Boston University captain Matt Grzelcyk is a Bruins draft pick who is not ready to exercise his NHL option.

The 5-foot-10, 175-pound junior defenseman from Charlestown last night resolutely affirmed that he would resume his duties as team leader and blue line terror at BU next season.

Grzelcyk found his resolve in the ashes of BU’s 4-3 upset loss to Hockey East rival Providence College in the NCAA title game at the Garden.

“Obviously it hurts to lose but I’m going to be motivated more than ever to come back stronger next season,” he said. “Obviously we had a great year and now we have to build off it.”

BU’s phenomenal run included the Beanpot title, the Hockey East regular season and tournament crowns and the NCAA Northeast Regional trophy. But the Terriers’ push for college hockey’s definitive award was denied by two unanswered Providence goals in the third period.

PC tied the game 3-3 on a blooper goal by Friars’ junior defenseman Tom Parisi at 11:24 of the third. Parisi lofted a floater from the red line that was initially caught by BU goalie Matt O’Connor. But he dropped the puck between his legs and it slipped between his pads into the net.

Providence went ahead at 13:43 when junior right wing Brandon Tanev took a faceoff feed from Kevin Rooney in the low slot and fired a wrist shot that beat O’Connor high to the stick side. Teammates did their best to console the heartsick goaltender.

“I thought it was definitely important to skate over to OC,” Grzelcyk said. “He has been the backbone of our team all year and everyone would agree we wouldn’t be in the championship game without him.

“He has handled all the pressure situations all year and coach (David Quinn) said we need to settle down.”

BU will return as a national contender next year even if freshman sensation Jack Eichel, who captured the Hobey Baker Award on Friday night, goes pro in June following the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

Grzelcyk and O’Connor will comprise the nucleus of a strong senior class that will include snipers Danny O’Regan and Ahti Oksanen, who accounted for two of the Terriers’ three goals. Junior centers Matt Lane and Mike Moran saw considerable ice time this season.

Quinn will start rebuilding next season’s team around Grzelcyk. The captain finished with 38 points, the third most by a BU defenseman in the last 20 years, placing him fourth in the nation among defenseman in points per game (0.96) and he led all blue liners with a plus 33 rating.

“I can’t say enough about Matt Grzelcyk, he is a hell of a player and a hell of a person,” Quinn said. “He competes in everything he does and his personality in infectious.

“When you talk about a captain, Matt Grzelcyk is the first person you are going to think of as a true captain.”