He’s still only 15, but already Paradise hockey player Ryan Greene has his immediate hockey future mapped out, and it includes one of U.S. college hockey’s top programs.
Greene has verbally committed to attending Boston University, but it won’t be until the 2021-22 season.
He’ll be the third hockey player from the metro St. John’s area playing NCAA hockey on a full athletic scholarship in Boston, joining Alex Newhook, who will attend Boston College starting next year, and Newhook’s sister, Abby, who is also destined for BC beginning in 2021 as well.
Greene, who is winding up his first season at Connecticut’s South Kent Prep School, also received interest from Boston College, in addition to other NCAA Division 1 strongholds Michigan, Providence, UMass-Amherst and Quinnipiac.
He toured all six universities before deciding on BU.
“The facilities there (at BU) are amazing,” Greene said. “Of course, they’re all amazing at every school, but the No. 1 thing with BU is that it’s all hockey.
“BC shares their rink with basketball, and football is big at BC. At BU, hockey is No. 1
“Plus, I felt they wanted me the most.”
BU has a long hockey history, producing an array of NHLers, from current stars Jack Eichel, Brady Tkachuk and Charlie McAvoy, to former greats like Keith Tkachuk and Tony Amonte, not to mention Miracle on Ice heroes Mike Eruzione, Jim Craig, Dave Silk and Jack O’Callahan, along with the legendary coach, Jackie Parker.
Greene is currently in Boisbriand, Que. with Team Newfoundland and Labrador for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Excellence Challenge, a showcase event which allows management from all 18 QMJHL teams an opportunity for one last look at 2019 draft-eligible players.
Greene is keeping his major junior options open, but seems set on going the NCAA route.
“Academics have always been important to me and my parents,” he said. “NCAA is a better fit for me. It’s a good opportunity for me to play a high level of hockey while getting my education the same time.
“I don’t want to close any doors, but right now, I’m looking at college.”
Greene was a member of the Tricom Thunder team which won the AAA bantam championship last year at Jack Byrne Arena, scoring the winning goal in overtime in the gold-medal game.
He shared the tournament scoring lead with teammate Zach Dean, and was earned the Top 6 Golden Select award, or all-star designation.
Earlier this month, his Central Connecticut Selects reached the quarter-finals at the U.S. U15 nationals in Plymouth, Mich., where they lost to Minnesota’s Shattuck-St. Mary’s.
He finished that tournament with three goals and an assist in four games.
Greene also played for the province at the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alta. He finished tied for third (with Dean) in Games scoring with 15 points.
Next season, Greene hopes to play U16 hockey for the Selects before playing a year in either the Tier II junior British Columbia Hockey League or the United States’ answer to junior hockey, the USHL.
