VANCOUVER – Pacing all Hockey East schools, the Boston University men’s ice hockey team had four players selected in the 2006 National Hockey League Entry Draft on Saturday night at the GM Place. Incoming freshman defensemen Brian Strait (Waltham, Mass.) and Eric Gryba (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) were both chosen in the top of the third round, while classmate goaltender Brett Bennett (Williamsville, N.Y.) was taken in the fifth round and upcoming sophomore forward John McCarthy (Andover, Mass.) went in round seven.

A total of 13 players or recruits from eight of the 10 Hockey East schools were chosen, with the Terriers topping the list ahead of Boston College and Providence with two selections each. Meanwhile, the four draftees bring the total number of BU players ever picked in the NHL draft to 112, while they represent the highest number of Terriers chosen in the draft since 2002, when seven were taken.

Strait was the first to go for BU, being taken second in the third round, and 65th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins after going in ranked 22nd among North American skaters by the Central Scouting Services. Fellow incoming blueliner Gryba followed suit, going to the Ottawa Senators with the 68th overall pick after being ranked 66th by the CSS.

Up next was Bennett, who went to the Phoenix Coyotes with the 130th overall pick in the fifth round. He was ranked sixth among North American goaltenders. Finally, rounding out the BU draft selections was McCarthy, who was taken in the seventh round, 202nd overall, by the San Jose Sharks.

The 2006-07 Terrier squad will include 10 NHL drafted players, including forwards McCarthy, Brian McGuirk (Columbus/2004), Kenny Roche (New York Rangers/2003) and Brandon Yip (Colorado/2004); defensemen Strait, Gryba, Tom Morrow (Buffalo/2003), Kevin Schaeffer (Nashville/2004) and Sean Sullivan (Phoenix/2003); and goaltender Bennett.