KENNY
ROCHE
Boston University
Jr. | F | South Boston, Mass.
Key
Statistics: Kenny Roche couldn’t escape the
dreaded sophomore slump last season, as he saw a significant
statistical drop-off in a year of high expectations. Following
a freshman campaign that saw him light the lamp for nine goals
and rack up 18 points – both highs among Terrier rookies
– Roche only scored five goals while tallying 11 points.
He finished a mere 11th on the team in total points, but this
was a team that ran deep in point scorers. As a result, Boston
University leaped from eighth place in Hockey East in 2003-04
to a second seed in the conference tourney last season.
What He Does:
When he's on, Roche can do everything a Hall of Fame coach
would ask an offensively talented player to do. He has a natural
knack with the puck on his stick, and he’ll create his
own chances. He’ll play on a top line on one of the
best teams in the country, and he’ll play near the net
on the power play. When he’s not bringing the puck to
the net himself, he can position his 6-foot, 198-pound frame
well enough near the net to bang home a rebound. And when
he wasn’t having the puck luck he may have deserved
with his fine second half last season, he would do smaller
things to maximize his time on the ice.
The
Bigger Picture: BU has a few holes to fill this year
due to the departure of three of last season’s top-seven
scorers. Bryan Miller (6-20—26) and Brian McConnell
(9-12—21) both graduated, while Chris Bourque (10-13—23)
unexpectedly left the team in the spring and signed with the
Washington Capitals earlier this month. Those 70 points need
to be accounted for somehow if the Terriers are to challenge
for a Hockey East championship in what will be a wide open
race this year. BU coach Jack Parker is confident that Roche’s
more significant role in the upcoming season will land him
more headlines during the Terriers’ first full season
at Agganis Arena.
BU
head coach Jack Parker on Roche: “We’re
presuming that he can revert back to being a real good offensive
player. He had a lot of chances last year, but the puck didn’t
fall for him. He had a really good freshman year, as far as
goal-scoring. He fell off a little bit last year, but we think
he is going to evolve into a role as one of our most important
offensive players. We’re hoping that his promise will
really blossom this year.”
