Sports

McAvoy selected in NHL draft

Boston Bruins tap L.B. native

Posted
Charlie McAvoy with his family — Holly, left; Kayla; his parents, Jennifer and Charlie Sr.; and Heather — after his selection in the NHL draft in Buffalo last Friday.
Charlie McAvoy with his family — Holly, left; Kayla; his parents, Jennifer and Charlie Sr.; and Heather — after his selection in the NHL draft in Buffalo last Friday.
Courtesy Charlie McAvoy Sr.

As Charlie McAvoy’s name was called at last Friday’s NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo, the reality set in. Selected by the Boston Bruins with the 14th overall pick, the Long Beach native had climbed another rung on the ladder to his dream of hitting the ice with the world’s best hockey players.

“It was an unbelievable feeling, just really special — kind of breathtaking at first, and then you kind of realize what just happened, and then it’s just excitement,” McAvoy told the Herald. “It’s another step toward that ultimate goal, which is playing in the NHL.”

A solid freshman season at Boston University helped propel him to being selected: McAvoy, who is only 18, led all Terrier defenseman with 25 points, notching three goals and 22 assists in 37 games. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound blue-liner played alongside fellow Bruins prospect Matt Grzelcyk at BU, and was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team despite being the youngest player in NCAA Division I hockey last season.

Before BU, McAvoy spent two seasons with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program and competed in the 2016 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, earning a bronze medal as a member of the national under-20 squad. He also helped the under-18 national team win a gold medal at the 2015 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship.

“Leading up to the draft this year, we knew he was going to be in a good spot,” said McAvoy’s father, Charlie Sr., “so the suspense leading up to it was really a little nerve-racking, but exciting, to say the least.”

Charlie Sr. — who runs McAvoy Plumbing on West Park Avenue — grew up a diehard New York Rangers fan in Long Beach, where the Blueshirts once used the ice arena as a practice facility. He played hockey throughout his life, and passed his love of the sport on to his son, throwing him on the ice at age 3.

“It’s because of him, and because of the time and work that he put in when I was young and laying a good foundation and just giving me every opportunity to be successful,” his son said. “Without him, there’s no doubt I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Charlie Sr. coached his son on various teams from the time he was 5 until about age 14. Charlie’s mother, Jennifer, stopped working at the time to be more available to take him to and from games and practices, Charlie Sr. recalled.

McAvoy played for the New Jersey Rockets of the Metro Junior Hockey League in 2012-13 before moving to Ann Arbor, Mich., to take part in the National Team Developmental Program. He spent one year at Long Beach High School, but then transferred to Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, where he accelerated through 12th grade to reach BU at age 17.

“Charlie is obviously a supremely talented hockey player — a world-class player who is one of the best players in the world at his age,” Rob Broderick, president of the New Jersey Rockets, told the Herald. “His work ethic and dedication to being the best he can be has always been special, and the Rockets, as well as all the people on Long Island, should be very proud of him.”

Broderick added that McAvoy is only the latest example of the quality of hockey on Long Island. Sonny Milano, of Massapequa, was chosen 16th overall in the NHL draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2014, and Jeremy Bracco, of Freeport, was selected 61st by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2015. Mike Komisarek, of West Islip, and Rob Scuderi and Eric Nystrom, of Syosset, have already made noise in the league.

Charlie McAvoy Sr. described his son as a level-headed and humble kid with a “blue-collar” spirit, who has adjusted to the spotlight well so far. He believes that what he has seen his son do for years can translate to the next level.

“He’s just so exciting to watch,” Charlie Sr. said. “When he gets the puck or when he gets involved, he keeps me on the edge of my seat.”

Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney told BostonBruins.com that the familiarity with McAvoy — because he plays at BU — as well as “his upside and skill set on the ice” were the reasons the team chose him.

Despite his longtime loyalty to the Rangers, his aspirations to be the next Brian Leetch — one of the franchise’s best defensemen, who was selected ninth overall in 1986 — and the fact that the Bruins ousted the Rangers in the 2013 Eastern Conference semifinals, McAvoy says he’s prepared for the next chapter of his career. “Whoever drafts you, that’s the team that’s the best fit, and for me it was the Bruins,” he said. “No more allegiance to the Rangers now; I’m just a big Bruins fan.”

Nonetheless, he will always remember his hometown, and the people of Long Beach continue to support him, he said, with many sending their congratulations on the draft.

“There’s a lot of pride being from Long Beach — it’s a very close-knit town,” he said. “Everyone who has supported me has been so good to me, and there’s so many people, it’s hard to name everyone who has really helped me along the way. I’ve got the entire city behind me.”