Meet The Eagles, Boston College Men’s Hockey: Drew Helleson

Name: Drew Helleson

Number: 4

Position: Defense

Class Year: Freshman

Drafted: #47 by the Colorado Avalanche in 2019

Background: Drew Helleson is a 6’3 defenseman known for skating well and being a good puck handler with great hockey sense. He joins BC from the USNTDP, where he tallied 23 points in 64 games for the U18 team this past season. At the U17 level, he had a 40-point season in 61 games. He had three assists in seven games at the IIHF U18 World Championships, helping Team USA win a bronze medal. This summer, he was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the second round of the NHL Draft, joining BC teammate and fellow freshman Alex Newhook.

2019-20 Outlook: As one of three first-year defensemen, Helleson has an opportunity to really set the tone for what this year’s defensive unit will look like. Based on his stats from this past season (5G, 18A) and the season prior to that (5G, 35A), it’s clear that Helleson is comfortable setting up plays for his teammates. He’s also been described as a stay-at-home defenseman who has the ability to shut down top players on opposing teams. He is definitely a type of player that BC could benefit from having on the ice either on the second or third defensive pairing, especially if he continues developing his offensive skills this season to become a stronger two-way defenseman.

Fun Fact: Helleson is one of four NTDP alum in this year’s freshman class.