The Husky captain wouldn’t have any of it.
Following Saturday night’s contest against the University of Massachusetts, the final regular season game of Jason Guerriero’s Northeastern career, there was no reason to discuss personal achievements — a deft scoring and passing touch, or as all in attendance would soon be learning, the first regular season Hockey East scoring title in NU’s history.
But, the humble center brushed it aside.
“Some of the guys were kind of busting the chops before the game because there’s some great players at the top there,” he said. “But we had some good plays, a lot of things went our way tonight.”
Guerriero then paused and smiled.
“I could kind of say I was a little lucky.”
Lucky may not have been the correct word to describe Guerriero’s performance that made Northeastern hockey history. Seemingly in control from the minute his first shift began, Guerriero went on an offensive splurge with two goals and three assists.
His two goals were stuffed past UMass netminder Gabe Winer with ease, while his assists were as crowd-pleasing as the scores that resulted.
With 17 goals and 31 assists for 48 points on the season overall, Guerriero had the best offensive season for a Husky since 1989-90 when Harry Mews had 59 points, while passing the likes of Sean Collins and Preston Callander of the University of New Hampshire (47 and 45 points) and Patrick Eaves of Boston College (43).
Northeastern coach Bruce Crowder, nine years at the helm of the program, had little trouble putting the captain’s playing abilities in perspective.
“He’s unbelievable,” Crowder said. “He’s an All-American and if he’s not, it’s a crime. He just does so much for us. He’s one of the points leaders nationally and just won the scoring title here in Hockey East. He’s just absolutely fantastic.”
Following a perfect Senior Night at Matthews Arena, Crowder was able to discuss Guerriero and 2003-04 team co-MVP Keni Gibson further.
“[Guerriero] is a great player, he’s going to go down as one of the greatest players in Northeastern history,” the coach said. “Him and Keni are the two guys that came in here and were co-MVPs last year. As far as our team goes, I wouldn’t be surprised if they were voted in again. They’ve just been tremendous assets to our university.”
Guerriero would rank the night among his many memorable ones in an NU uniform, but like Crowder, also focused in on the Senior Night highlights – which ironically saw four Husky seniors score, and Gibson stay in control for his final Husky regular season win.
“It’s up there with one of the best moments of my career,” he said. “It was not just a solid night personally, though. The team played really well and all the seniors did well. It’s just good for everybody and I’m really happy for the seniors.”
Guerriero, who had 35, 29 and 35 points during his first three Husky years, respectively, moves his way into 11th all-time in scoring at Northeastern. His 147 points put him two ahead of Class of 86’s Jay Heinbuck, who had 145.
As a Walter Brown Award finalist and the owner of the fourth-place standing in the Hobey Baker Award preliminary voting, given annually to the nation’s finest college hockey player, Guerriero’s final season continues to be full of individual accomplishments.
Following a last skate on the Matthews ice, Guerriero will take it all in stride.
He’ll be facing off against Collins and Callander tomorrow in Durham, N.H. for the start of HE playoffs and if he could have it his way, possibly against Eaves again in the next round.
Only this time, Guerriero will be looking down at the runners-up for the Hockey East scoring crown.
