Terriers' Drury ends career on low note

(U-WIRE) - Chris Drury was the last player out of the Boston University lockerroom before the start of overtime last night.

He glided over to Boston's net, twice skated in a circle to the right of goalie Michel Larocque, and, as he does before the start of every period, tapped his goalie on the pads with his stick before heading to the faceoff circle.

He didn't know it then. Neither did his teammates. And the Terrier fans that made the trek to Albany, N.Y., for the NCAA East Regional Final against New Hampshire would not have believed it, either.

But, in fact, Drury was going through his routine for the last time as a Terrier. There was reason for Boston fans to think otherwise. Just a year ago, in the same round of the tournament, Boston was tied with Denver heading into overtime with the season on the line. Drury came up with the winner that sent the Terriers to the frozen four.

Last night, with a trip back to Boston and the FleetCenter at stake, it seemed inevitable that, if not Drury, someone would come up with this year's miracle.

But Wildcat forward Mark Mowers scored a shorthanded goal 10:49 into the extra session that snatched the 4-3 win and ended both the Terriers' season and Drury's illustrious collegiate career.

"It's tough in general to see all the seniors go," junior defenseman Dan Ronan said. "But playing with Chris Drury - I really don't know what to say. He'll probably go down as one of the best players ever to play college hockey and Boston University hockey."

Just where among the many stars that have worn the Terrier uniform Drury stands is a tough question to answer, but his place among the very best will never be questioned. His 113 career goals are the most in team history, and he's third on Boston's career points list with 213. With two assists last night, which brought his career total to 100, Drury also became the first Terrier to record 100 goals and 100 assists in a career.

But to him, it's never been about the numbers or the awards. It's been about the joy he got from seeing 20 of his best friends every day and putting it all on the line with them night after night.

"A lot of guys say it, and a lot of NHL guys say it when they're retiring, and fortunately, I'm not retiring yet," Drury said. "But the thing I'll miss the most is the 15 to 20 minutes before and the 15 to 20 minutes after a game or practice, just having quality time with your friends. They're a great group of guys."

For Drury, it was business as usual on the ice Sunday, and he made his final game in scarlet and white a quality individual performance despite the loss.

He created a turnover in the UNH zone and fed forward Tommi Degerman at the right circle for the goal that made it 2-2 at 15:55 of the second.

Less than two minutes later, with UNH on the power play, he created another 2-on-1 with a steal and again found Degerman for a go-ahead goal on a nearly identical play.

So efficient was Drury that night that, though his team didn't win a single game in the tournament, he was chosen to the all-East Regional team.

"Those were two great passes," senior forward Mike Sylvia said. "They weren't easy. They were just great individual plays. He never gives up on the puck. If it's turned over, he's all over them, and that's what he did tonight."

"Everybody looks up to him," Sylvia added. "He's a tremendous leader, a great player and a hard worker. I know he's going to be successful in the future."

For Drury, the future almost came a lot sooner than he expected.

Faced with the choice of going pro after his junior year, Drury opted last summer to put his start with the Colorado Avalanche off for another year.

And Sunday, even with the loss, he said he was as satisfied as he's ever been about his decision.

"Even though we lost, even though we didn't get to the final four, I wouldn't change a thing," Drury said. "It's been a lot of fun."

For every compliment Drury's teammates dished out after Sunday's game pertaining to his on-ice abilities, there was some added praise for the side of him they'll miss most next year.

"He's obviously the best player in the country," freshman forward Nick Gillis said. "He's got a lot of heart and determination. He's just a great leader. But he's also such a great guy, and I was just happy to play with him this year."

But it's likely no one will miss him more than the man who recruited him four years ago when he was a just quiet kid from Trumbull, Conn.

"I've been coaching at Boston University for 25 years, and I've never coached anyone like him," Boston coach Jack Parker said. "There have been a lot of great players here, but I've never had anybody that combined his talent, his effort and his character of being a great teammate as Chris Drury has."

Parker knows how the humble Drury loathes the attention and praise he's been getting throughout his career.

The subject of himself is never one that Drury wants to address or even hear about.

Knowing this all too well, Parker turned to Drury after his comments at the postgame press conference and said, "I'm sorry, Chris."

And moments later, as Drury's teammates reflected on their co-captain's brilliant career, it was obvious that Parker was not alone.

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