BOSTON — For the 19th consecutive year, Harvard will not be skating around the TD Garden ice while holding the Beanpot trophy aloft on the second Monday in February. A lackluster offensive showing in its first round 3-1 loss to Boston University last night ensured that.
But no one can say Colin Blackwell didn't do his part to try and spark the Crimson offensively.
The 18-year-old freshman winger and one of the best players in St. John's Prep history fired a team-high six shots on the Boston University cage. While none of those attempts found twine, Blackwell was certainly a presence in his first-ever Beanpot contest.
"One of my game plans was to come out right away and get some pucks to the net," said Blackwell. "As soon as possible, I wanted to test the goalie. I played here at the Garden last year (in the Super 8 state final for St. John's) so I had a little taste of what it was like, but this is obviously a much bigger stage."
Less than a year removed from dominating his peers at the high school level, the 5-foot-10, 175-pound Blackwell looks completely at home wearing the Crimson colors as a true freshman. Against the the Terriers, the top-ranked team in college hockey, he skated on the team's second line and saw time on the penalty kill, power play and even in the final minute of play as Harvard had its goalie pulled in an attempt to score.
"Colin's stepped right into college hockey and been a factor," Harvard head coach Ted Donato said. "He's got a lot of speed, skill and energy. That second line gives us depth on the attack."
Less than 21 minutes into last night's game, Blackwell had already snapped off five of Harvard's 11 shots on BU goalkeeper Kieran Millan. That included a drive to the net and quick wrister from the slot in his first-ever Beanpot shift, and his curling out of the far circle and snapping a shot from his off-wing in the first minute of the second period.
The one he'd like to have back, however, came late in the first period when he was sent in alone on a shorthanded breakaway with his team trailing, 2-0. The two-time Salem News Player of the Year made a pretty move and had the right side of the net open, but came back looking 5-hole and Millan was able to shut his pads for the save.
"Fordy (defenseman Dan Ford) made a nice pass to get me going, and I had some wheels up ice," said Blackwell, one of nine freshmen on the Harvard roster (and one of four 18-year-olds). "I tried to pump (Millan) and tried to make him move. I was thinking 5-hole going in, but I did have that right side open and should have used it. But I made a split-second decision to go back 5-hole — and he made a great save."
The ECAC Rookie of the Week back on Nov. 29, Blackwell has five goals and 15 points in 23 games for Harvard, good for sixth on the team in scoring. More important is when his goals have come: all have been scored in the third period, including the tying and go-ahead tallies in a comeback win over New Hampshire and the game-tying strike at RIT in early January.
Shifting from his natural position of center to right wing as a collegian ("an adjustment at first," he admitted), Blackwell has been more active along the boards and aggressive in all three zones.
He's also assimilated himself nicely with linemates Eric Kroshus, a senior left wing from Calgary, and junior centerman Luke Grenier, a native of Fairbault, Minn.
"Griens and Kro have been great taking me under their wing," said Blackwell. "They're skilled, high profile guys with speed, and to play with two linemates like that as a freshman is awesome.
"Playing physical is part of college hockey," he added. "Guys see my size and might take me pretty lightly, so I throw my weight around out there and try to catch guys off guard by finishing my checks and burying them. It's happened more than a few times already."
While his squad won't be playing for a title next Monday night, Blackwell was still thrilled in the immediate aftermath of his first Beanpot contest.
"It was an honor," he said. "I've been looking forward to this for many years, and to play in the 60th Beanpot, it's really special."
