The Now Juniors

[claver2010]

Continuing my year in review, I now look at the largest class that constitutes the 2010-11 BC hockey team:

Tommy Cross:
So: 38 GP 5-5-10
Fr: 24 GP 0-8-8

The Bruins draft pick, who has had a long history of knee problems, was finally able to stay healthy for essentially the entire year. Tommy had three knee replacement surgeries coming into this year and with the inexperience on the blue line was a key coming into this year. He helped lead a group that was second in goals allowed per game, a remarkable stat considering the upheaval on the blue line and Carl Sneep being the lone upperclassman back there. As the 2010-11 season starts up Tommy will assume a larger leadership role as his peers awarded him with an A, the only junior to receive such distinction this year. Considering that Tommy was a pretty high pick for the Bruins and coming off his first truly healthy year in a while there was talk of Tommy leaving early. Tommy quickly

Edwin Shea
So: 37 GP 1-7-8
Fr: 22 GP 0-3-3

Another vital cog to the defensive group that allowed the second fewest goals per game in Hockey East. Without the fanfare of Tommy Cross, much pressure was being put on Edwin Shea. He had yet to play a full year in college and was a young player without much experience. Shea turned into a very valuable member of the team, he does nothing spectacular but is a very steady player. Despite his smaller frame he is able to bring a slightly physical aspect to the blue line as seen in the Sunday afternoon NU game. In the upcoming season BC will look towards Shea to continue being a steady man back there as he, along with Cross become some of the elder statesmen on teh blue line.

Barry Almeida
So: 42 GP 8-5-13
Fr: 35 GP 7-11-18
Barry has constantly been searching for a true role on the team. Behind Kreider he might be the fastest on the team yet his initial skills did not translate into his role on the 2009-10 Eagles. Barry was a part of the dominant shut down line along with Price & Lombardi that have become staples in the recent championship runs. Along with his speed his is able to put pressure on the defense as he was able to pot more goals as the season wore on. With two thirds of his line gone for the 2010-11 season, what will his role be? I imagine that Barry will continue to be a vital cog in the shut down line along with a fellow member of his class who I will talk about later, who will that third member be? My guess is Pat Mullane. The scary part is that Barry fits the mold of BC's dynamic scorer at 5-8 175 and speedy and he would be a top 2 line player on any other HE team.

Jimmy Hayes
So: 42 GP 13-22-35
Fr: 36 GP 8-5-13
The giant from Dorchester reminded many when he arrived on campus of Brian Boyle, both giants among midgets, wearing the number 10. For his freshman year, it looked like the highly drafted Hayes would be a project much like Boyle was. He had 13 points playing in every game, but 3 of his 8 goals and 4 of his 13 points came in one game in November against UNH. Hayes started his sophomore year in limbo as he initially was tabbed as the man who would center the Whitneys and it was not until the second half of the year that he grew into his own, in a big way. He joined Ben Smith and freshman phenom Chris Kreider and his point total skyrocketed and ultimately he nearly tripled his output. However his most noticeable improvement was on the PK, with his long reach he was able to slow down some top units. One of the Maple Leaf's top picks from several years back, there has been constant talk of Hayes going pro. It appears that he will stick around for one more year with his brother, Kevin, being accelerated to join the 2010-11 Eagles.

Cam Atkinson
So: 42 GP 30-23-53
Fr: 36 GP 7-12-19
Cam took a huge leap from his freshman to his sophomore year, and is the next in line of Eagle's dynamic, diminutive scorers. Showing a glimpse of what he could be in his first game on the Heights when he scored the GWG on a breakaway to beat Wisconsin on the night BC raised the 2007-08 banner. In his sophomore year, once united with Joe Whitney and Brian Gibbons he took off and went on to lead the nation in goals. As expected he is one of the front runners to be a member of the Hobey Hatrick come next spring. Also with the spike in production there was talk of him leaving after the championship season and apparently he came closer to leaving than many expected. That all but seals his fate, assuming he continues to grow as a player, as gone after this season. He will definitely be something to look forward to as next season heats up as he could put up numbers rarely seen on the Heights. Including: Most goals in a season -38 David Emma


Paul Carey
So: 41 GP 9-12-21
Fr: 24 GP 5-4-9
Carey was the odd man out his freshman year, a very talented forward who was the product of BC's depth. He went on to be a solid contributer in his sophomore year earning steady playing time. He brings a different element to the Eagles as he is a stronger, more physical player. Given his size and strengths I believe he, along with Barry Almeida will be vital parts of the shutdown line that has been a staple of York's recent title runs.

I'll probably do a review of the freshman class in a week.