Buckberger, Brown Staying Positive With New Hands They Were Dealt
by Adam Wodon/Managing Editor (@chn-adam-wodon)
(photo: Rich Gagnon)
ST. LOUIS Boston Buckberger’s injury was one of those unfortunate things that, nevertheless, many teams have to deal with to get through a season.
Buckberger, a sophomore and key top-four defenseman, had been a steady member of the Denver D corps during last year’s championship run. This season, he was paired with transfer Eric Pohlkamp, and the duo hit it off immediately, with both finishing in the top five of plus-minus in the country.
Then Buckberger was hurt on a freak play against Western Michigan in the NCHC Tournament championship game.
“Stuff like that happens, it’s part of the game,” Buckberger said. “It’s the intensity, it’s why everyone loves hockey.”
Buckberger will be forced to watch the Frozen Four from the sidelines. The whole experience of being out hurt is something he’s never experienced before; he’s been a workhorse in youth hockey, junior hockey, and the NCAA.
“It’s the toughest thing to do because you want to be out on the ice,” Buckberger said. “Obviously with all the fans, in an NHL rink, you want to be out there. But the guys are playing really good hockey right now and I’ll do everything I can to support them.”
Said Carle, “Obviously Boston (was) dealt a really tough blow. Hard for all of us to see him have to go through what he’s going through, and we would love for him to be in the battle with everybody, but you feel for him. He’s got a smile on his face coming to the rink every day, and he’s here for the guys. I know that they want to get the job done for him just as much as anyone else.”
Buckberger got the job done in the classroom this year, too. He comes in sporting a 4.0 grade point average, for which he was given the Elite 90 Award for top student-athlete of the four teams at the Frozen Four.
“(He) was having a great season. We know that he’ll come back stronger than ever for next year,” Carle said.
Buckberger said he and Pohlkamp had games that complemented each other well. With him out, Cale Ashcroft has moved up to play more with Pohlkamp, and Buckberger said he sees a lot of the same good chemistry.
“Me and Cale have great similarities with how we shoot and stuff,” he said. “Those two will be money.”
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