The genesis of my BU Hockey Research Project is rooted in the Hockey Media Guides produced annually by the Sports Information Offices of BU and BU's opponents. Many of the guides are quite different in what information is presented and in how information is presented. The information I appreciated the most in other schools guides, when it was given, was the dates and locations of the games the team had played over the years. Boston University did not have this information in its media guides, so I decided to research when and where every Terrier hockey game was played.
Since I began my research in the summer of 1998 the project has grown far beyond my original goal. In fact, it is on the verge of transforming into a College Hockey in Boston Research Project, with the focus of my research shifting to the Beanpot, Boston Arena, New England Intercollegiate Hockey League and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, one of BU's original hockey opponents. However, I would like to complete my BU research before that occurs. Below is information on the current phases of the project.
Phase I: As my research expanded into new areas, the original goal, to identify when and where every single Terrier hockey game was played, became phase one of the project. I have identified when and where Boston University teams have played 1,931 hockey games over the past 83 years. That includes 13 exhibition games played by the Terriers over the years which where never counted in the team's records. It does not include 3 games listed in the BU media guides for which I was unable to find any evidence of them having been played.
Phase II: Shortly after starting my research it became apparent to me that the Lettermen list in the BU media guides did not identify every Terrier hockey player over the years. It only identifies those who received varsity letters (this also applies to other schools lettermen lists). Therefore, I decided to identify every player and manager who has been a hockey team member over the past 83 years. So far I have identified 601 players and 40 managers who were members of past teams. This includes 49 players and 4 managers for whom I have found no records of them being awarded a varsity letter. It does not include 7 players listed as lettermen for whom I have found no records of them playing hockey for Boston University. This phase is currently being actively researched.
Phase
III: The
scoring records in BU's media guides only go back as far as World War II. Therefore, at the same time I realized the
need for Phase II, I also decided to add Terrier player statistics for all
1,931 games. This phase is going very slowly, as I am doing it in conjunction
with Phase IV. Research for this phase is currently on hold, as I currently
have several years' worth of information that needs to be entered into the
database.
Phase
IV: This
may be the most ambitious phase of the entire project. After I had entered
several seasons' worth of BU player statistics from the twenties into the database,
I decided to add opponent statistics for all 1,931 games. This phase is going
very slowly, as I am doing it in conjunction with Phase III. Furthermore, it usually requires that I add
additional opponent players in Phase V first. Research for this phase is
currently on hold, as I have several years' worth of information that needs to
be entered into the database.
Phase
V: Once I
decided to add opponent statistics I needed to identify every opponent player
and who has played against BU over the past 83 years. So far I have identified
1,883 players who played against the Terriers. Research for this phase is on
hold, as I currently have several years' worth of opponent player information
that needs to be entered into the database.
Phase
VI: A late
addition to the research project, this phase is to identify the opponent head
coach for all 1,931 hockey games BU has played. So far the opponent head coach
has been identified for 1,874 games, leaving only 57 unidentified head coaches.
Research on this phase has been indefinitely suspended.
Phase
VII: The
latest addition to the research project (along with Phase VIII), this phase is
to identify every league played in, and every league game played by Boston
University. Unless new information is discovered this phase is complete.
Phase
VIII: The
latest addition to the research project (along with Phase VII), this phase is
to identify the other league members and yearly final league standings of every
league Boston University as been a member of. The league member information and
yearly final standings for the New England Intercollegiate Hockey League
has been researched and is completed.
The league member information for the ECAC and Hockey East
has been researched and is completed, but the yearly final standings for both
leagues still needs to be researched.
As
the project transforms into a College Hockey in Boston Research Project
future phases will likely include the following:
New
England Intercollegiate Hockey League
The
Beanpot
Boston
Arena
Boston
Arena Christmas Tournament
Massachusetts
Institute of Technology Hockey
University
of Massachusetts Fort Devens Branch Hockey