April 2, 2008
NCAA Frozen Four
INCH Measures Up Boston College's John Muse

By Jeff Howe

BC freshman goalie John Muse has played every minute of the season, and also set the single-season saves record at Boston College.

So much for easing in the new guy. Boston College freshman John Muse was the only goaltender to man the net for the Eagles this season and led the nation in minutes played as a result. Hey, if you're going to be the guy who's got to replace Cory Schneider, there's no sense in giving less than 100 percent.

Muse broke Schneider's single-season saves mark last weekend with a pair of strong outings in the Northeast Regional, and the rookie is playing his best hockey of the season. He also stopped by to shed his wisdom on postseason hockey, being a one-man band and following a school legend.

Inside College Hockey: Were you at all nervous in overtime there when Miami was peppering you with shots?

John Muse: I don't know. I guess a little. I don't get too nervous. I don't try to think about that because as soon as I do, I'm not going to play as well as I know I can.

INCH: What was going through your mind when the offense helped you out with three quick goals in two minutes?

INCH Measures Up: Frozen Four Edition

North Dakota's J-P Lamoureux

JM: Oh, it was unbelievable. I've never experienced something that loud in a game before. I think it was huge for our team to get those three goals and get the crowd into it. It gave us a real big boost.

INCH: How much did that timeout in overtime help you guys?

JM: I think it helped a lot. They were all over us, and we took a timeout, kind of slowed the pace and took some of the momentum away from them. We came right back and put one in.

INCH: How much did you guys need that reassurance from Jerry York during that timeout?

JM: I think that helped a lot. He just got us together, told us we were going to be fine, get the pucks out, get the pucks deep and get our scoring opportunities.

INCH: You're fortunate enough to be playing for a program that's gone to the last two Frozen Fours. What are you going to be doing before you fly out to Denver to pick the veterans' brains so you'll know what to expect heading out there?

JM: Honestly, I haven't really picked peoples' brains about anything this season. I just kind of go with the flow and see how it turns out.

INCH: How have you evolved from October until now?

JM: I think I've gained a lot of experience just playing every minute, getting in there. Everybody has confidence in me, which is unbelievable for a freshman goaltender. My entire team out there helps me out playing defense, forwards backchecking. The defense is playing unbelievable right now, keeping shots from the perimeter, which is a real big help for me.

INCH: If somebody told you in October they weren't really going to ease you into this thing and they were going to play you every minute of the season, what would you have said?

JM: You know, I would have been happy, but I don't think I would have believed them. I thought I was going to have some time off, but I'm glad I haven't.

INCH: Does the single-season saves record mean anything to you?

JM: I guess it's nice, but we have bigger things on our minds.

INCH: When you enter a program that just had Cory Schneider for a few seasons, do you have to block that out or think about it and appreciate what he's done for your position at Boston College?

JM: I definitely appreciate everything he has done here. When people think of BC, they think of good goaltenders with the last three years of him being here. As much as I heard from my friends and family about, "You're going to have to go in and replace Cory Schneider," I tried not to think about it too much because I know I'm not going to be Cory Schneider right away. He's an unbelievable goalie, but I have to go out and do my thing.

INCH: Did he reach out to you in the transition there?

JM: Actually, yeah, I played on a summer-league team with him, so I've talked to him a few times. He's told me to have a great time, and I was going to enjoy it. So far, I have.