| Drew Bavaro | |
| Birth Date: | 10 June 2000 |
| Birth Place: | Bradenton, Florida, United States |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 2 |
| Weight Lb: | 198 |
| Position: | Defenseman |
| Shoots: | Right |
| League: | NHL |
| Team: | Boston Bruins |
| Prospect League: | AHL |
| Prospect Team: | Providence Bruins |
| Draft: | Undrafted |
| Career Start: | 2024 |
Drew Bavaro (born June 10, 2000) is an American professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League (AHL), as a prospect for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played college ice hockey for Bentley University and University of Notre Dame in the National Collegiate Athletic Association
After playing one year with the Wenatchee Wild of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), Bavaro committed to play hockey at Bentley University starting in the 2021–22 season. Bavaro scored 2 goals and 10 assists in 16 games for the Falcons, earning him Atlantic Hockey Association All-Rookie team honors. However, Bentley's season would come to an abrupt end in the AHA tournament when they had to withdraw in the second round due to positive COVID-19 tests amidst the pandemic.
Bavaro had a successful second season with the Falcons, leading the Atlantic Hockey Association in points by a defenseman with 24, and was named a semi-finalist for the Walter Brown Award, which is awarded to the top-American born player playing in New England.,[1] as well as being named to the All-Atlantic Hockey First Team.[2] After the season, Bavaro announced that he would be transferring to University of Notre Dame to finish out his collegiate hockey career.[3]
Bavaro's production dipped in his first season at Notre Dame, scoring only 19 points in 37 games. Notre Dame would be eliminated by Michigan in the first round of the 2023 Big Ten tournament.
Bavaro scored 10 goals and 10 assists in his second season at Notre Dame. The team was once again eliminated by Michigan in the first round of the 2024 Big Ten tournament.
After the elimination in the Big Ten Tournament, it was announced on March 12, 2024, that the Boston Bruins had signed Bavaro to a one-year, US$867,500 deal. Bavaro would report to the Bruins AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins for the remainder for the season on a amateur tryout contract for the rest of the 2023–24 season.[4]
Bavaro's start to his professional career did not go as he had hoped. In seven games with the Providence Bruins, Bavaro did not find the scoresheet, and had a negative +/-. Bavaro was scratched for all four of Providence's playoff games against the Hartford Wolf Pack, whom they were eliminated by in the first round.
Bavaro played high school hockey at Lawrence Academy, where he served as captain for two years.[5]
Bavaro's brother, Vito Bavaro, played college hockey at Sacred Heart University.
Despite the same last name and playing at the same school, Bavaro is not related to former Notre Dame tight end Mark Bavaro.
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2019–20 | Wenatchee Wild | BCHL | 51 | 9 | 24 | 33 | 26 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2020–21 | Bentley University | AHA | 16 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | Bentley University | AHA | 36 | 9 | 18 | 27 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | University of Notre Dame | B1G | 37 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023–24 | University of Notre Dame | B1G | 35 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023–24 | Providence Bruins | AHL | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| AHL totals | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| Award | Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| College | |||
| All-Atlantic Hockey Rookie Team | 2020–21 | ||
| All-Atlantic Hockey First Team | 2021–22 | ||