Five-Time NCAA Champion home of bu men’s hockey: 1971-2005

Top Left: The Terriers take the ice for the final time at Walter Brown.

Top Right: Brad Zancanaro scores the final in Walter Brown Arena. He would also score the first goal at the next night.

Below Left: Thanking the fans.

REMEMBERING BROWN ARENA On Jan. 2, 2005, the Terrier hockey team played its final game at Walter Brown Arena, bringing down the curtain on more than 32 years of exciting memories. From the first game played at Brown Arena on Nov. 27, 1971, against Yale and running through the last home game played there on Jan. 2, 2005, against Minnesota, the Terriers played 528 home games. Their record was 362-129-37 for an incredible .721 winning percentage. Players, coaches and fans alike have memories of games played there. Below are some of those memories through the eyes of those who coached, played and watched games at Walter Brown Arena over the years.

JACK KELLEY was the architect of the DONALD “TOOT” CAHOON is the only person who has played University hockey tradition both at Brown Arena, been an assistant on the Terrier coaching staff on and off the ice. An outstanding player and brought a team there as an opposing coach. As a player, for the Terriers from 1949-52, he returned he was on the ice against Yale in that first game in 1971. He to his alma mater in 1962 to take over a was credited with the first game-winning goal and first hat trick program that had won just 17 total games at Brown Arena. He was ’s first full-time assistant during the previous two years. During coach, serving from 1974-79 then again in 1987-88 and during the next 10 seasons, Kelley compiled a the 1990-91 season. As the head coach at Princeton from 1992- 206-80-8 record for a .714 winning per- 99 and the coach at from 2000-01 to 2011-12. centage. His 1970-71 and 1971-72 teams won back-to-back NCAA titles with a combined record of 33-5-2. On November “I remember how special we all felt that first time we went into Brown Arena. I 27, 1971, Kelley was the Terriers’ head coach when BU remember living in West Campus and being able to take an elevator from the dorm played Yale in the inaugural game of Brown Arena. He went to the rink. In the middle of the winter, I was able to wear shorts and a t-shirt to on to coach the Terriers through the 1971-72 season and practice because I didn’t have to go outside. I also remember hanging the banners compiled a 12-1-1 career record at Brown Arena. from the ceiling. We couldn’t do it at Boston Arena, and now that we had our own rink, we could hang the banners and show the tradition of BU hockey. Later, bringing “I remember wondering if the Arena was ever going to be teams in there, those banners and the crowds were intimidating. The first Princeton built. Once it was built, though, all the frustrations and disap- team I brought in there, I told them to forget about the banners. This is just another pointments we went through were worthwhile. We used to play rink, and BU is just another team. We got beat badly (7-2). Then, there are the and practice at the old Boston Arena, and we would have to deafening crowds. You can’t hear yourself think. Two of the games that I remember take cabs and buses to get there. And, we would have ice time the most were the 1991 NCAA games against Michigan. Jack (Parker) could not at all different hours. Now, we had our own rink on campus. coach that game because of a one-game suspension from the NCAA. So, I was the I remember the first game and the facility wasn’t completed, head coach and everyone pitched in and was great and we beat them, 4-1. The next but we were in there. A lot of people paid a heckuva price to night, Jack was back on the bench, and we beat them, 8-1. Even before he went into get the rink, but it was the players who created the legacy the locker room to talk to the guys, he came over to me and kidded ‘I just wanted that is there now.” to put you in your place. I am twice as good as you are.’ Brown Arena has been a terrific place. I will always have a special feeling for it and I am proud to be among the group of alumni who have been part of the tradition.”

GoTerriers.com @TerrierHockey 36 Conference Championships - 21 Regular Season, 15 Tournament

JACK PARKER never played at Brown Arena, as his home rink was Boston Arena during his Terrier playing days. He did, however, coach 496 games at Brown Arena as the Terriers’ head coach. His record was 343-118-35 for a .727 winning percentage.

“What I will always remember about Brown Arena is the noise in the build- ing. It is one of the all-time great buildings that generate enthusiasm. Our players loved to hear the noise, and it kept them going. It was a real great advantage for our team. Over the years, it was a real showcase for us. I remember playing Michigan State in Tony Amonte’s first year (1989-90), and we beat them (6-4). After the game, (State coach) Ron Mason came up to me and said he couldn’t believe how noisy the building was. The one game I will always remember is the 1995 North Dakota game. That was the game that Travis (Roy) was injured. His number (24) is now hanging from the ceiling as the only number we have ever retired, and it will be there forever. Any BU-BC game at Brown Arena was also special because of the electricity in the building. It really captured the rivalry. We have created this same excitement in Agganis Arena.”

Below Left: The Section 8 student section.

Below Right: The 2004-05 team along with former BU hockey players assemble at center ice following the final game at Walter Brown Arena.

MIKE ERUZIONE played at Brown Arena for four years “My initial memory of Brown Arena was how vibrant it was. The crowd before he went on to captain the 1980 U.S. Olympic was loud, the band was great and there was a huge student turnout. I gold medal-winning hockey team. During his four-year think one of the games I remember most was the one I came to when I Terrier career, he played 46 games at Brown Arena and was being recruited. I brought my girlfriend, who is now my wife (Kate) his teams compiled a 40-5-1 record for a .880 winning and we were sitting in the section just below the band. BU was playing percentage. His first three years, his record at home Northeastern that night, and the NU goalie was trying to clear the puck was 32-1-0. out of its end. The puck came over the glass and hit my girlfriend in the shoulder. I felt that was a sign that I should come here. I think one of “I remember putting on the game jersey the first time the first things I remember are the director’s chairs. I thought how special and skating onto the ice and feeling that it was a dream come true. When it was that each guy would have a director’s chair with the BU logo on I was in high school, I would drive by Brown Arena and think what it the front and his names on the back. I still have my chair at home. I would be like to play here but never thought I would be good enough. My remember the camaraderie that existed here. We used to love to come first impression was walking into the locker room the first time and seeing down for practice and just hang out afterward as a team. In 2003-04, I the director’s chairs with everyone’s names on them. The crowds were came back for a few games, and the atmosphere hadn’t changed. I don’t deafening. BU hockey was a powerhouse during the early Seventies, hav- think there is a college rink in the country like it, and I love the fact that ing won the 1971 and 1972 national titles. This was where you wanted to I was part of it.” play. Since my family lived so close, they could come see me play, but I needed 15-20 tickets for every home game. That’s why I tried to be close BERNIE CORBETT has experienced Terrier hockey at to the guys from Canada. They didn’t need their tickets, and they would Walter Brown Arena from a variety of perspectives. First give them to me. I think the games that were extra special were the ones as a Pee Wee hockey-playing fan and devoted season against BC and Harvard. One night, we were playing BC, and I think the ticket holder attending games with his family from final score was 8-7. Ricky (Meagher) would score for us then (Joe) Mullen 1971-78. Next as the Terriers’ varsity hockey manager would score for them. And, it went that way all night. The problem was viewing the games from the bench and later charting that I was assigned to cover Mullen that night. I miss the noise of the the games from the press box. Most recently, for the crowd, but Agganis Arena is unbelievable.” past 30 seasons Corbett has had the privilege of call- ing the games as the radio “Voice of Terrier Hockey.” MIKE SULLIVAN played at Brown Arena from 1986-87 through 1989-90. The Terrier captain his senior season, “When I think of the Walter Brown Arena experience the things that his four-year record at home was 38-24-6 for a .603 immediately come to mind are tradition and passion. The Arena has winning percentage. With an older sister and brother personified the long-time success of the program. I’ve always thought the having gone to BC, and his graduating from BC High banners alone have been worth a goal a game. The passion of the fans is School, it seemed certain that Mike would attend Bos- palpable. There has been no better home-ice advantage in college hockey. ton College. Instead, he chose . After The old barn can really rock. The most vivid memory I’ll take with me is the graduating, he began an 11-year career in the NHL. ‘curtain call’ that the team took, returning to the ice for a victory lap after He then spent a year coaching the Providence Bruins the deciding third game of the 1990 NCAA First Round series victory over before being elevated to the head-coaching position North Dakota. The fans simply refused to leave until captain Mike Sullivan with the in June 2003. The youngest head coach in the brought the boys back for a twirl. The tradition of the program and passion NHL, Sullivan guided the Bruins to a 41-19-5 record and a berth in the of the fans have helped to make a smooth transition to Agganis.” playoffs. In 2016 with Pittsburgh, he became the first Terrier to win the Stanley Cup as a head coach.

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