Boston College Athletics
Boston College Hockey Tradition of Success Continues
November 19, 2009 | Men's Hockey
Nov. 19, 2009
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Continuing its proud tradition of on-ice success, Boston College hockey - its players, coaches and staff - have gained a broad spectrum of enrichment through a series of noted guest speakers that have addressed the team in this young 2009 season.
The group includes author Eric Hoffberg, Dave Poulin and Brian Burke from the Toronto Maple Leafs front office, Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma who played for BC coach Jerry York at Bowling Green and NHL legend Mark Messier.
Listen and watch senior assistant captain Ben Smith discuss and preview the Eagles' weekend series at Maine (Friday, Nov. 20 and Saturday, Nov. 21).
Below is a brief bio of each with the date of the visit in parenthesis:
Eric Hoffberg (Sept. 29), who wrote the book Think Strong, the Decision to Make the Most of Your Life. Think Strong is a state of mind, a philosophy, a choice in how to live, how to face the joys and adversity life throws at us each day. Hoffberg's goal is to empower individuals to improve their quality of life, as well as the lives of those around them, by maintaining mental strength throughout the adversity of uncertain times.
Dave Poulin (Nov. 3) is the Vice-President of Hockey Operations for the Toronto Maple Leafs who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League with the Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals before a 10-year tenure as head hockey coach at the University of Notre Dame, his alma mater.
Brian Burke (Nov. 5) is the President and General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and General Manager for the U.S. national men's hockey team for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. He is a 1977 graduate of Providence College who served as team captain of the Friars during his senior season under head coach Lou Lamoriello. Burke attended Harvard Law School and later was General Manager of the Hartford Whalers, Vancouver Canucks and Anaheim Ducks.
Dan Bylsma (Nov. 9) is the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins who coached the team to the organizations third Stanley Cup Championship in seven games in June 2009. Bylsma played college hockey at Bowling Green State University from 1988-92 under the direction of Falcons' head coach Jerry York where he was twice selected to the CCHA All-Academic Team. Dan and his father, Jay, also have written four books about sports for kids and families, including "So Your Son Wants to Play in the NHL" and "So You Want to Play in the NHL."
Mark Messier (Nov. 14), widely considered among the best NHL players of all time as well as among the greatest leaders in the game's history, retired after a quarter of a century in the NHL (1979-2004). In 2007, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility after winning six Stanley Cups - five with the Edmonton Oilers and one with the NY Rangers.
