The Boston-Colorado Connection: An Avalanche of Evidence

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By: Tyler Murray


After having watched the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, I think I might be on to something. It’s hardly a matter of national security, but an intriguing notion nonetheless. Early in the fifth round, the Colorado Avalanche selected Boston University goaltender Kieran Millan. Although the rising sophomore earned 2009 HCA Rookie of the Year honors, he was forced to sit and watch nine other netminders get drafted before him. Millan deserved much better, but that’s a discussion for another day. The story at hand is the fact that Millan was the 12th Terrier skater drafted by Colorado, more than any other franchise in the NHL. Coincidence? Who’s to say?

Well, I am. In fact, that’s exactly the reason I’m here. It’s time to uncover the mystifying connection between the Terriers and the Avalanche, once and for all.

On the surface, this trend could be discarded as mere happenstance, so let’s delve a bit deeper into the issue. The Avalanche appear to have a 2009 Terrier championship team reunion in the works, as Millan is now the fourth member of last year’s squad to be drafted by Colorado. That’s right; the Avs also hold the draft rights to Brandon Yip, Colby Cohen, and Kevin Shattenkirk. The Avalanche chose wisely, as each of these skaters played crucial roles in the Terrier’s championship run. Yip’s relentless effort and hard-hitting style of play will never be forgotten in the annals of Agganis Arena, nor will Cohen’s miraculous game-winning goal (assisted by Shattenkirk) in the national title game.

Clearly, the Avalanche are in need of young players with winning attitudes, and who could blame them? The once proud franchise is coming off the worst finish in its 30-year history, placing dead last in the Western Conference (32-42-5). The team hasn’t made a Stanley Cup Finals appearance since 2001, when Joe Sakic led the squad to a thrilling game 7 win over the New Jersey Devils. Oh, and this just in: Joe Sakic retired. The 20-year veteran’s retirement marks the dawning of a new era in Colorado, and the future is filled with Terriers.

Still not seeing the connection? Well here’s where it gets good. After a season in which its team could only muster a mere 32 wins, the Avalanche’s front office made a change, and head coach Tony Granato was ousted after only one year at the helm. He was quickly replaced by Joe Sacco, the now former head coach of Colorado’s AHL affiliate, the Lake Eerie Monsters. Any guesses on where Sacco played college hockey? If you said Boston University, you’re starting to get the picture. Indeed, Sacco played three years at BU on his way to a 13-year NHL career. Make that 12 skaters and one head coach gone from BU to the Avs. The numbers are hard to ignore.

But we’re not done yet. Actually, this is my favorite part. With Sacco’s promotion, the Avalanche needed a new head coach for their AHL franchise, so they hired David Quinn. By now, you’ve got to have a decent idea of where Quinn might have played his college hockey (I’ll even give you a hint: it’s not Bemidji State). Yes, Quinn played for three years at BU as a superb defenseman, and has served as Jack Parker’s associate head coach for the past five years.

Simply put, the Avalanche are in desperate need of a winning cast and crew, and when it comes to success in hockey, there’s no better place to turn than Boston University.

However, if there truly is a secret underground connection between the NCAA and NHL programs, the two teams have covered it up quite well. In reality, the only visible link between the Terriers and Avalanche is Colorado scout Neil Shea. Shea played four years of hockey at Boston College, and was in contact with Millan throughout last week’s draft. Shea has been working for the Avalanche franchise for several years, and as a scout, he plays a significant role on draft day. More importantly, especially because BU has won 12 of the last 15 Beanpots, nobody understands the prominence and dominance of Terrier hockey quite like a BC skater.

At any rate, whether or not this Terrier/Avalanche connection is a mere coincidence, the topic has truly captured my imagination, and I can only hope to uncover the whole truth during the upcoming season.

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