Charlie Coyle Leaves Boston University, Joins Saint John Sea Dogs
The hockey team at Boston University suffered it’s second major loss this week in what has been a tumultuous four days for the program.
Just four days earlier the team dismissed their leading scorer Corey Trivino after the senior forward was arrested Sunday night on suspicions that he broke into a female student’s room and proceeded to grope her repeatedly.
This morning, the program announced that Charlie Coyle, a first-round pick of the San Jose Sharks in 2010 has left the team due to academic issues.
A 6’2, 207 pound forward, Coyle is expected to play a starring role for team USA at the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championship. A returning player from last year’s bronze-medal winning squad, the East Weymouth, MA native had three goals and 11 assists in 16 games for the Terriers before these academic problems forced him out of school.
Traded to Minnesota in the deal that sent defenseman Brent Burns to San Jose, Coyle will join the Saint John Sea Dogs in the QMJHL. The defending Memorial Cup champions, the Sea Dogs were already primed for a repeat run at the title and the addition of another high profile player will only make them stronger.
Coyle joins the likes of Jonathan Huberdeau, Nathan Beaulieu, and Zack Phillips giving the club a remarkable four first-round NHL draft picks. Add in Tomas Jurco and Stanislav Galiev; two first-round caliber players in their own right and you have on paper a team that perhaps equals the talented Windsor Spitfire teams from a couple years back.
While its all roses in Saint John, things couldn’t get much worse at BU. One point behind heated rival Boston College in the Hockey East standings, the Terriers will have to try and move forward without their top two offensive stars. Although there is still enough talent left to contend, it will certainly be a major chellenge to overcome these two losses.
Andrew Sykes
