My Thoughts on Playing Alongside a Bruins Defenseman
Mason Lohrei played 41 games for the Bruins during the regular season. The young defenseman scored four goals and nine assists, averaging 16:57 minutes of ice time per game.
Reflecting on his first NHL season, Lohrei was most amazed by the opportunity to play alongside Charlie McAvoy.
“I was telling him the other day that every time I look up at the board and see my name next to his, I still have to pinch myself,” Lohrei shared with Belle Fraser of The Hockey News. “He’s such an incredible player… I’ve learned so much from his game.”
McAvoy found the exchange amusing.
“That sounded weird when he said that. It made me feel old,” McAvoy told reporters. “I certainly don’t see myself that way. I feel like I’m just a kid out there having fun too. Playing with him and watching what he’s doing, I feel the same way about him.
My Thoughts on Playing Alongside a Bruins Defenseman.
“I had a great time playing with him. He works extremely hard. His foundation is great. He works every single day, and I cannot wait to see the strides he takes. I keep telling him the sky’s the limit for him. Seeing where he can go is really exciting for us. Watching him come into his own… I’m excited to be here for that and help him any way I can. I look forward to the relationship we’re going to build.”
Lohrei’s hard work and strong play in all three zones earned the 23-year-old a call-up from Providence for the playoffs.
Lohrei played in 11 of the Bruins’ 13 postseason games, scoring one goal and three assists. He recorded 14 shots on goal, 17 blocks, and 12 hits, averaging 17:12 minutes of ice time.
The postseason experience boosted Lohrei’s confidence within the Bruins’ organization.
“Yeah, it’s been incredible. I was just telling my parents that it’s the most fun I’ve had playing hockey with the playoff run we had,” Lohrei told reporters at Bruins breakup day at Warrior Ice Arena, according to the team transcript. “Being able to come in and jump into a role and run with it is huge for confidence going into the summer. It gives me a lot of motivation to stay at it.”
As McAvoy said, the sky is the limit for Lohrei, and his impressive playoff performance will likely secure him a spot on the roster in September.
