Welcome to The Terrier Hockey Fan Blog where BU hockey fans have a digital finger on the pulse of Terrier hockey present, past and future. Along with links to game accounts, stats, video highlights, interviews, feature articles and recruiting news, we also provide original articles on memorable events in BU hockey history.
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.GoTerriers.com has compiled
extensive lists of the media coverage of Travis Roy’s passing and the growing
number of social media tributes to the life and achievements of #24.
2022 recruit Doug Grimes scored a pair of unassisted goals, including the game-winner as Sioux City edged Sioux Falls, 3-2. The tallies were the first USHL goals for power forward Grimes who moved to the USHL after a breakout season at Dexter Southfield where he scored 48 points (23G,25A) in 30 games for Coach Dan Donato.
"He did what we all should strive to be, and that's being selfless and not selfish." Jack Parker
Travis Roy, who was paralyzed by a spill into the end boards
at Walter Brown Arena just 11 seconds into his first collegiate shift, died
today of complication of his quadriplegia at the age of 45.His death comes just days after
the 25th anniversary of his injury in BU’s opening game of the
1995-96 season against North Dakota.
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25 years ago today, the moment that changed Travis Roy's life forever. 25 years later, he continues to have a profoundly positive impact on the world. @TRFoundationpic.twitter.com/I4jVAWPsCn
His passing is the second recent loss of an icon of the BU
and college hockey community, following the death of Coach Jack Kelley last
month.
The injury that left him paralyzed from the neck down with very
limited use of one arm, sent the self-described rink rat’s life in an entirely
new direction. In 1996, he founded The Travis Roy Foundation with
the aim of helping spinal cord injury survivors live more independent and
hopeful lives through adaptive equipment grants and funding scientific research
focused on solving paralysis-related challenges. Since then, the Foundation has
helped more than 2,100 quadriplegics and paraplegics, and awarded nearly $5
million in grants toward spinal cord research.
In a statement, BU Athletics said:
“[Roy’s] story is the epitome of inspiration and courage,
and he was a hero and role model to so many people,” BU Athletics said in a
statement. “Travis’ work and dedication towards helping fellow spinal
cord-injury survivors is nothing short of amazing. His legacy will last
forever, his legacy will last forever, not just within the Boston University
community, but with the countless lives he has impacted across the country. Our
sincere thoughts are with his wonderful family as well as his vast support
group of friends and colleagues.”
BU Head Coach Albie O'Connell, a freshman classmate of Roy, told the Boston Hockey Blog, "“If you’re in the rafters at BU, that transcends you through time. Travis might be one of the most legendary guys that played at BU. A lot of people that don’t know anything about BU Hockey, they all know Travis.”
News of Roy’s death triggered a massive response of grief
and remembrances throughout all levels of the hockey world, lighting up Twitter, where friends and fans are postingDonate $24. Pass it on. https://travisroyfoundation.org/donate-now/
Ten days ago, The Boston Globe published an article, The
Amazing, Transformative Life of Travis Roy, written by his long-time
friend, Kevin Cullen, in what may have been Roy’s final interview. Talking about his life since his injury, he remained optimistic, saying, “I’m 45 years old. I know that’s young. But I
do feel old. There are things that wear you down when you live in a wheelchair
for 25 years. But I have been so fortunate, and all the people who have helped
me are still with me. There are people that are so worse off than me, and I
want to help them.”
Following multiple surgeries and a long convalescence, Roy
returned to BU and completed his degree in Communications in 2000, just one year
after his fellow freshmen in 1995. He has remained a frequent presence at BU home
games, supporting his teammates and those who followed.
Special events have been at the heart of the fundraising
efforts for the Travis Roy Foundation. For the past 20 years, the TRF WIFFLE Ball Tournament has been played in
Essex, Vermont, with thousands of spectators watching 32 teams compete at
Little Fenway, Little Wrigley and Little Field of Dreams. The Comm
Ave Charity Classic, matching BU and BC hockey alums, begun in 2015, has raised
funds for The Travis Roy Foundation as well as Compassionate Care ALS and Pete
Frates Home Heath Initiative.
Along with his leadership of the foundation, Roy became an
in-demand motivational speaker as well as a spinal-cord injury activist.
On Nov. 20, 2014, he was the recipient of the prestigious
Christopher Reeve Spirit of Courage Award and provided a stirring acceptance
speech.
A month after Roy’s injury, Sports Illustrated’s E.M. Swift,
a former Princeton goalie, penned an extended feature article—Eleven
Seconds—unfolding the events of that life-altering night and the weeks
that followed, as well as the path that brought Roy to his goal of suiting up
for the Terriers.
In 1998, Roy and Swift collaborated on an autobiography,
Eleven Seconds: A Story of Tragedy, Courage & Triumph
Multiple events marked the 20th anniversary included
a gala at Agganis Arena, the City of Boston declaring ”Travis Roy Day,” a one-day
contract with the Bruins, the creation by anonymous donors of a Travis M. Roy
Professorship at Sargent College. Travis also appeared on ESPN and was the
subject of an E-60 episode, Travis Roy, 20 years ago, 11 seconds long. During
the University’s 2016 Commencement, he received an honorary
Doctor of Humane Letters.
College Hockey News noted that legendary Boston University
coach Jack Parker stayed extremely close to Roy over the years.
"I always tell people, whenever this subject comes up,
is that the worst thing that ever happened to me as the coach of the Boston
University hockey team is the injury to Travis Roy," Parker said on the
15th anniversary of the injury. "And the best thing that's ever happened
to me as the coach of the Boston University hockey Team is the way everyone
responded to the injury to Travis Roy. The way the Boston University community
rallied around Travis was just unbelievable."
A native of Yarmouth, Maine, Roy was the son of a University
of Vermont skater and later a rink manager in Portland. Following two standout
seasons at Tabor Academy, scoring 50 goals and 43 assists in 51 games, he
earned a full scholarship to BU, joining the freshman class following BU’s 1995
national championship. Roy’s #24 Terrier jersey was the first number to be
retired by the hockey program.
