In the fast-paced world of college hockey, sophomores play a more important role

“You rely on them a lot,” said Boston College coach Greg Brown, whose team reached the NCAA championship game last season. “Their entire study process is accelerated.

“Fifteen years ago, more boys stayed for three or even four years. Now it is shorter than that: one, two or three years. So I feel like they understand that their role is being accelerated.”

This will especially be the case in Hockey East. A lot of attention was paid to the 2023-2024 freshman class, and that group certainly produced results. Macklin Celebrini’s 32 goals and 32 assists for Boston University earned him the Hobey Baker Award, while Will Smith’s 71 points on 25 goals and 46 assists with BC led the nation. Bradly Nadeau led Maine with 46 points on 19 goals and 27 assists as the Black Bears returned to the NCAA Tournament.

All three have left for the NHL, but there is still plenty of talent from around the league returning for a second season. The rest of BC’s ballyhooed class is back, which helps explain why the Eagles are the preseason favorites in Hockey East and ranked second nationally.

Goaltender Jacob Fowler went 32-6-1, breaking the NCAA record for most wins by a freshman. He posted a .926 save percentage and 2.14 goals against average en route to being named a finalist for the Mike Richter Award.

Forward Ryan Leonard’s 31 goals were the most by a freshman in program history, while linemate Gabe Perreault ranked third in the nation with 1.67 points per game. They are joined by defensemen Drew Fortescue and Aram Minnetian. All five were part of the Team USA squad that captured gold at the World Junior Championships in January.

Celebrini’s second-half linemates, Shane Lachance and Jack Harvey, are back for their second year with the Terriers, as are defensemen Tom Willander, Aiden Celebrini and Gavin McCarthy. Lachance is the first sophomore to be named captain in program history, while Willander led the Terriers in plus/minus last year at plus-28.

“I think (returning sophomores) play a big role, especially when it seems like college hockey rosters are changing more and more every year,” BU coach Jay Pandolfo said. “I think it’s important to identify guys who are younger and have really good leadership qualities.

“I think a lot of times for us, these guys just rise to the top in a way where their teammates have a lot of respect for them. They do things the right way. They understand how everything works. They understand the expectations, the norms and all that stuff.

“I think other players on the team, whether they’re seniors or freshmen or whatever, see these guys naturally taking charge in some way.”

There were times last season when UMass rolled out a freshman line of Aydar Suniev, Dans Locmelis and Jack Musa. All three are back, as is second-year goaltender Michael Hrabal, who posted a .914 save percentage and 2.54 GAA. Suniev and Musa tied for the team lead with 12 goals.

“I don’t think you can ask freshmen to lead, but you can ask sophomores to lead,” UMass coach Greg Carvel said. “Your best players don’t last four years anymore, so the path to leadership is a lot shorter and faster than it used to be. We certainly ask all those sophomores to be better leaders.

“I tell them all the time, ‘If you want to get better as a hockey player, get better as a person. Be a leader, be a great teammate. You’d be surprised how much better you become as a hockey player when your teammates push and pull for you.” ”

Northeastern lost captain Justin Hryckowian when he turned pro after his junior season, but younger brother Dylan, who sometimes skated on the top line with his sibling as a freshman, is back. The Huskies also relied heavily on a freshman netminder in Cameron Whitehead last season (.917 save percentage, 2.62 GAA in 36 games).

“I thought he was one of the best goaltenders in college hockey by the end of the season,” Northeastern coach Jerry Keefe said. “We are fortunate to know that we have Whitey in net.

“We know the kind of work ethic he has and how focused he is. He was really good last year, and I think he’ll be much better this year.”

While Nadeau signed with the Hurricanes, his brother Josh (18 goals, 27 assists) returns for his sophomore campaign, as does goaltender Albin Boija (10-6-1, .916 save percentage, 2.01 GAA) for a Black Bears- squad coaching Ben Barr believes it can be even deeper than last year’s team.

“We’re not going to replace Bradly,” Barr said. “I think we have a lot of guys who can play at this level and who are good players. Who is going to step up and become a really good player? That’s what coaches are always looking for when the season starts.”

Other Hockey East sophomores returning after stellar freshman seasons include Merrimack forward Ty Daneault, who was the team leader in goals (13); Ryan Conmy, who led New Hampshire in scoring with 14 goals and 17 assists; Tanner Adams, who played in all 35 games for Providence and finished second on the team in points with 6 goals and 15 assists, and teammate Hudson Malinowski, who also didn’t miss a game and scored 9 goals and 9 assists.

Follow Andrew Mahoney @GlobeMahoney.