When freshman Brian Boyle first put on skates as a three-year-old, it would have been difficult to predict where the sport would take him. Now, 14 years later, this first-round NHL draft pick stands at 6'7", 225 lbs. and is one of the most highly-coveted players on head coach Jerry York's hockey squad.
And why not? The NHL's tallest player stands at 6'9", so someone standing relatively close to that height, such as Boyle, is surely a hot commodity.
"I think [my height] helps me out a lot," said Boyle, "but in some ways it's bad. In North Dakota, the refs let a lot of things go [such as] a couple of sticks broken over my back. But it's always good. It's a definite advantage in a lot of ways."
Since arriving at the Heights, Boyle has already made a positive impact. On Friday night versus Notre Dame, he played center on the third line along with sophomore wingman Stephen Gionta and junior Ryan Murphy. In his first six games, Boyle already has a goal and an assist.
After graduating from St. Sebastian's Prep with a league-high 63 points in his senior year, Boyle was drafted by a major junior team in Quebec. He had a tough choice to make between honing his skills in the junior leagues and play in NCAA Division-I competition. Among the college teams recruiting him were Harvard, Dartmouth, and Northeastern.
"Deep down the entire time I was thinking, 'I'll wait and see if BC recruits me,'" said Boyle. "I was always following BC [as a kid]. I've always wanted to come here. It's ... a dream come true."
But heads weren't only turning to look at Boyle at the college and junior level. Before the 2003 NHL Draft, Boyle met with 28 of the 30 teams in the National Hockey League.
"I had a pretty good idea of who liked me," said Boyle. "I just wanted to get in the earliest that I could."
Making the trek to Nashville, Boyle had his name called as the 26th pick in the first round by the LA Kings. While this was obviously a positive, being called up by the club would also mean automatically losing his eligibility to play at BC.
"We're on the same page right now with my family and LA," said Boyle. "They want me to develop ... they understand that I came out of high school and that's not the best competition. They understand I am a couple years away."
"It's a stepping stone for me now. I have to get better at BC. It has been a big adjustment so far, just with the talent here ... I'm just a freshman right now. It's nothing really too serious because it's a couple of years away."
During the summer, Boyle attended the Kings' Development Camp where he experienced a slice of NHL competition. "[The competition] was pretty incredible. It was a good time," said Boyle. "But I think almost everyone on our team could have done pretty well at that camp ... it was a good camp, a lot of good players ... but its amazing the speed we have on this team."
While NHL dreams are in the back of Boyle's mind, he stays true to his focus at the Heights. But for a freshman making that jump from the high school style of play to that of college, it can be intimidating, a statement to which Boyle can attest.
"After a few practices the guys will tell you 'hey, it's just a hockey game.' From then on I wasn't too nervous ... We're used to it now," he Boyle.
York said, "He's made that step from high school right to Hockey East and he's done it very well."
In making the transition to a new team, the team's camaraderie can also have an important impact on the development of a player, and this aspect has been beneficial for Boyle. "[The camaraderie is] very strong. It's awesome, I can't believe it... it's going to be all of us together... all of the older guys realize that they were once in [my] position, and whatever pointers they have they'll let [me] know."
As heavily scouted as Boyle was at St. Sebastian's Prep, he knows that there will be numerous eyes watching him throughout his tenure at BC, but it is something that he has gotten used to and realizes, "Whatever happens is supposed to happen. What they see is what I am ... I'm not going to present a false image of myself," he said.
Focusing 100 percent on his career at BC, Boyle surely has a tremendous future ahead of him.
"We've been very impressed with his play. He's going to be a key player for us," said York.
But many NHL draft picks decide to leave college early and one has to wonder: Will Boyle follow the same path?
"If something comes up it's going to be a big process, but it would be really difficult for me to leave this place. My plan right now is to stay four years ... and win four titles."
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