Fortunato leaving BU

Brandon Fortunato will not return to @TerrierHockey next season, according to David Quinn. Fortunato has 1 year of junior eligibility left.

— Mark Divver (@MarkDivver) July 28, 2016

It was announced last night that Brandon Fortunato will be leaving the BU hockey program. It seems like he would be looking to transfer to a school with an opportunity for more playing time. Playing time was going to be a crunch for Fortunato with captain Doyle Somerby returning on D with first round draft picks Charlie McAvoy and Dante Fabbro, second round picks Johnny Macleod and Chad Krys, third round pick Brandon Hickey and returners Brien Diffley and Shane Switzer.  There were rumors that Fortunato was going to be moved to forward but they may be something he was not comfortable with for his career development. Fortunato was a very capable defenseman for BU and quarterbacked the powerplay for them during each of his two seasons. He tallied 40 points in 79 games for the Terriers and was responsible as a defenseman as well despite his smaller frame.



Fortunato was an original Harvard commit before picking BU over BC and Union as well as other HE schools.

Harvard de-commit Brandon Fortunato has committed to BU. Several HE teams were talking to him. He'll arrive this fall.

— Mike McMahon (@MikeMcMahonCHN) May 13, 2014

It seems likely a NY native such as Fortunato would stay on the east coast which leaves the very real possibility he is playing for another Hockey East school next year(he will have to sit out a year due to NCAA transfer rules). He would be a top 4 D at any other HE school this coming season so he will not have any shortage of suitors throughout the league and the rest of the country. We certainly wish Brandon all the best in the future. It is tough/stupid to blame a kid for looking for more playing time when he is a player of the caliber of Fortunato.

Without Fortunato in the program, my updated way too early look at the lineup opening night


Bellows-Keller- Carpenter
Greenway-JFK-Harper
Olsson- Cloonan-Roberto
Phelps-McDermott-Curry

Somerby-McAvoy
Hickey-Fabbro
Krys-Macleod/Diffley

Oettinger
LaCouvee
Prawdzik

It is unlikely that BU will be adding another body this late in the summer with 15 forwards, 8D and 3 goalies already on the roster but there is a chance they could take another forward in the next month before school begins.