Coming into Monday's Beanpot finals, Boston College goaltender Parker Milner had allowed eight goals to Boston University this season, while BU goalie Kieran Millan only let up three scores in the two previous contests between the cross-town rivals.
Although both netminders had given up two scores heading into overtime, topping Millan looked like it would be a daunting task for the less-experienced Milner. Before the semifinal game last week, it wasn't even certain that Milner would be the starter, since senior Chris Venti and freshman Brian Billett had both put up strong performances throughout the season.
"Brian and Chris, they're great goalies and I can't be like, ‘How can you not play me every game?' because they're great and they deserve to play too," Milner said.
While Milner hit a rough stretch during the middle of the season, his overtime performance against the Terriers proved that he is hitting his stride heading into the Hockey East tournament and likely the NCAA tournament. Despite a relentless BU attack throughout the whole overtime and an impressive stand by Millan, Milner held on long enough for Bill Arnold to sneak a goal between the pipes in the waning seconds of the first overtime for the Eagles' third straight Beanpot championship.
"It's tough to describe. It was amazing, a phenomenal feeling,'' Milner said. "It's just something that you dream about whenever you commit to Boston College. It's one of the cooler things to win. To hold that Beanpot and be the champs of Boston, it's incredible.''
Millan may have actually had the better night, with his 44 saves to Milner's 32, as well as jaw-dropping glove saves when it looked like BC had a sure goal, but Milner did enough to let the superior Eagles offense close out the game. Team captain and senior defenseman Tommy Cross acknowledged Milner's solid performance after the game.
"He's really come on strong lately," Cross said. "We've got competition at every position on our team, and goaltender is no different. Those guys push each other every day, and I think it's made Parker better, and his attitude has remained very positive. I think he took it upon himself personally to take over that spot. And today he played great. He was a rock for us in net."
Head coach Jerry York echoed Cross' statement.
"I thought Parker Milner was really tested and came through with a strong, strong performance for us,'' York said. "That was certainly one of the keys to our game. He played great, he was a rock for us in net. And he definitely showed some real maturity, so it was great to see.''
York also agreed that Milner's constant competition with Venti and Billett has strengthened his goaltending this season.
Such a huge win will be key for Milner's confidence down the stretch after dealing with some tough losses this season.
"I'd like to think that my confidence never wavered, but I'm sure it did,'' Milner said. "It's tough. We had a tough loss at Notre Dame, and that kind of hurt it. But it's good to try to persevere through it. All those hard times are worth it to get here.''
With his impressive outing, Milner joins the list of great BC hockey goalies that have won the Beanpot, and he recognizes that accomplishment.
"Every time you go out there, especially in a Beanpot game, you want to honor the Eagle jersey and honor those who came before you,'' Milner said. "With other goaltenders who have won the Beanpot like Cory Schneider and John Muse, it's great.''
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