For the last three years, David Quinn, the men’s hockey coach at Boston University, hardly ever let up on Jordan Greenway, one of his star players.

Jordan, move your feet. Jordan, get the puck down low. Jordan, stop lagging. Jordan, watch your grades.

Then, in April, after Greenway had signed with the Minnesota Wild after his junior season, Quinn hopped a plane to Nashville to surprise him at his N.H.L. debut.

“Quinnie was tough on Greenway, especially at the beginning because we all knew how good Greenway could be,” said Scott Young, the Penguins’ director of player development who served as a B.U. assistant for three years.