BC Hockey Preview of Champions: Brian Billett, #1

This season is a very important one for Brian Billett, backup Boston College hockey goalie from Brunswick, Maine. His performance here and now could help decide his role on the 2013-14 Eagles, which might be pretty big.

Billett may have come to Boston College from deep within hockey territory, but he did not start there. In fact, he was born in South Carolina, but had some experience with the game as a child. Parental reassignment took him north to Maine, which was great for Billett’s learning of the game (since most assume that hockey is more popular in the places that get colder).

He attended Kennebunk High School in Maine, but it is unclear if he ever actually played hockey there. Billett, always on the move, did play some hockey in Brunswick and at North Yarmouth Academy, but did not stay in either of those places for more than a season. He made his move to the junior hockey circuit thereafter, joining the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs of the EJHL. Billett started in goal for the Monarchs each of his three years there, where they won the whole thing in his last two consecutive seasons.

When Billett came to Boston College in 2011, he did so with a bit of attention. Parker Milner struggled in the middle of what ended up being a championship season, but Billett was the goalie Jerry York tabbed for the job. He started off very well, going 3-0, but then looked like a freshman as he finished on an 0-4-1 stretch. Ironically, he lost the blowout to Maine that gave Milner his starting job back and launched the Eagles’ run of 19 wins in a row and the national title.

This season, expect Billett to be the main backup to Milner, probably getting a respectable amount of playing time in relief of the starter. It is what he does as a backup this year that could (or might not) make him the starter next season. Milner graduates after this season, leaving the goalie slot wide open. Billett might be the frontrunner for the job, but he will have to earn it as expected.