Women: A comeback win and a retirement

A day after their comeback win in the Women’s Beanpot consolation game, the Terriers learned that their longtime coach, Brian Durocher, will step down after 18 seasons. He is the only coach of the Terriers during the program’s Division 1 era, having assumed the job in 2004-05 when it transitioned from club status. A great-nephew of famed major league baseball manager Leo Durocher, he will continue at BU as Special Assistant to the Director of Athletics.

During his tenure, BU won five Hockey East tournament titles, including four straight from 2012 to 2015, made six NCAA tournament appearances and won the Women’s Beanpot tournament twice.

The responses from the hockey community to the universally admired and respected Durocher was predictable for all who know him. The words “class act” and “simply the best” appeared repeatedly in tweets from players, coaches, media and more.

tw-align-center

A champion in every sense of the word 👏

18 seasons after being named the first head coach of @TerrierWHockey Brian Durocher has announced that he will retire at the end of this season. Congratulations on an amazing career, Coach!#WhereChampionsPlay pic.twitter.com/h2jgg4i2CI

— Hockey East (@hockey_east) February 15, 2023

Among the Terrier standouts whose careers blossomed under Durocher’s leadership: Canadian Olympic hero Marie-Philip Poulin, Victoria Bach, Jesse Compher, Jenn Wakefield, Sammy Davis, Sarah Lefort, Tara Watchorn, Kayleigh Fratkin and goalies Corinne Schroeder, Victoria Hanson and Kerrin Sperry.

Durocher’s coaching career has spanned 45 seasons, including two long stints as an assistant coach and top recruiter for Jack Parker, as well as serving as an assistant at Colgate and Brown.

Before turning to coaching, Durocher was a four-year goalie for four consecutive Terrier squads that reached the NCAA tournament and won it all in 1978 when he co-captained along with Jack O’Callahan. He had a 14-2 record for the championship squad, splitting the netminding duties with Jim Craig after recovering from injuries suffered in an off-season auto accident.

● GoTerriers.com ’78 Announces Retirement from Coaching

● Elite Prospects Page (playing and coaching career)

● Boston Hockey Blog Durocher to retire at end of 2022-23 season

 

In the consolation game victory over Harvard, the Terriers overcame a two-goal second-period deficit with five unanswered goals to earn a 7-4 win at Conte Forum.

Early in the second period, BU found itself down, 4-2, despite goals from Sydney Healey and Julia Nearis. The Terriers cut the lead in half on a Brooke Disher blast and then Nadia Mattivi connected on a give-and-go with Nearis on a power play  in the final minute of the period.

Christina Vote scored the game-winner midway through the third period, followed by a sharp-angle goal by Clara Yuhn and finally Vote’s second into an empty Crimson net.

Callie Shanahan stopped 24 shots to gain the win.

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score