Re: Boston University 2011-2012 Season Thread: Part III: Now What?
BU has created that atmosphere over the past 5+ years. All kids who think they are first liners and no role guys. If you have the pro mentality and or pro dreams, you find out real quick you are just a pawn.
Who are the real pawns here?
Is it the players that think they have professional futures, and are "used" for the abilities on the ice and 'discarded' when they are no longer viable contributors?
Or are the real pawns the colleges, who are being "used" by the players as a stepping stone to get to the pro ranks?
It appears that there is a lot of using going on both ways.
The "using" that the system was based on was that a student-athlete comes to school for four years, plays on the team for four years, leaves with a degree ... and then may embark on a pro career, be it in North America or Europe.
Now, there seem to be too many shortcuts that, in many cases, leaves both sides shorthanded.
The most recent BU player that I can look at that did it right was Brandon Yip. Stayed for four years, continued to improve and when it was time for the big show, he was ready with only a brief stop in the minors.
I think Colin Wilson also did it right. He left early because the money and opportunity were there for him.
Should Nick Bonino had come back for his senior year? David Warsofsky? Colby Cohen?
Would have been better served by staying for four years, professionally and personally?
Warsofsky seemed bored his junior year, and had regressed. So perhaps it was best that he left.
Cohen probably thought he had accomplished everything there was to accomplish in college, but he still could have learned some consistency on defense and perhaps made the jump after a big senior year. Same with Bonino.
Maybe college hockey, or specifically, college wasn't meant for Charlie Connolly. Or Chris Bourque.
While Parker, York, Berenson and Jackson may be the Kings of college hockey, they are also often used as pawns by 18 years looking for stepping stones.
