As he helped hand out hundreds of backpacks, binders, and folders to students at TD Garden last week in anticipation of a new school year, Johnny Beecher acknowledged the painful reality that used to set in at this point on the calendar.
“It was always kind of crazy when you were a kid and you knew the school year was coming back up,” the Bruins forward said with a smile at the Garden’s Back-to-School Celebration. “You’d walk into Target with your mom, and they’d have the back-to-school stuff. You kind of just put your head down and realize that reality was coming back.”
Of course, returning to school wasn’t all that bad for Beecher — and he’s not just saying that because his mother, Natasha, still teaches high school English back home in New York.
For Beecher, 23, the start of the fall also marked the beginning of a new year with his closest friends, as well as the start of another season on the ice.
And in a similar vein, that sentiment still stands for Beecher and fellow second-year pro Mason Lohrei as they brace for another NHL season.
“I felt pretty good about my game in the playoffs,” said Lohrei, who also attended Thursday’s event. “And obviously there are still a bunch of things I want to work on. So I went into this summer just trying to address those — but that playoff run just made me a whole lot hungrier for what’s to come.”
Lohrei and Beecher were two of five players who made their NHL debuts with the Bruins in 2023-24, with Lohrei carving out a spot on the blue line and Beecher on the checking unit.
Those roles should continue to grow this fall, as both skaters cut their teeth, endured the expected growing pains, and navigated several treks to Providence as rookies.
“I think going into the season, not many people were really expecting me to make that opening night roster and make an impact,” Beecher said. “I was able to do that, which was huge for me and my confidence.
“And obviously there were some ups and downs. Got sent down there for a little bit, but I felt like I kind of handled everything really well. I spent my time in Providence working hard, put my head down, just got my game back to where it needed to be to come back up here and help the team out at the end of the season and going into playoffs. And I was able to do that.”
Once viewed as a long-term project as a 6-foot-5-inch offensive defenseman, Lohrei held his own against a forechecking juggernaut in the Panthers during the postseason, a promising springboard for what should be a full-time role this season.
Though Lohrei could start off in more of a third-pairing spot following the signing of fellow left-shot defenseman Nikita Zadorov, general manager Don Sweeney said in July that reps on the second power-play unit should be available for Lohrei out of the gate.
“It means a lot,” Lohrei said. “Definitely helps with confidence when you’re hearing that kind of stuff.
“It’ll be nice to hopefully get those opportunities, but it doesn’t mean anything if you don’t go out there and perform. So just focus on the little things and go out there and try to make the right plays.”
Lohrei’s emphasis this offseason has been tacking more muscle onto his frame in anticipation of heavier minutes, while Beecher’s focus has revolved around developing a more consistent game.
Beecher’s faceoff skills (54.6 percent), skating ability, and size (6-3, 216) all fit the mold of a fourth-liner with plenty of room to grow, especially alongside other big-bodied skaters such as Max Jones, Mark Kastelic, and Justin Brazeau.
Both Lohrei and Beecher should be in line for steady minutes, but Lohrei is setting his sights even higher for what should be his first full campaign in the NHL.
“I feel like I’m just getting started,” Lohrei said. “Just continue every day, take it day by day, and just show up to the rink and get better and learn as much as I can. Just continue to gain confidence.
“I want to be a full-time NHLer, so that’s my goal for the season. I want to be a top defenseman.”
