Legendary coach Jack Parker left his perch on the helm of Boston College over a decade in the past with 21 Beanpot titles to his title.
Parker’s grandson is attempting to get his arms on his first subsequent month.
Shane Lachance actually is aware of what it’s like to observe BU hoist the trophy on the TD Backyard ice after watching his grandfather accomplish the feat as a child. However Lachance, a sophomore ahead for the Terriers, needs that have for himself as he continues his household’s hockey legacy.
“Simply me going to the video games after I was youthful, it was at all times essentially the most enjoyable I had,” Lachance stated throughout Monday’s Beanpot media day. “The foundations are a bit of completely different with no five-on-five time beyond regulation. We used to hope it could go to time beyond regulation — you’ll be able to keep up later once you’re youthful. Clearly, it was tremendous, tremendous vital to me and to my household. And clearly would imply the world to win.”
The importance of the annual midseason match between Boston school hockey powers actually isn’t misplaced on Lachance. The Andover, Mass., native understands the which means behind the Beanpot in all probability greater than any of his BU teammates as a result of his household’s affect on the Terriers program.
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Apart from Parker’s Beanpot dominance, Lachance’s father, Scott Lachance, additionally acquired to play within the match in 1991 for BU. It was Scott Lachance’s solely Beanpot look as he went off to play for the New York Islanders the next season to begin a 13-year NHL profession.
“We’ve grown up right here,” Shane Lachance stated. “You go to BU video games yearly and everybody round Boston talks concerning the Beanpot, the Beanpot. It’s such an important, nice match.”
There’s an inherited stress donning the BU jersey because it’s some of the illustrious school applications within the nation. However being the grandson of Parker solely magnifies that stress on Lachance.
Then there’s the truth that Lachance is the primary sophomore within the historical past of this system to be named captain. A lot shall be anticipated of him when he leads the Terriers into the Beanpot semifinals subsequent Monday in opposition to Harvard (5 p.m. ET).
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Lachance has dealt with every part thrown his approach since changing into a Terrier. The sixth-round decide of the Edmonton Oilers within the 2021 NHL Draft labored his approach into having a stable freshman season and at the moment is tied for third on BU with 21 factors off seven objectives and 14 assists.
And BU head coach Jay Pandolfo believes Lachance shall be unfazed by the duty at hand of main the Terriers to only their third Beanpot title since Parker retired in 2013.
“He’s a really mature child. I believe he’s very comfy within the stress conditions. It doesn’t appear to have an effect on him in any respect. So, I believe he truly thrives in these conditions,” Pandolfo stated. “Being round this program since he was a bit of child, seeing them win a nationwide championship after they gained in ’09, being part of all that, I believe it solely helped him and ready him for these moments.”
Lachance got here near getting his arms on the Beanpot trophy final yr, however walked away with a stinging time beyond regulation loss to Northeastern.
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Lachance remembers that feeling all too effectively, however is seeking to change that reminiscence with a extra uplifting one this yr. One that can assist him relate to his grandfather just a bit bit extra.
“He was capable of win a number of them and hopefully we will win this yr,” Lachance stated.
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