Leading the Jumbos to a blazing 9-1 start to the season, junior Jason Boudrow is also chasing after another goal, the national scoring title. Entering last night's game, Boudrow sat atop the ECAC Northeast and the Division III national leader board in scoring, with 40 points in only ten games. With 16 goals and 24 assists (four ppg), Boudrow's average is three points higher than any other player in the country, despite the fact that Tufts has played significantly fewer games than any other team.
His most productive game of the season, a seven-point effort against Assumption on Jan. 11, also helped him win ECAC Northeast Player of the Week. Since coming back from winter break, Boudrow has been on a tear, tallying 14 points in just three games, with an even seven goals and seven assists. The Somerville native has scored or assisted on all but five of Tufts goals over that span.
"He averages four points a game. He's a great player and he's a big key to our team," senior tri-captain Scott Hayes said.
Boudrow is currently dominating the ECAC Northeast conference, leading players from 18 teams in various offensive categories. His 40 overall points are 12 higher than the second-best scorer, Johnson and Wales freshman Chris Thurman. He also leads the conference in goals, assists, power play points (19), and power play goals (9).
Opposing teams have had a difficult time defending Boudrow, whose speed and stick work make him almost impossible to cover. So far, no strategy has been successful, as Boudrow has scored at least one point in every game this season.
"Not only is he leading the league in scoring, but he also has the will to win that we need," senior tri-captain Natan Obed said. "He's a great competitor."
Perhaps Boudrow's most telling statistic is his lofty assist total, showing that he has no problem dishing out the puck to an open teammate. Because of advanced scouting, some teams have simply assigned a player to shadow Boudrow for the entire game, not allowing him as much open ice in which to maneuver.
"In the first half of the season, people were shadowing him, and he would pass it off, and someone else would score," senior Justin Picone said. "Right now, no one can stop Boudrow."
As a result of the pressure Boudrow puts on defenders, his entire line has benefited, and both Obed and freshman Pat Byrne are having stellar seasons as well. Obed currently stands seventh in the conference in scoring, with eight goals and 13 assists on the year.
"I don't think he's a selfish player," Obed said. "He creates opportunities. Because of his one on one moves and his puck handling skills, he makes room for us to score."
Byrne, who has 15 points (11 goals, four assists) is third among all conference freshman in scoring and sixth in the conference in goals. In fact, Byrne received conference Rookie of the Week honors for last week's play, when he racked up three goals and two assists.
"Boudrow is no more important than anyone else on the team, though, because we are team oriented," Hayes said. "He's having a really good year. Some teams throw someone on him and shadow him, but he's used to that. It makes his whole line do better."
As a freshman, Boudrow led the conference in scoring with 55 points, but was ineligible to play last season. With 40 points so far this season, Boudrow is closing in on 100 career points, averaging 2.79 points per game over his collegiate career, and, more importantly, 4.43 points per game in conference play.
