The Boston University men’s hockey team will be adding some new faces to the roster this season, notably, Tyler Boucher and Ty Gallagher. The winger and defenseman both found NHL homes in the 2021 Entry Draft that started on July 23, and will sport the scarlet and white sweater come October.
The Ottawa Senators selected Boucher tenth overall in the draft, an impressive first round pick placement that BU should be excited about. Fellow Terrier Brady Tkachuck took the trip from Comm Ave to the Canadian Tire Centre after also being drafted by the Senators in 2018, so Boucher is in good––if not great––company.
Boucher spent the last two years with the U.S. National Development Team Program and is currently playing in the 2021 World Junior Summer Showcase in Plymouth, Michigan, where he and his family watched the draft. The 18-year-old is known for his relentless physicality and offensive talent, adding an edge to the Terrier bench this season.
Gallagher had a cinderella-story type draft. Selected by the Boston Bruins in the seventh round, the two-way defenseman will really get to call Boston home with the opportunity to play at both the collegiate and professional level in Beantown. Gallagher expressed his excitement about attending BU in the fall during a Bruins media call on Saturday.
“Just the tradition of BU is great. You always hear about them whether it’s the national championship or the NCAA tournament or The Beanpot. It’s just a great organization, great coaching staff, and I think it’s really going to set me up for the next step in my career (…) I’m looking forward to the next four years there,” he said.
Other freshmen projected to make an appearance on opening night against the University of Connecticut are forwards Brian Carrabes and Tristan Amonte, as well as defenseman Braden Doyle.
Carrabes spent the last two seasons in the USHL on the Sioux City Musketeers and led his team in points with 40 during their 2020-2021 campaign. Also spending time in the USHL, Doyle was on the Dubuque Fighting Saints prior to BU and collected 24 points this season, the most of any defenseman on the squad.
In the BCHL, Amonte was a member of the Penticton Vees for the past two years and is joining his brother Ty Amonte, the redshirt senior forward, on Comm Ave. It’s truly a family affair seeing that the pair’s father, Tony Amonte, was also a Terrier in the 1990’s.
Adding depth in both experience and age, the Terriers recently acquired junior forward Matt Brown from the UMass Lowell Riverhawks. Brown was part of the group that ousted BU from the Hockey East Tournament in the quarterfinals last March, but will switch alliances as he enters Agganis Arena.
While the countdown to the season continues, the Terriers have a lot to look forward to and work with in the approaching months. The team is out for redemption after a rocky ending to last year’s campaign and hopefully these new faces will help get the scarlet and white back on track for the organization’s 100th season.