Rivals unite for charity
Hockey players from Boston College and Boston University have been meeting in regular-season and postseason games for 100 years.
And, while former players from both sides met again last night at Walter Brown Arena for a good cause in the fourth annual Commonwealth Avenue Charity Classic hockey game, old memories from earlier battles remain close to the surface.
“Well, I think it’s absolutely special,” said BU legend Mike Eruzione, who was behind the Terriers bench performing coaching duty. “It’s my first year that I was able to attend. It’s two schools. We understand the rivalry and it’s a tribute to the players to come back. It’s a competition and it raises money for two absolutely great charities.
“For me, I’m a Boston kid, and I wasn’t recruited by BC, so this rivalry is special for me. We didn’t lose too often to them when I was playing,” Eruzione said with a wide grin. “I do rember one time in the Beanpot that (BC goalie Paul) Skidmore made about 60 saves against us and we lost.
“Another time, my job was to cover Joe Mullen. He scored three goals. He’d score one and Rick Meagher would score. Mullen would score and Rick would score. I think we won, 6-5, in overtime. Ricky got the last goal. But, (Mullen) was a great player.”
BC alum and Columbus Blue Jackets skater Nathan Gerbe said there is a mutual respect on both sides
“I’m a little biased but I think the rivalry is unmatched,” he said. “You have two schools this close. It’s a hockey town top-tobottom. Obviously, we’re real competitive. Now in the pros we play with each other, play against each other, work out in summer together. I’ve gotten to know a lot of the BU guys. Once we step on the ice though it’ll be competitive again.”
Needham product and Buffalo Sabres forward Danny O’Regan also called it special. O’Regan was one of four skaters in last night’s game who currently plays for the Buffalo Sabres, including O’Regan’s former Terrier linemates Jack Eichel and Evan Rodriguez, as well as last year’s BU captain Brandon Hickey.
“It’s a lot of fun. It’s good competition and we’re able to give back for the right reasons,” he said.
The contest was not without ringers: Hobey Baker Award-winner Adam Gaudette of Northeastern and the Vancouver Canucks, ex-Harvard skaters Ryan Donato of the Bruins and Jimmy Vesey of the New York Rangers and goalie Mike Condon of the Ottawa Senators were brought in to fill out the rosters.
“I have to watch myself in the locker room. I can’t say too much,” Gaudette said. “I’m just going to go out and play hard.”
The game is the brainchild of three former members of the BC hockey program — Pat Mullane, Andrew Orpik and Justin Murphy. Now in the fourth year, it benefits Compassionate Care ALS and the Travis Roy Foundation and raised more than $180,000 in its brief threeyear existence
“Certainly, we had the chance to get to know Pete Frates over the years there, and we wanted to do something to defeat that dreadful disease. I also still consider Dick Kelley one of my greatest mentors,” said Justin Murphy, 31, a former BC hockey student-manager about the late BC sportsinformation administrator. “So, it was a no-brainer to become involved. We’ve combined with the Travis Roy Foundation and there’s no need to mention what that name means in this building.”
Murphy said the early days of the event found Murphy, Mullane and Orpik calling former teammates and foes to come play.
“Now,” he said, “we’re fielding calls from NHL guys inquiring if there are any spots open to play.”