The Heights
B4
Monday, January 30, 2012
Almeida excels in senior season as alternate captain By Chris Marino
Assoc. Sports Editor
graham beck / heights editor
Steven Whitney scored the game-winner Friday.
Eagles sweep Wildcats in key series Weekend Sweep, from B1 but the extended possession finally led to the winner when a rebound from Cross’s shot found its way onto Almeida’s stick. The senior made no mistake in finishing the play and put the puck into the net for his 16th goal of the season. “Tommy Cross tried to get the puck on net, and I was in front trying to set a screen,” Almeida said. “It ended up bouncing off a shin pad and landed right on my stick. I just tried to get it on net and fortunately it went in.” The Eagles ended the game with a slim 37-33 edge in shot totals. They also managed to slow down a dangerous power play, holding the Wildcats to just 1-for-6 on the man advantage. Milner also stepped up his game, making 31 saves for his second win of the weekend and his 12th of the season. The Eagles have a week off before starting Beanpot play against cross-town rival Northeastern in a non-conference game. n
For most college seniors, the goal is to live in the moment and not miss a single moment of their final days on campus. Barry Almeida, a soon-to-be graduate of Boston College, has taken this mantra to a whole new level by not only living in the moment but also creating the moment for himself and his teammates. Growing up in Springfield, Mass., the forward enjoyed great success at Longmeadow High School before taking his game to a whole new level of competition. Leaving behind the comforts of his home, family, and friends, Almeida became a member of the Omaha Lancers of the United State Hockey League (USHL) for the 2007-08 season. Comprised of some of the nation’s top talents, the USHL is not an easy place to stand out. Almeida’s name stood out. In 56 regular season games, Almeida notched an impressive 60 points with 22 goals and 38 assists. He was named a member of the All-USHL first team. Even more telling was his performance in the playoffs in which he registered four goals and four assists in 14 games. In the final night of a best-of-five series, he scored the game winning overtime goal to send his team to the Clark Cup title. Almeida credits this experience as one of the biggest factors in his success at BC. “Going out there, I didn’t know what to expect, being a Mass. kid,” he said. “Being a Mass. kid, you never want to leave Massachusetts. You ask yourself, ‘What is it going to be like?’ But it ended being one of the best experiences. Being in high school and being 18-years-old and having three, four, or five thousand fans at a game, you’re kind of like a celebrity. It’s kind of cool. The league is unbelievable and everyone is going to high-end Division I schools from every team.” Much has been made of an eye injury suffered by Almeida during high school. While many players would use this as an excuse for when they don’t perform well, Almeida seldom mentions the ailment as having any impact on his game. If anything, the injury has helped him remain focused on his play and helped him mature more quickly. “It happened two years before I came to BC, so going to Omaha was the real challenge,” he said. “It gave me the chance to see what it would really be like to play with it. To be honest, it really hasn’t been a fac-
tor at all. It’s been like this for so long now know how to win. It’s all about getting the that I don’t really know any different. younger guys to buy into how we win. It’s “It set me back, and it taught me a lot been tough. We’ve had a tough stretch about myself, too. I wasn’t able to play here, but with the leaders that we have, I hockey for a while, and for me, that was the think we can get back on track and make hardest thing. My parents helped me out, a serious run. That’s what happened our and kept me positive through the whole sophomore year. We got hot at the right thing, so that was good.” time. And that’s really what you have to Overcoming this injury and playing so do.” well in such a prestigious league allowed Though Almeida has posted solid numAlmeida to keep his commitment to BC bers throughout his time at Kelley Rink, and make an impact right away. Despite this season has seen an astronomical jump tremendous offensive production before in scores for the senior. As of this past his arrival on the Heights, Almeida was weekend, Almeida is second on the team asked to change his style of play by head with 24 points. He and Chris Kreider are coach Jerry York. His incredible speed and tied for the team lead with 16 goals. This is versatility on the ice made him a perfect already twice as many goals as he has ever two-way player for York’s team. This re- had in a full season with the Eagles. quest by his coach necessitated extreme “I don’t know if I’ve changed anything, control and focus by the player, but he but I think it just comes with maturity and took it in stride. a different role,” he said of his offensive “Coming into BC, I was an offensive production. “My sophoplayer,” he said. “I didn’t play defense. I more year, I was a little didn’t know anything about it, really. The more defensive, and I coaches kind of made me understand the had to buy importance. You’re not going to play in to make unless you play on the defensive side the team of the puck. It’s helped me grow sucthroughout my career, having that offensive aspect and that defensive mindset, especially at certain cesspoints in the game. If you’re ful. This up a goal, you have to play year, I’m at the other end.” kind of beWhile the adjustment ing dependfrom being utilized as ed on more to have the more of an offenopportunity to score graham beck / heights editor sive threat to a goals and be placed defensively oriwith guys.” ented weapon With the Beanpot was challengcoming up, Almeida’s foing, Almeida cus and maturity, as has grown into well as his continued one of the in- o f fensive production, strumental leaders w i l l be necessary for the for the Eagles. Even in his Eagles. This stretch of Hockey early years on the team, his presence had East play will be a major momentum facbeen an asset that few teams can find. He tor as the team attempts to win a national leads by example, both on and off the ice, championship. The senior is confident that which has been a huge advantage for this the team can maintain its composure in year’s young squad. the tournament. “For me, I’m not the greatest vocal “They all know what it’s all about,” he leader,” he explained. “I really just try to said of the newer players. “You just try lead by example. I just work as hard as I to tell them to enjoy the moment while can, shift in and shift out.” they’re there. It’s an unbelievable experiThe senior believes that his class ence. If you just play your game and treat has the elements necessary to help the it as another game, I know it’s difficult. younger players adjust and overcome any You’re at the high. You’re at the Garden, learning curve. and it’s sold out. So, it’s tough to, but you “We have great seniors who have been just have to focus on the game, play, and there, as sophomores, when we won the don’t get away from our game plan. Really national championship,” he said. “So, we just have fun with it.”
Despite all of his success, Almeida is truly a grounded, passionate fan of the game. He talked excitedly about his hometown Bruins winning the Stanley Cup, and, although he has become accustomed to playing in the spotlight with some of the game’s top talents, his respect for the team’s accomplishments and opponents is very obvious. ”Every week, especially in the Hockey East, it’s so hard to win games,” he said. “Every team is good, every game is so precious for the two points. Sometimes you might take it for granted and let those two points slip away towards the final stretch of the season. Those two points can mean so much. When you look at the league now, I think it’s like five or six points that separates first or second from six. Every team has good players, and it’s awesome to have a new challenge each week.” This sense of respect also becomes evident when asking the senior about his time on the Heights. He says that his favorite moment undoubtedly came during his sophomore year, when the team won the national championship. “It was just unbelievable,” he said. “Your team works so hard, and it’s such a long season. To win that is just something special. It’s hard to even describe.” The biggest question for Almeida this spring will be like that of most college seniors: what will the real world hold for me? While he has career ambitions beyond BC, Almeida remains concentrated on accomplishing what he was able to do his sophomore year. ”Obviously, my hope is to play professional hockey somewhere,” he said. “It’s been my dream since I was a little kid. I just want to keep continuing to play hockey. That’s why you come here, to gain the experience. “For the short term, I really don’t want this to end. I know it has to end eventually. And when you end it, you want to go out a winner. So, the short term for me is to go out a winner at BC.” At this point, Almeida does not know where he’ll be playing after the season, but his focus remains on the task at hand. Especially in the upcoming weeks when the Eagles participate in the annual Beanpot tournament at TD Garden, the alternate captain will be leaned upon as a source of veteran leadership and focus. “Obviously, winning the national championship my sophomore year is something that I will remember for the rest of my life, and hopefully we can get another one this year.” n