May 14, 2015

Gerard A. Plouffe ’61: Hockey heaven

Jerry Plouffe ’61 and his jersey are fixtures at Friars’ games.
Jerry Plouffe ’61 and his jersey are fixtures at Friars’ games.

Jerry Plouffe ’61 has come light years from the days he watched his roommate play hockey for the Friars at the Rhode Island Auditorium and wondered, “What the hell are all these dots and lines?”

For more than 20 years, he’s been a season ticket-holder — standing out in the Schneider Arena crowd with his No. 61 jersey covered with autographs and 100-plus pins of Division I schools. The likes of NHL greats Bobby Orr and Barry Melrose, Olympians Jim Craig and Mike Eruzione, and PC’s Sara DeCosta ’00 and Steve Rooney ’85 have signed the jersey.

“People not into college hockey don’t understand it,” said the retired social studies teacher, who’s been to 17 Frozen Fours, 2015 included.

As for his Friars, “BU was a means to an end. I’m still thinking I’ve got to wake up. Nate Leaman … the man’s a genius.”