By: Ryan Gagne | Follow Me On Twitter @keepingthestats
Over the weekend, the Boston Bruins brought home another former Boston University (BU) prospect, signing Kevin Shattenkirk to a one-year deal. According to statistics from Hockey-Reference.com, 91 former BU Alumni have advanced to the NHL, with 24 playing with the Bruins.
As of 2023, no former Terriers’ players have earned enshrinement into the Hockey Hall of Fame. However, several players have become NHL All-Stars and Stanley Cup winners, with Jack Eichel becoming the latest champion. Considering BU is always in the conversation as one of the city’s best hockey schools, figuring out who is the best Alumni to skate with the Bruins was fun.
10. Dan LaCouture
Dan LaCouture played 337 games in the NHL, dressing with six teams and spending a single season with the Bruins. Interestingly, the native of Hyannis, MA, also spent a single season with the Terriers. However, in his limited time, he won a Hockey East championship with the team in 1997. Moreover, he tallied 25 points in 31 games at BU and four in 55 games with the Bruins.
9. Dave Silk
Dave Silk was one of the several Massachusetts (Scituate) skaters on the “Miracle on Ice” 1980 Olympic Gold Medal-winning team at Lake Placid. After three years at BU, which included two All-Tournament Team honors, he played seven seasons in the NHL, including two with the Bruins. During 64 games in black and gold, he collected 42 points.
8. Matt Grzelcyk
Matt Grzelcyk is a local Charleston, MA kid who plays for the Bruins. After progressing through the U.S. National Development Program, he enrolled at BU in 2012, skating with the Terriers for four seasons. Besides serving as captain during his junior and senior years, he won a Hockey East championship in 2015.
Outside of various awards and honors in college, Grzelcyk played part of two seasons in Providence before becoming an NHL regular in 2017. Thus far, in seven seasons with the Bruins, he’s tallied 124 points in 382 games.
7. Mike Sullivan
Mike Sullivan played 709 games in the NHL with four teams, including a single season with the Bruins in 1997-98. Although today’s hockey fans may recognize the Marshfield, MA, native as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, he was a solid player at BU, serving as captain in 1990.
Although Sullivan never won any awards or championships during his playing career, he is a three-time Stanley Cup winner with the Chicago Blackhawks (1) and Penguins (2). During his brief 77-game stint with the Bruins, he scored 18 points. Shortly after retiring, he became head coach in Providence, transitioning to the same position with Boston in 2003, earning a 70-56-15-23 record.
6. Shawn Bates
Shawn Bates is a Medford, MA, native who lived out his childhood dreams of getting drafted by the Bruins in 1993. However, before turning professional, he played four seasons at BU, winning three consecutive Hockey East championships and a National title in 1995.
Unfortunately, Bates’ success in college and Providence didn’t continue in the NHL. During his four years with the Bruins, he scored only 28 points in 135 games. Eventually, he left Boston to finish his career with the New York Islanders, collecting 170 points in 330 games.
5. Jay Pandolfo
Former Bruins assistant coach and player Jay Pandolfo is another Massachusetts native (Winchester) with a stellar collegiate and professional career. During his four-year career at BU, he won two Hockey East championships and a National championship in 1995. Besides finishing as a Hobey Baker Award Finalist, he won several awards and honors while serving as captain in his final season.
Pandolfo won two Stanley Cup championships during his 13-year stint with the New Jersey Devils from 1996 to 2010. Eventually, he left to play with the New York Islanders before finishing his career with the Bruins in 2012-13. Interestingly, he didn’t register a single point in 18 games while playing for his hometown team.
4. Charlie McAvoy
After six years in the NHL, Charlie McAvoy has found a spot among the league’s top defenders, earning votes for the Norris Trophy in the past four seasons. Although he grew up in Long Beach, NY, he has strong connections to Boston, attending BU for two years from 2015-2017.
Despite only playing in 75 games with the Terriers, McAvoy earned All-Rookie, First All-American, and First All-Star team honors. Thus far, in a Bruins sweater, he’s compiled 230 points in 380 games. Moreover, many fans expect to see him don the captain’s “C” soon.
3. Charlie Coyle
Heading into 2023-24, Charlie Coyle is one of three skaters in the Bruins lineup who is BU Alumni. As a native of Weymouth, MA, he skated with the Terriers for two seasons (53 games) before jumping to the QMJHL. Surprisingly, he was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team during his time with the school and took home Rookie of the Year Honors.
Meanwhile, in the QMJHL, Coyle won a league championship and the playoff MVP award. After all that success, the Minnesota Wild called him up, and he’s been an NHL regular since 2012. Eventually, the Bruins acquired him in February 2019 in a trade involving a fifth-round pick and Ryan Donato. Thus far, he’s tallied 148 points in 306 games in black and gold.
2. Kevin Shattenkirk
Kevin Shattenkirk is one of the new free agents that the Bruins signed in the 2023 off-season. As a native of New Rochelle, NY, he played with the U.S. National team before enrolling at BU for the 2007-08 season. During his sophomore season, he helped the Terriers win a Hockey East and National Championship while earning several All-Star awards.
Interestingly, Shattenkirk is another BU Alumni who won a Stanley Cup championship, winning the game’s ultimate prize with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Although he’s been in the NHL for 13 years, Boston will become his seventh team. Thus far, he’s collected 460 points in 891 games.
1. Shawn McEachern
Shawn McEachern is from Waltham, MA, and played three seasons at BU from 1988-1991. During his collegiate career, he played 120 games and collected 180 points, winning a Hockey East championship and tournament MVP honors in 1991.
After joining the Penguins for their stretch run and eventual Stanley Cup championship in 1992, McEachern became one of the few BU Alumni to have his name on the trophy. Eventually, he bounced around the NHL, skating with five teams, including two seasons with the Bruins in 1995-96 and 2005-06. While in Boston, his totals included 26 goals, 35 assists, and 61 points in 110 games.
Rest of the Pack
In case anyone was wondering who the other players are, here is a breakdown of names, including Bob Gryp, A.J. Greer, David Warsofsjy, Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson, Chris Bourque, Rich Brennan, Clark Donatelli, Phil Von Stefenelli, Carl Corazzini, Paul O’Neil, Dale Dunbar, Chris Kelleher, Jim Craig, and Cleon Daskalakis.
This list should expand since BU defender Ty Gallagher is a recent draftee of the Bruins (2021). Ultimately, the school is always in contention for a Hockey East and National Championship, which means more players have a chance to impress and be drafted by the Bruins organization.
Leave a Reply