This is the sixth 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.
Are you nervous about your favorite college hockey team because they lost about 700 points in graduating seniors and departed NHL prospects?
Do you lay awake late at night in a cold sweat, wondering where on earth your offensive production is going to come from?
Well what if I told you I could give you a player who scored 41 goals and assisted on 73 more in his last two years in the British Columbia Hockey League?
This upstart offensive juggernaut in the making can be yours, if you're a fan of the BU Terriers.
Justin Courtnall may have a bit of a baby face, but don't let it fool you. From the neck down, Courtnall is a man-beast in the making.
The British Columbia native towers over the competition at 6'3" 205, and he's just barely in his second decade of life.
Along with his impressive offensive numbers, which include leading the Victoria Grizzlies in points last season, Courtnall isn't afraid to throw his king-sized frame around. He has racked up 69, 88 and 98 penalty minutes in his last three seasons in the BCHL. Like many young players on the Terriers, Courtnall can use his physicality as a way to separate himself from the finesse only prospects who may stall at the D-I level.
The big guy, wearing jersey number 19, debuted on the fourth line in the exhibition opener against the X-Men, alongside fellow freshmen Wade Megan and Ryan Santana.
Courtnall is a highly-valued prospect in Lightning world.
Perhaps most importantly is Justin's pedigree. His papa, Geoff Courtnall, played in the NHL for 16 years, scoring 367 goals to go along with 432 assists in his career. We may have an NHL legend in our midst at Aggannis this season, folks! (Justin's uncle is also a hockey star, former NHL'er Russ Courtnall)
It may be tough for Courtnall to find significant playing time early on for BU in a deep Terriers' lineup, but over time he should be able to use his size and skill to muscle his way into the 12 forwards who get to lace 'em up. Either way, we should have a clearer picture as to which forwards Coach Parker plans to use once the Saponari clan returns to the lineup.
If genetics are good for anything, let's hope they're good enough to pass down some skills from father (and uncle) to son, and make Courtnall a presence for BU.
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