Professional leap for ex-Terrier Quinn

But Quinn, formerly Jack Parker’s No. 1 assistant at Boston University, has opted for a career change, leaving the college ranks for the pro game.

“Won’t miss that one iota,’’ Quinn said of his usual August travel schedule.

On June 22, Quinn was hired as head coach of the Lake Erie Monsters, Colorado’s AHL affiliate. Quinn, a 1988 BU graduate, will be replacing another ex-Terrier. On June 4, Joe Sacco (Class of ’91) was promoted to the Avalanche to replace Tony Granato as coach, part of an organization-side makeover in which Greg Sherman replaced Francois Giguere as general manager.

In 2008-09, BU had three Colorado prospects on the roster: Brandon Yip (239th pick in 2004), Kevin Shattenkirk (14th in 2007), and Colby Cohen (45th in 2007). At the June draft, the Avalanche selected goalie Kieran Millan, who backstopped BU to the 2008-09 NCAA title, with the 124th overall pick.

So considering the connections, the move to Quinn was a good fit for both coach and franchise. BU promoted assistant Mike Bavis to replace Quinn as associate head coach, while Buddy Powers was hired as assistant coach.

“It happened very fast,’’ Quinn said. “Without question, the success that BU had helps. We had the three guys on our roster being Colorado picks, then they had a lot of interest in Millan. It pays to be associated with a successful program.’’

For the 42-year-old Quinn, coaching professionals won’t be an entirely new venture. In 2007, he served as an assistant to former BU teammate Mike Sullivan when Team USA competed in the World Championships.

“The first thing to do is be yourself,’’ Quinn said. “If you look at AHL rosters, there’s a lot of players who are college-aged kids. So there’s a comfort level there. The bottom line is that it’s all about developing players and helping them achieve their goal, which is to get to the NHL.

“If you look at the job Joe Sacco did in Cleveland, they were decimated by injuries last year. I think he had 50 guys on his roster. He did a great job with players individually and making them better so they get their chance at the NHL.

“It’s all about making guys better individually. It’s one of the things Jack does here.’’

Quinn’s move also reflects the challenges collegiate coaches face. For one thing, there is little turnover among head coaches. Had Parker planned to retire soon, Quinn would have been a leading candidate to move from associate coach to head coach. While Quinn will still be under consideration as BU’s next leader, Parker doesn’t plan on ditching his whistle for the helm of his sailboat soon.

“Jack’s a young 64,’’ Quinn said. “He feels good. He takes it year to year. But with the new building and the teams he’s going to have at BU, he’s in a position where he’s going to coach longer than he envisioned three or four years ago.’’

Secondly, and perhaps more significant, is the strain college hockey is facing from two directions: the NHL and Canadian major junior hockey. Just a decade ago, it was unusual for top American teenagers to choose major junior over college hockey. Now, many of the best young Americans are crossing the border and joining the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Three years ago, Quinn, as BU’s lead recruiter, pushed hard to land current Chicago stud Patrick Kane. But the Buffalo native signed with London of the OHL. Players like Kane have cited major junior’s pro-like year, compared with college hockey’s two-games-a-week model, as a primary reason not to enroll in school.

At the same time, cap-squeezed NHL clubs are eager to sign their prospects, develop them with their AHL teams, and bring their entry-level contracts into the big-league fold to offset pricier talent. After the Terriers won the championship, sophomore Colin Wilson, picked seventh overall by Nashville in 2008, turned pro as expected. But BU also could have lost Shattenkirk, Cohen, Brian Strait (the 65th pick in 2006), Eric Gryba (68th in 2006), and Nick Bonino (173d in 2007). Shattenkirk, Cohen, Gryba, and Bonino will return in 2009-10, but BU could have been in a panic to bring in players had all the underclassmen turned pro.

“We would sit in our offices, look at our rosters, and have no idea what our roster would look like in a year or two,’’ said Quinn. “You don’t know who’s staying or going. BU is fortunate to have Shattenkirk, Cohen, and Bonino back for their junior years. If our guys had signed with their NHL teams, BU would have had a hard time fielding a team next year.’’

The double-barreled assault has forced college teams to sketch up Plans B, C, and D to install safeguards on early departures. It’s led coaches such as Quinn to recruit more aggressively. They’re expanding their searches. They’re spending more time on the road in small-town frostbitten rinks. They’re pursuing younger kids prior to the major junior bantam drafts.

“Recruiting is so difficult at this level,’’ Quinn said. “First and foremost, you’re a recruiter. There’s an awful lot to it. There’s the travel. It’s a battle with major junior to keep good players.

“I wanted to coach more. That’s the bottom line.’’

Bruins dialed in on 98.5

“You’re talking about one of the most historic radio stations in the country,’’ said Bruins radio play-by-play announcer Dave Goucher. “WBZ and KMOX in the St. Louis are the two biggies. You’ve also got KDKA in Pittsburgh for the Big Three.’’

Brand name and signal strength - listeners from Florida to Chicago to Ontario could listen to Goucher and color commentator Bob Beers on the 50,000-watt station - were two notches in WBZ’s belt. But for a station with news, weather, and traffic as its core products, hockey was like a garnish on the station’s meat-and-potatoes staples. Hence, the five-minute pregame shows.

Now Bruins and Patriots games shift to WBZ-FM (98.5), and The Sports Hub should be a more appropriate fit for Black-and-Gold broadcasts.

“The timing couldn’t be better,’’ said Goucher. “You’ve got a Bruins team looking to make another big step forward this year. There are big changes on the radio side going to FM and going to a brand-new all-sports station.

“It’s a new, fresh place for the Bruins. It could also potentially mean an opportunity to talk hockey on a more expansive basis.’’

Goucher would like the pregame show to be expanded to 30 minutes. Postgame shows, if stretched out, could feature guests and callers. Additionally, Goucher believes there’s a market for ancillary programming in the form of a hockey show, with time slot and length to be determined.

“There’s much more of a market for it now than five years ago,’’ Goucher said. “Now, with the success of the team, most people feel it’s headed in the right direction. Couple that with the fact that you don’t really hear any consistent talk about hockey in the marketplace.

“The fan base is extremely passionate if you give them a team to be passionate about.’’

Etc.

Fluto Shinzawa can be reached at fshinzawa@globe.com.