BOSTON — The TD Garden may not be Boston University’s home arena, but it sure feels like it.
“I’d be lying to you if I didn’t say it was a little bit extra special [with the Frozen Four] being in the city of Boston,” BU coach David Quinn said. “We’ve got a lot of local guys, and it gives our fans an
opportunity to come support us.
“[It also] made the ticket situation more complicated. But we managed through it.”
Earlier this year, the Terriers earned their 30th Beanpot title on Garden ice and then followed that in March with the Hockey East championship.
Not too shabby of a home away from home.
“We’ve had some pretty good success on this ice so far,” captain Matt Grzelcyk said. “I think that’ll help us really calm our nerves early.”
Indisputably true.
However, Quinn banished all thought that BU’s “home ice” was conferring an overwhelming edge for his team.
“People assume automatically that there’s going to be a huge advantage for us because of the home crowd and we’ve played in this building before,” he said.
“We probably will be able to respond to the crowd and the support they’re going to give us, but we know we’re playing a great team. If we’re jumping to any conclusions that we’re at some huge advantage because of the fact that we’ve played in this venue four other times and we’re going to have a huge advantage with the crowd, we’re sadly mistaken.
“I know we’re smarter than that. I know we realize the things we’re going to have to do for 60 minutes if we’re going to put ourselves in a position to win the hockey game.
“I’m not going to lie: It’s going to be a lot nicer playing here than out in Fargo or Grand Forks where they’d have a home-crowd advantage. But in hockey, a road team can do well, and we’re certainly aware of that.”
