When all was said and done at TD Garden Monday night, it had much less to do with the fact that BU finished last for the first time in 31 years and that BC won their third title in four years than it did with how they did it.
The divide between the Comm Ave rivals has become more and more apparent in recent years, with BU's 2009 Beanpot and National Championship wins seeming more and more like blips on the radar, writes Ryan Durling of SBNation Boston. And as much as we at Sieves like to bash BU, it's all done in good fun; Hockey East has gotten to where it is because of BC-BU and to not acknowledge that fact is akin to ignoring the ice on the rink.
That said, if there's truth to the rumors that Jack Parker may be on the outs at BU, either because of his struggles on the bench or his medical concerns off of it, it would be a devastating blow to a conference that he's been one of the faces of over the past quarter-century. It would be equally as devastating to the Terriers, whom Durling points out would lose all kinds of recruits who come to BU just to play for Parker. But mostly, it would be devastating for Parker, a coach who's given his life to the game and continues to be one of the strongest, if not most candid, backers of the game and what it means to growing men and women who play it.
There is, undoubtedly, a rivalry between Parker and BC bench boss Jerry York, and both men seem as if they could coach until their final day - and maybe even beyond then - but to think that either of those final days may arrive sooner than later is an arrow through the heart of college hockey, its fans and anyone who's been touched by the sport at any point in time.
If Jack Parker truly is battling medical conditions beyond his control, it's our hope that he learns from Marc Savard and steps away before any more trauma can ensue. He's one of the best ambassadors the game has ever known, and while it's always great to win hockey games, it's better to win at life.
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