The 1972-73 Boston University hockey guide headlined the season outlook with "Youth Is The Key." The Terriers were coming off back-to-back NCAA Division IÂ national titles, and, as the underclassmen went, so the fortunes of the 1972-73 season.
"Goalie is a big question mark," according to the outlook, which cited the graduation losses of All-American Dan Brady and Olympic goaltender Tim Regan.
Enter Ed Walsh.
A native of Arlington, Massachusetts, Walsh, who had played in just three games during the 1971-72 varsity season, converted the "question mark" during the preseason into an exclamation point by the end of the season.
He appeared in 27 of the team's 29 games and compiled an outstanding 2.94 goals-against average. He tied a school record with back-to-back shutouts against Merrimack and archrival Cornell.
He was named the All-Star goaltender at the Duluth Thanksgiving and Great Lakes Invitational Tournaments. Plus, he was in net when the Terriers skated past Boston College, 4-1, to win their fourth straight Beanpot title.
Walsh capped off his senior year by being named First Team All-New England and First Team All-America. Walsh had amassed more impressive statistics his senior year. As team captain, he had a 23-8 win-loss record with a 2.86 goals-against average.
Although the Terriers lost to Harvard in the Beanpot final, Walsh received the first annual Eberly Trophy as the Tournament's outstanding goalie. Ironically, in his final collegiate game, he defeated the Crimson, 7-5, in the consolation game of the NCAA Tournament.
His postseason honors included MVP of the ECAC Tournament, All-East, All-New England, team MVPÂ and recipient of the Walter Brown Award as the top American born college hockey player in New England.
