It was sometime around David Warsofsky’s sophomore year of high school when he basically let go of his dream to play baseball at Fenway Park.
Growing up in the shadows of the Green Monster in nearby Marshfield, Mass., Warsofsky was just like every red-blooded boy in the Commonwealth, showing up to a cookie-cutter Little League diamond and replacing the swing sets in the outfield with visions of the Pesky Pole. Eventually, though, Warsofsky knew hockey could someday pay the bills, while baseball was just a fun activity.
On Friday night, Warsofsky’s dream came true in the most roundabout of ways, as his Boston University Terriers outlasted Boston College, 3-2, at Fenway. The sophomore defenseman played a large role in the outcome by scoring the first goal of the game, which led to him swinging his hockey stick like a baseball bat in celebration.
“I think playing hockey here is a lot better,” Warsofsky said. “I don’t think I could hit a home run here. There’s no chance I would, actually, but scoring here is the next best thing.”
Warsofsky swung for the fences, driving a hard slap shot from high above the left point and finding the back of the net to give the Terriers a 1-0 lead in the first period. In ironic fashion, Warsofsky grew up as a leadoff hitter, and his ability to set the pace Friday helped propel Boston University to a 3-0 advantage midway through the second period. His shot also came from the deep hole at second base, which was the retired baseball player’s most recent position. Apparently, Warsofsky can be credited with a steal in the box score, as well.
“He stole it from me,” said BU junior forward Nick Bonino, who was referring to Warsofsky’s swinging celebration. “Two weeks ago, I was thinking about that. I thought it’d be an overtime celebration. I wanted to make sure we won. It was a good goal, and he had a lot of space around him to pull it off. I was happy someone did.”
Warsofsky, who has been away from campus for a couple of weeks while helping the United States win the gold medal in the World Juniors, has a differing account on the origin of the celebration.
“I just thought of that today,” Warsofsky said. “I thought it would be nice to go along with the Fenway tradition.”
Warsofsky recorded a pair of assists in the World Juniors and didn’t get back to Boston until early Thursday morning, so he missed Wednesday’s team practice at Fenway and didn’t get to skate on the outdoor rink until Friday morning.
Even on short rest, his ability to come up big in an important game might have been the least surprising event of the night. Warsofsky has registered a point in every major professional sports venue the Terriers have played in during the last season and a half. He scored a goal in BU’s 3-3 tie with Cornell at Madison Square Garden in November, and he had an assist in the national championship victory at the Verizon Center in April. Warsofsky also has a goal and two assists in four career games at the Boston Garden.
“He just has this confidence about his game that a lot of players don’t have,” BU junior defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk said. “He’s not afraid to make a risky play here or there. At the same time, he makes the simple plays when it comes down to that. You love watching him because he’s always doing something right.”
“He’s just a gamer,” Bonino echoed. “Some guys have it, and he’s one of them. He knows how to get himself ready for big games. He just led a team to a gold medal against Canada, so he knows how to win.”
The local-kid-does-good story gets told around Boston every year, mostly around Beanpot time. But this was a little different, a little more unique, just that much more special. Not too long after the Terriers and Eagles get back to their respective campuses, which rest mere minutes from Fenway, crews will begin to melt the magical pond that rests on the ballpark’s infield.
There’s no telling if or when the rink will return. The weeklong hockey celebration concluded in Boston with another spectacular evening involving one of the great rivalries the sport has known, and Warsofsky has been immortalized at Fenway – not in the way he originally dreamed, but he’s just fine with that.
“It’s definitely awesome,” Warsofsky said. “I think for anyone playing in this game, no matter where you’re from, it’s a special experience. Being from here and playing at Fenway, the stadium that you grew up watching your favorite Red Sox, it’s an awesome experience for me.”
FURTHER COVERAGE FROM ESPN.com
Game Recap | BU Gets a Break | Fenway, Terriers Deliver
