ST. LOUIS—The Boston University men’s hockey team plays in its third straight NCAA Frozen Four starting Thursday night at Enterprise Center, and when the Terriers take on Penn State for a shot at the national title on Saturday, they’ll do so with one of their biggest fans alongside them.

He’s nine year-old Logan Gatto, from Rockland, Mass., and he’s got more experience seeing the Terriers play in person in the Frozen Four over the past three seasons than many players on the roster.

 

What You Need To Know

  • Team IMPACT pairs children facing serious health challenges with college sports programs 

  • This is Logan Gatto's third Frozen Four trip to root for the Boston University Terriers. He attends most home games as well as the annual Beanpot tournament in Boston

  • BU faces Penn State Thursday night for the right to take on the winner of Western Michigan/University of Denver on Saturday at Enterprise Center

  • Players credit Logan with bringing energy to the team and light to the locker room

 

 

Gatto, who deals with epilepsy, was paired with BU in 2022 by Team IMPACT, a non-profit organization that brings children with serious illnesses or disabilities together with college sports programs. 

As a result, Gatto has been a regular at BU practices and home games, the annual Beanpot tournament in Boston, and for the third straight year, the Frozen Four.

“We see a different side of him when he's with his B-U guys,” his father Nick said while the pair watched BU’s Wednesday practice session. “He kind of comes out of his shell and is more vocal and excited than he is when he has to deal with his everyday appointments and all the other things, therapies that he might have to do. This is like his getaway, and he loves all the guys here and everybody on the B-U team top to bottom.” 

“I love my BU guys so much because they’re my favorite BU guys,” Logan said. When pressed further, he says his favorite player is sophomore defenseman Aiden Celebrini. 

Proof that Logan has had an impact on the Terriers is easy to spot. In true hockey fashion, Logan has a nickname.

“Logie's just been someone who comes in before games and puts a smile on your face. He brings a lot of energy. He comes in screaming most times and trying to hype us up...the relationship with Logie and our team has been awesome,” said Ryan Greene, a junior forward and co-captain.

“Every time we're warming up right before the game he walks in, he's always got a new haircut or something going on. It's either a mohawk or something crazy, he's got it going. He's the most happy to be there, so it makes us all happy and ready for the game,” said forward Quinn Hutson. 

Co-captain and forward Shane LaChance agrees.

"I’m not sure if he realizes it or not, he makes us so much more happy. He puts a smile on our face. We might be stressed out, nervous a little bit before the game and he comes running in….you kind of forget a little bit about the game and you just kind of loosen up. He definitely makes the atmosphere in the locker room way better for sure,” he said.

This year marks BU’s 25th trip to the Frozen Four. The last time the Terriers won the title was 2009, long before Logan was born. His dad says Logan is in this for the long haul regardless of what happens Thursday night and potentially on Saturday.

“Whether they win or lose, he’s gonna see them again and he’s gonna continue to see them. When they win, he’s gonna be excited for them and he’s gonna be thrilled for them. And I think that’ll be something that he certainly will remember and he’s gonna continue to make memories with the team as the years go on,” Nick said.