04-04-08 Mike Brennan, BC Hockey Captain

Well this is the final four weekend in NCAA basketball and you all will be following that tomorrow night and then on Monday the national championship. Next Thursday. He is on the opening of the NCAA frozen four the four best college hockey teams in the country will get together. It will be North Dakota. Against Boston College in the first semifinal Michigan against Notre Dame in the other semifinal next Thursday. Joining us on the line right now is the captain of the Boston College eagles senior Mike Brown and Mike it's dale and Michael how -- very good -- to have me on guys. Congratulations you guys sort of used to going to the final for a frozen four. A what is -- eight trips in the last eleven years or something.

Yep I believe it's eight you know last eleven and now we're really excited to be called back however you you start that's one of the goals. And on the penalty going to get there you know and our team right now are extremely focused and -- realized get a shot as anybody come away with this.

says one of the goals for you guys every year how does Jerry York go over that does he say need to -- be when when the Beanpot. And then he start talking about the frozen four already just put them altogether when he's when he's giving his -- beginning of season.

While he'd like to focus on stress on being in the present and got beat Notre -- got to win those games. On Friday Saturday to advance to -- two championship games and dom. The only the only shot just being in the present and whenever big game comedy. He just says we cut the same way and don't we ought to try and came back and win championships that's one thing that was stress of pieces we want to want to chase championships and dumped. And hold some -- so luckily we put ourselves an opportunity to do that.

Let me ask you this condition settle little many debate we haven't had ago in dale thought about that this how it's it's it's great in Boston there's great college hockey would you guys of course is BUUNH. Northeastern Harvard everybody. But let's say you guys weren't in this position and being you is would you be rooting for being you in the frozen four.

I'm you know you want to see hockey teams went.

but that's just it -- yeah myself that I don't have to be in that situation that -- lucked out but you want to see you want to yeah hockey teams generate the banner adopt about it rooted at least trying to -- her. For the Easton -- hopefully we have won a championship I don't believe since. Was 2001 but you want you want to win you want to bring home a bad effort for hockey east and I had I think got a group. It'd be really hard.

as the senior captain on this team meet your your following in kind of a long line of a veteran leaders at Boston College names like Marty reasoner and brooks or pick and Brian Gionta. Do you take that task -- seriously.

Absolutely and -- I've said before earpiece here we understand the tradition -- guys that are built this program. And down what it meant to that meant what it means to put on a piece -- sweater. And down we take pride that every single game and I've been very fortunate to be able to play here and as successful for years and get a degree frozen fours so guys like Marty reasoner Brian Gionta and down all those players that played here we tried they still call -- in which is good luck and kind of stick to the team we note that it is -- tight network. And down. Where property like except but that's what -- we we always realistic trying to.

We of the captain captain of the team might get any level it's it's it's a great honor and a lot of guys handle it differently how do you approach it in in what do you feel like your duties are as a captain or your responsibilities are as a captain.

I think he tried to an example where for the rest of the guys and I mean I think the biggest since the young guys you tried an example -- and I mean it. I have a lot of upperclassmen that are leaders say you don't really necessarily have to have a a letter on your -- to be a leader on this team and I try to be as consistent as possible that is one of those guys that you -- saint. And on the -- that you come Donovan out to -- is if you don't want to be too firm all the time they shut out. Sammy is a lot that goes into it but like it that I got a lot of guys and a team that have taken a leadership role. And dom and I think that's one of the main reasons why we've been so successful.

People around here who haven't watched college hockey may not know the name a finger ease your team he's the leading scorer in the country is a finalist for the whole B baker like you gotta have a certain amount of self confidence to do what's been a ram on penalty. I have never seen that before in my life I had the -- that thing about three times.

He's had already done that a lot we have shoot out ready for a game we have the practical we have kind of issued -- challenge and he got a couple times and down. Going to do that television and I talked much about it -- like -- to -- this -- to get a -- he does everything -- confidence and he did -- and that he would call -- I can't believe it. It just pull that off but that's the way it. Extremely dynamic player he tried new things and a lot of times successful Andre in that time he wanted. I mean it was there was an eye opener for a lot of people and it's great for the game you know it is exciting player he's dynamic and -- he brings a lot of fans into the building.

Now what Jerry say when he came back to the --

I don't know I out of his heart stopped for a quick second a lot but I think. College coach doesn't like -- on -- keep up again -- excited they -- can pull that move off so I mean it was it was a hard movement now he he pulled it off and everybody is excited for.

What kinds of other stuff have you seen your teammate do he's he's a dynamic player -- great things in practice.

Hi dusty just Democrat I mean he eats like yet the talk on the straight and eat eat eat. Does tote bags been around guys I mean title on the biggest thing I mean a lot of people are seeing what the puck went a couple of years ago wash on Sullivan's. Buried him coming across the middle of the people like game. Actually laid him on nobody that vilified by you can get up and acted -- admitted stealing gets up. Skate off. But not that happy you don't want to topped it -- for being 5570 plays like six or it'll and that's one that's a testament to testament and the way he plays.

you Benson frozen fours this will be your third one as you said you minutes and Beanpot still I think it's hard for kids who art from New England understand that. For many guys around here being in the Beanpot is just as emotional as being in the NCAA tournament.

Absolutely and dom luckily I got I got one now it took four years to finally get. -- I mean it's incredible feeling it's incredible how the whole city kind of rally behind that tournament. And on the tradition -- on an incredible I mean we understand how the -- buckled back so far now out of the city of Boston like is that rallied behind the tournament. So at the top trophy the -- it would be easier it is only fourteenth minute but don't be you usually has everyone's number and that kind of an issue luckily we got to come away with a.

Might -- Jerry York is one of our favorite guys to have a program and really enjoyed talking with him. I wonder what did he do to sell you on BC what was the recruiting like would -- your game your house.

Ha he's he's just an incredible incredible individual I mean. A coach and a at a person he's been unbelievable and it -- That program felt himself put sells itself the coach are definitely felt the program. Just him being behind the the -- the reason why you want to come here and dom we got to him at 800 when it took a little -- got a lot of ties there but let things you want to do with the team forum and he's been in the game a long time and it incredible that he had that many wins and hopefully can keep pushing forward and maybe take take the title.

When you guys were down two -- the Miami. Where you get a little nervous.

You know they -- that sense of urgency but -- this team has always has been down a couple of times in the example is that for one game against UNH and not the semifinal hockey east and we even got a couple times and we just always keep battling no I'm not duplicated in the most talented group. VT players that we cut but it definitely one of the hardest working and we never give up we never let down and we know -- the twins were guys that room when we hit the accident tries hard they can. Tell by the sound and that -- a lot. Luckily the commodores who wins there from behind and hopefully that'll do it again.

you say the DC players who were who were in the NHL haven't forgotten about the program haven't forgotten about you guys. Did you hear from them personally often or how we do they stop by a half he's got here from.

Absolutely out as recently as the past few days -- coach who came down and -- sort of Bobby Allen. On my motto through the attacks went I mean they've followed pretty closely and -- incredible having guys like that whoever take time -- they're bad they're scheduled -- come down and kind of -- kind of baht support this team and it it just doesn't like is that the guys have been through this program we try and following that Ted tradition continuing.

Tell me about semifinals you certainly know what it's like to play North Dakota.

Yeah that's not I think it's not a question of obviously going to play North Dakota in this kind of the question of when and where and down. It just seems like we really didn't finish R zero zero game and that he -- coming up -- out there so we're excited to have the opportunity to play at full sixty minutes against this team and down he would do kind of team they're bringing to the table and we always -- going to be quick fast physical and towards the game.

you strike me as the guy who's got your finger on the pulse of everything going on a Boston College so tell me this. Where's Matt Ryan gone in the draft.

Both about right since the if you could -- betrayed but I couldn't Italian you know I think it got I think he'll be have you every go to that you going to be definitely one of the top protect. Awfully awfully successful the next though he's is an incredible person he's an incredible football player random I was from about the luck and I and our team is this --

How's that gonna ask you that seriously do you guys follow football -- the football players volume isn't isn't that type of atmosphere over there BC.

Absolutely that's -- they get each team got. Well we're fortunate that that successful teams at -- he to kind of want to rally behind each team -- the -- guys -- was not good luck and we do the same for them and when he got a guy like Matt -- taken time out. The daily -- that he would. With but all the hot with all of interviews and all the stuff that's going on in this is career I mean it's just nice you know they care about the team and it. It could have that kind of support and -- We we sure try to give back to them.

I would say the shock of the four teams that are going to be in the frozen four would be Notre Dame. They smacked UNH around that surprised me. They beat Michigan State that really surprised me they've never been in a frozen four before you know anything about this team.

You know all we played them I believe was last year and they they had a great team under coach Jackson and he's done a great job there and it doesn't surprise me I mean anybody can get hot during the tournament and not take off that's exactly what they've been joined. And -- you know it it. It could be they're very dangerous to rent out and they have a tough opponent Michigan. Well like I said -- on this kind of if you're right not only that keeps clicking really well you can be very successful I think that's what Notre -- actually doing right now.

Best of luck to you next weekend what you guys head out to Denver please give Jerry our best as well. I don't play well thank our strategy.

Course might not Mike if you guys win. Gotta come back on and tell us.

I -- they -- you'll be my pleasure.

You know like got to be our corresponded so make sure -- keep good notes and into those stories and without getting people in trouble tell us out at all guys really we would all the stuff when all the stuff.

I I definitely -- thanks guys --

Right thank you let's say yeah I think Mike Brennan as captain of the Boston College eagles that are headed for Denver for the frozen four beginning Thursday of next week it will play. North Dakota in one semifinal Notre Dame plays Michigan in the other semifinal winners obviously for the NCAA champion