By Warren Kozireski —
Born four-and-one-half years apart, Clarence Center brothers Case and Gavin McCarthy never imagined they would play on the same hockey team. But the stars aligned, along with an extra year of eligibility due to the pandemic, and 2023-24 was the season with Boston University.
Case McCarthy returned as a fifth-year graduate student and team captain while Gavin McCarthy arrived from the USHL for his freshman campaign.
“Obviously, I’m super grateful the age gap between me and Gavin is a little bit bigger and it’s an opportunity that I never thought I’d have,” Case said before the semi-finals of the Frozen Four in St. Paul. “But to be able to have him be part of this team, be part of this group and experience this opportunity with him is something I’m going to hold for me the rest of my life. I know my family is as well.”
The Terriers entered the national semi-final with a 28-9-2 record and ranked second in the nation behind archrival Boston College but lost to Denver in overtime 2-1 to end their season and Case’s collegiate career.
“Really disappointing. I really feel for our seniors,” Boston University head coach Jay Pandolfo said. “They’ve done a tremendous job the last two years of, I feel like, re-establishing the culture at BU and what it means to play and be a Terrier. I want to thank those guys.
“Case coming back for his fifth year. We were certainly happy he did. For him to get another chance to actually play in the Frozen Four was great to see.”
Case McCarthy missed the Terriers run to the Frozen Four last season as a player when he broke his collarbone in the Hockey East playoffs but was happy to help his team earn a return engagement.
“It’s special,” Case McCarthy said. “You want to be on the ice with your teammates. Unfortunately, last year I didn’t have that opportunity, but it was cool seeing it from a different perspective.
“The opportunity to come back and play in one is something I’m super grateful for. Super proud of our team the way we competed the last couple of weeks, and just excited to get going.
Case registered nine points this season, was second on the team in blocked shots (76) and third in plus/minus (+19) while Gavin scored his first collegiate goal and added four assists in over 37 games and was a +12 plus/minus.
He also gave up the jersey number #2 he wore and took #7 so his younger brother could wear it.
Though he fell just short of his goal of bringing a title back to Agganis Arena, he reflects positively on the team’s accomplishments bringing back the Terrier culture.
“I mean, for me, obviously bringing this team back to the Frozen Four,” Case McCarthy said. “But, like, away from the rink, the group we had in that locker room was a special group, special group of people. Young guys to us old guys sitting up here.
“It’s special when you have a group like that. It makes coming to the rink every day a lot of fun. Building those relationships with guys is something that you’re going to hold onto for the rest of my life.”
(Photos provided by the Boston University Athletic Department/Men’s Ice Hockey Team)
