective Terrier uniform in that 2020-2021 12 months is up against Providence. While the fortune could have they, he obtained BU’s very first objective facing their dated class.

“It was higher observe him get that one in the brand new first [period],” people chief Logan Cockerill (SHA’22) said following video game. “We were most pleased for your.”

O’Brien completed the entire year sharing the team lead-in specifications (5) and finishing next in the factors (10) even with appearing in just four games from the COVID-reduced venture. The guy have not overlooked a beat inside the next 12 months at BU, tallying 13 things from inside the fourteen game thus far this year.

“When they are experienced the new lineup, he or she is already been excellent for all of us,” O’Connell says. “The audience is a separate hockey team whenever he could be within.” Getting his part, O’Brien states they are thankful to your help of O’Connell and you may the rest of the instruction personnel.

“The important thing is probably just having fun with rely on, in all honesty,” he says. The newest instructors has actually lay me personally throughout the proper places-[I see] the belief that brand new instructions group has actually for the myself.”

The Terriers, and you can O’Brien, will skate facing Providence twice regarding the coming months, which Sunday, January 29, home and also at Providence for the March 10. Regardless if he’s got experienced the newest Friars before, according to him that have fans in the building, in place of this past year after they was indeed banned by the pandemic standards, will make new matchups even more meaningful.

“I am thrilled locate back to Providence and you may enjoy in front of them admirers, while having them started here and you can enjoy before the fans,” O’Brien claims. “We don’t such as him or her plus they dislike all of us, it produces a great series.”

Admirers can purchase seats for the video game ranging from BU and you will Providence Week-end, , online and during the Agganis Stadium citation place of work, 925 Comm Ave. The online game is televised toward NESN and you may protected compliment of towards Fb. Stick to the BU men’s hockey class to your Twitter.

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