This is the third installment of a seven part series introducing you to the newest members of the Boston University Terriers Men's Ice Hockey team. Here we will be looking at the resumes of the new recruits Jack Parker and Co. have brought in to try to fill the shoes of the dearly departed group of 8 players from the 08-09 championship squad.
Before John McCarthy's senior season at BU, his offensive numbers were underwhelming. In three years, he had tallied just 16 points in 109 games. To the casual fan, this lack of scoring indicated a lack of importance to the team.
However, McCarthy's value went far beyond the scoresheet. He spent most of his first three years pushing the forecheck and playing fast, clean hockey on the blue collar line. That's where he earned the respect of Coach Parker, who named him a co-captain before the 2008-09 season. While that decision surprised some at the time, the move turned out to be genius. McCarthy's lead by example attitude helped push an entire team toward a national championship.
BU fans hope that Ryan Santana may eventually be that type of player.
Santana weighs in at 6'1" 190, and comes to us from Yorba Linda, California. He will be of drinking age as of November, so there should not be any concerns about him being too young to handle the pressure of NCAA hockey, even as a freshman.
He has bounced all over North America. From his hometown in California to the Green Bay Gamlers, to the Des Moines Buccanneers, to the Fairbanks Ice Dogs all the way to the Vernon Vipers.
Santana has bounced around the juniors in both the US and Canada, not always posting the biggest numbers, but still pulling the eyes of Terriers' scouts his way.
Jack Parker told the folks over at GoTerriers.com that he is a “clever and quick right-shot forward. He’s going to be a guy that could step in and play on any line because he has a lot of tools to fill in with good players but also to be a tempo type of player as well.”
The Terriers are very smart to go after a player like Santana. The kid has four years of experience in the Junior ranks, playing in the USHL the NAHL and the BCHL. If he truly is as versatile as they hope he is, he could make a huge impact for the Terriers.
These are the type of players that always seem to end up being the glue that holds a team together. Gritting out a long penalty kill, skating to the corners with a one-goal lead or out-hustling a guy to a loose puck.
He does seem to have some potential for offensive output, having put up 25 points in 56 games for the Vernon Vipers of the BCHL this past season. But as we've already discussed, that most likely won't be the main thing to look for with Santana. He is a classic grinder.
An article from the Vipers' website had exactly this type of praise for Santana.
"One of Ryan’s best attributes is his puck control.... Originally touted as a potential high scorer, his dogged determination and checking skills started to come to the fore. As the year progressed, his value became more and more apparent as his line brought energy and stretches of offensive-zone dominance. Even when the line didn’t score, Ryan and his wingers often changed the momentum in a game."
This is one of the most exciting things a Terriers' fan can read. Santana brings experience at a high level, he brings speed, he brings grit, he brings offensive potential. It certainly sounds like the Terriers are looking in the right places to replace John McCarthy.
And wouldn't you know it? He's going to wear number 15.
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