Support the BC Race to Educate

Be sure to be on campus this Saturday at 11 AM for a 5K race with the Eagle hockey team. This is a huge charity headed by Coach Cav and others. The race will benefit the St. Columbkille school (Brighton). The team and St Cols do many actives with each other during the season. For example, one time this year, the 5th grade boys and girls came over to Conte to skate with the mens and womens ice hockey teams. It was certainly cool to see the smile on some of the kids' faces. Make sure to get to Conte this Saturday ! It is a great cause for a great school !

Until next time,

GO EAGLES

Lighting it up in the Big Apple

Chris Kreider celebrates his goal with teammate Mike Del Zotto

The transition from being a National Champion to a now NHL star seems to be going quite well for former Eagle Chris Kreider who had a goal and an assist tonight in the Rangers' win over Washington today. When you look at Chris' overall skill set, three things stick out to you immediately. Chris can skate better than almost anyone, he has an NHL shot, and he has great size, something that is crucial in the pros. When I reflect on the season he had here in Chestnut Hill, I think he really improved from day one to the final day of the season. I think the biggest thing he learned here at BC is he gained more "hockey sense". What I mean by that is that he learned to make the right play, the one that would best help the team instead of doing things that involve major risk. He started playing better in his own zone as the season went on but he still definitely needs to polish that up in order to keep up what he is doing for John Tortorella. When I think of Chris Kreider, I wouldn't say he is in the same category as  Gionta, Gerbe, Mottau, and Emma but he certainly is one of the best Eagles I have seen, when he is in the zone. Sometimes this year, he would tend to "zone out" for time to time during games but in the big ones like the Beanpot or the NCAA tournament, he always brings his A game. In reality, his game is better fit for the pros than it is for college hockey. He was a man among boys in the college game and he knew it, which is why he would zone out sometimes. Now in the pros however, he knows what he has to do. I am not saying Chris Kreider is not a hard worker, in fact, Chris was probably one of the hardest workers on this team. He is always the first guy on the ice and the last one off, every practice, every game. I think if Chris continues to give the effort he is giving in New York, he will ascend to great heights in his pro hockey career. Let's hope it continues and Chris is able to lead the Rangers to their first Cup since 1994 (When former Eagle Brian Leetch was in NY). Best of wishes to Chris as he continues what seems to be a promising pro career.

Until Next Time,

GO EAGLES

Reflections on another banner season

Even though it was a long three weeks ago, the thought of this team being National Champions really hasn't kicked into me yet. For someone like me, who saw 41 of the 44 games this team played this year, I am still a little bit shocked that they won 19 straight games. Then again, I remember that our head coach is Jerry York and with him behind the bench, anything is possible. Basically, this is the greatest coaching job I have ever seen in college sports. Going into the year, every blog or website I know of had BU winning the Hockey East championship and were saying BC really didn't have a chance. There were two instances this season where I walked out of a rink and said to myself "This team is in deep trouble". The 4-0 loss at UMass and after the sweep up in Orono to the Maine Black Bears. I wasn't quite sure what the staff or the players were going to do to fix this season up and make it a success. Well, I think I have a pretty good idea of what happend. The players bought into what the coaches were saying and it clearly showed. Not only did the team improve after that Maine game, but every single player on that team improved on the ice over the course of the past two and a half months. It was actually pretty amazing to watch. When I look back on this season full of highs, it just dazzles me that this program is as good as it is right now. Say what you want about Michigan, North Dakota, and Denver being the best college hockey programs but lets be totally honest, it's not even close, this is the king of the court when it comes to college hockey. 

Personally, this was the best year I have ever had watching BC hockey. Thanks to a lot of people, especially my parents and Tim Clark of the BC media department, I was able to not only go to every game, but got to sit in the press box and cover the team. There are just too many people to thank for the sacrifices they made for me this year. Anyways, a lot of people say that when they are around someone or something, they learn more about themselves or what they want to be better at. Being around this team as often as I was, I could just see how hard some of these kids work to become the best they can possibly be not just as a hockey play, but as a human being. Boston College hockey is not just the best example of what you want from your players on the ice, but it is the best example of what you want from your players off the ice. I know it may sound a little weird but there is a difference between recruiting the best players and the players that best fit your program. I'm not just talking about fitting into the system of hockey that the staff has imputed here, but following the guidelines that you must follow to be a Boston College hockey player. They say hard work pays off and for this Boston College hockey team, hard work and dedication on and off the ice led to a lot of wins this year. Hopefully, the dynasty that is BC hockey continues. 

Until next time, 

GO EAGLES 

Grading the defenseman and goalies

While this team was led by star forwards such as Johnny G, Chris Kreider, and Barry Almeida, the main reason we won the National Championship is because the defenseman improved drastically throughout the year and Parker Milner became the best goalie in the country. Here are the "final" grades.

Tommy Cross- A. After three years in which he was down with injuries, this was by far and away Tommy's best season at BC. He, along with Brian Dumoulin, were the anchors for this team on the defensive side of the puck. He had an outstanding season and I hope to see him in a Bruins jersey soon. future.

Brian Dumoulin- A +. While I am pretty young and don't remember the days of Mike Mottau and Andrew Albers too much, Brian Dumoulin is the best defenseman I have personally seen at Boston College. Ask Coach York himself, he would certainly say that Brian is one of the best overall players he has ever coached. He had an amazing year and will be a really solid player for Carolina someday.

Pat Wey- B. I don't think Pat Wey had a bad season by any means but he certainly will need to improve in the summer and prepare to be the #1 defenseman for this team next year. He, like Cross, has had some injury problems as of late so he needs to make sure he is healthy and ready to go next year. He could end up being Captain as well...

Patch Alber- B. Patch Alber, in my opinion, was one of the most improved players on this hockey team. He really started playing strong in his own zone this year, something that he struggled with in his previous two years. Look for him to have a very nice year next season.

Isaac Macleod- B. By far and away the most improved player on this team. Last year, he didn't play in every game but thanks to some hard work and close attention to detail, Isaac definitely improved his game this season. I really look forward to seeing his progress over the next two seasons.

Edwin Shea- B-. Out of his four years here at BC, Edwin Shea certainly had his best season this year. While he doesn't get very good stats, he tends to be a very solid defenseman most of the time. Sometimes however, he can struggle in his own zone. I wish him the best in his post BC life.

Mark Begert- N/A

Parker Milner- A. Yes, he struggled in the early goings of the season but once the team returned from Orono, Maine, something happend to Parker Milner. Thanks to hard work with Coach Louge, Parker became the best goaltender not only in Hockey East, but in the entire country. Next year could be a monster year for him.

Chris Venti- B-. While Chris didn't play too much, he certainly had a big impact on this team. He led the squad to a beautiful 3-2 win at Fenway versus Northeastern and was a real leader off the ice. Best of luck to Chris as he moves on from BC.

Brian Billett- He beat BU 6-1. That right there is just amazing.

Brad Barone- N/A.

Sources- Notre Dame to play at Conte Forum this year

While the date is not yet known, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will play BC this season according to multiple sources. The best date would be Friday November 9th because ND football plays BC the next night @ Alumni Stadium. BC Hockey has played three straight years at Notre Dame.

End of the year grades: The forwards

Well, now that the year is over, it is time to reflect on the year that was and look forward to next year. I thought it would be good to share how I thought each player played this season. We will do the forwards today, defenseman/ goalies tomorrow.

Paul Carey- A-. I thought Paul Carey had his best season ever at The Heights this season and really became a force on the ice whenever he was out there. He was one of those guys that could do PP, PK, and every situation in between. Great season.

Pat Mullane- B+. Like Paul, Pat Mullane had his best season as an Eagle so far this season. He struggled in the early goings but he scored huge goals in the Beanpot, Hockey East championship, and NCAA tournament.

Johnny Gaudreau- A. Definitely one of the best, if not the best (well besides Gionta) freshman ever at BC. He could make plays and score like no one I have ever seen at this level. To have him back next year is going to be huge for this team.

Barry Almeida- A. Like his fellow senior Paul Carey, Barry Almeida became a star this year thanks to more playing time and hard work. In his earlier years, he didn't get talked about too much and was very underrated. This year however, he was phenomenal and played a huge role in the teams success.

Steve Whitney- B+. You may remember at mid season when I gave Steven a C or something for his performance to that point. Well ever since the Beanpot, Steven Whitney has been one of the best players on this team without a doubt. He scored huge goals all season long. Can't wait to have him back.

Bill Arnold- B+. Definitely one of the best two way players on this team. He scored the biggest non NCAA tournament goal in the history of BC hockey in the finals of the Beanpot versus BU so yes, he gets a good grade.

Chris Kreider- B. Ok, Chris was one of the better players on this team but in some games this year, he just looked like he was out of it. Yes, he brought his stuff to the big games but for a time in the season, he looked like he had lost his game. Overall though, very solid career at BC.

Kevin Hayes- B-. Kevin had an up and down year in my mind, as he didn't get off to a great start but finished up really well I thought as the year came to an end. I mean he had the winning goal in the National Semifinal versus Minnesota. Look for him to have a big year next year.

Destry Straight- B At the start of the season, Destry really struggled to find his game but as the year progressed, he like Kevin Hayes, benefited from playing with Chris Kreider. I thought Destry really turned up his game right around the Vermont game (In Burlington) and never seemed to look back.

Quinn Smith- B. I really like this kid for a lot of reasons. First of all, you can see that he is as tough as nails. He goes into the corner and battles whenever his team needs him to. As he gets more ice time in his next three years, I think he will really start to shine here at BC.

Mike Sit- B-. Mike Sit may not have the stats that someone like Johnny G has but he still had a pretty solid freshman year at BC. He has speed, is good at the faceoff dot, and works as hard as anyone on that team. Pretty solid first year.

Danny Linell B + - Like his linemates Smith and Linell, I think Danny Linell is going to become a really solid hockey player for this program in the next three years. He is skilled and can make plays while also being one of the better defensive forwards on the team. Great first season.

Pat Brown- N/A

Tommy Atkinson- N/A

Cam Spiro- N/As

BC Recruit Cangelosi scores game winner in OT.

Taking a (very) early look at next years lineup.

Well, the feeling of being National Champions has yet to wear off of me as it probably hasn't with any of the players either. It was certainly a great season for the program and the team sure made alums, fans, and students very proud to be associated with BC hockey. Anyway, just by looking at the roster for next year, I think the Eagles will once again be the top team in Hockey East, if not the country. Here is what we know in terms of who is leaving/who is coming back.

Leaving-

Tommy Cross-D
Edwin Shea-D
Brian Dumoulin-D
Chris Kreider- F
Barry Almeida-F
Paul Carey-F
Chris Venti-G
Tommy Atkinson-F

So we obviously lose some firepower up front but the big hole will be on defense. Tommy Cross and Brian Dumoulin both played huge minutes this season for the team and were a huge part of the team's success.  None the less, guys like Pat Wey, Isaac Macleod, and Patch Alber will need to step up. The two big name recruits the staff has coming in next year are Mike Matheson and Travis Jeke. In order for this team to do well, both of these guys are really going to have to have big freshman years. Here is how I see the defense looking. (By ranking)

1. Pat Wey
2. Mike Matheson
3. Isaac Macleod
4.Patch Alber
5.Travis Jeke
6. Mark Begert/Another freshman. Doherty maybe

Up front, I really like the way this team looks next year. Like always, the Eagles have a nucleus of core guys that can really create plays in the offensive zone. The big four returning next year will be Johnny Gaudreau, Pat Mullane, Steve Whitney, and Bill Arnold. These guys are going to carry the load for the Eagles on the offensive end as each one of them has the ability to score goals and make plays. In terms of freshman coming in, the big name to watch out for is Frank Vatrano out of the US Development Program. Vatrano has recorded a solid 33 points so far this season for the US Under 18 team. Look for him to be the big addition on the offensive side of the puck. There are also some guys coming back that could really shine in bigger roles. I think the fourth line of Danny Linell-Quinn Smith-Mike Sit was great this season and all three guys could be poised to have big years next year.

The best part about next year is knowing we have the best goaltender in the country returning. Going into this season we didn't know what to expect from Parker Milner but the last two months he has been unbelievable. He could be playing for the Flyers right now (I am writing this during their 10 goal game versus Pittsburgh). I think having Parker back will be huge for the Eagles next season. I mean look around Hockey East, BU loses Millan, Merrimack loses Cannata, PC loses Beaudry, and UVM loses Madore. Those are all some pretty good goalies that teams are losing.

Anyways, here is how I see the lineup looking on opening night next year. This is very early but it is a good ballpark guess.

Offense 
Gaudreau-Mullane-Linell

Smith-Arnold-Whitney

Straight-Hayes-Vatrano

Brown-Sit-Silk/McMullen (Freshman)

Defense 
Wey-Jeke

Macleod-Matheson

Alber-Begert

Goalie- Parker Milner

Well, there it is, obviously that will change as we get closer to opening night but for now, I think that is a pretty reasonable guess. We could move Whitney and Linell but I like Whitney and Arnold together like they were this year. Whitney and Gaudreau would be very dangerous though.

Until next time,

GO EAGLES

Banquet Recap and Recruiting Update

The podium at the banquet with the jerseys of every senior. 

Today, the Pikes Peak Hockey Club hosted it's 63rd anual banquet for the National Champion men's ice hockey team. I think the biggest thing that I took away from my first baquet was that it is certainly an amazing time to be a Boston College hockey fan. I mean seriously, look at where the bar is set right now...National Championship or bust. Thats pretty amazing, goes to show how much hard work and dedication so many people have put into this program. Anyway, the club annually hands out awards to numerous players based on their performance during the season. Here is what they looked like..

Norm Daley MVP Award- Brian Dumoulin, Barry Almeida, Parker Milner

Snooks Kelley Award for player that best typifies BC Hockey- Paul Carey and Tommy Cross

Bill Flynn Coaches Award- Samson Lee (Manager) and Chris Venti

Tiernan Most Improved Player Award- Chris Kreider

Bernie Burke Outstanding Freshman- Come on, who do you think ?

Academic Achievement Awards- Tommy Cross and Edwin Shea

This was just an outstanding way to cap off a fantastic season as it was the final time that we fans will ever see these amazing seniors in a maroon and gold jersey. In a way, it is a little bittersweet knowing that you will never get to see these great players ever play at Conte or any other college hockey rink ever again. These seniors certainly deserve all the recognition they get for their leadership, skill, and intelligence but really, every one of the is a true class act and will be successful down the road whether it's in or out of hockey.

On the recruiting front, Boston College picked up yet another Nobles player in 6'2 junior forward Adam Gilmore who was ranked 101 in the Central Scouting Report that came out just days ago. Other future Eagles on that list included Frank Vatrano, Mike Matheson, Travis Jeke, and Chris Calnan. Gilmore is scheduled to attended BC in the fall of 2013.

Until next time,

GO EAGLES

Catching up on all the NHL signings

Pretty good program I guess ? Sorry BU. 

Well it has certainly been a hectic couple of days since that awesome game versus Ferris State in the National Championship game. As you probably all know by now, two underclassman, Brian Dumoulin and Chris Kreider will be leaving BC to go to their respective NHL teams. Also joining the NHL fray are seniors Tommy Cross (BOS), Barry Almeida (WSH), and Paul Carey (COL). First of all, I think it would be good to thank all of these guys for their 3+ years of hard work and dedication to Boston College hockey. Every single one of these guys represented Boston College in the best way possible, on and off the ice. They are not just great hockey players, they are great people as well. As far as if I agree with Dumoulin's and Kreider's decisions to leave, I think they are both 100 % ready to jump to the pros and made the best choice they could have made. Let's be honest, they have accomplished a lot in their three years here. Three Beanpots, three Hockey East titles, and two National Championships. Both guys will go down as some of the greatest ever to put on the maroon and gold. I also think both have a great shot at playing on the next level. I think Brian Dumoulin is the most NHL ready player in all of Hockey East and I can't wait to see him excel with Carolina. Chris Kreider is another one of those guys whose game is fit for the NHL. He is big, he is fast, and boy can he fire the puck.  I would not be the least bit shocked to see Chris have long NHL career.

As for the seniors, first of all, all of these guys deserve a lot of credit for having great careers here at Boston College. Every single one of them had their best season out of the four this season especially guys like Cross, Almeida, and Carey who were just fantastic. I would love to see Tommy Cross in a Bruins uniform someday and I think there is a good chance it will happen. He is a solid "defensive defenseman" and someone that can really shoot the puck. If he can get a little quicker, he could play at the next level. Paul Carey is another guy that I think could play in the big league. He has size, is quick, and is good in his own zone. He cycles the puck in the offensive zone better than anyone on this years team and is also a very good leader. Barry Almeida with his speed could also make the Washington Capitals because he has proven to us BC fans that he can do it all. Every time you have a situation whether it's a power play, penalty kill, or late game nail bitter, you would always see #9 out there. Once again, congrats to all six seniors on great careers an I wish you all the best of luck.

Over the next couple of days, I will be writing more about what to expect next year but let me get this out, I think BC is once again going to be good (When are we not good). We have a good core of star players like Gaudreau, Milner, Arnold, Mullane, and Whitney staying and throw them in with a couple of recruits that will hopefully perform well, we could be looking at another great team. I think the freshman on this years team that didn't get talked about whole a lot (Sit, Smith, Straight, Linell) will really need to have big years next season but that is another story for another day because I want to keep enjoying this National Championship !

Until next time,

GO EAGLES !

Is This The Greatest Boston College Hockey Team Of All Time ?

BC celebrates the big Beanpot win over BU. I love this picture. 

A lot of people have come up to me over the past couple of days and have asked the same question in which the title states, "Is this the best BC team of all time"?. Here is what I want to say, I think this is the best run by a BC hockey team of all time. I mean ending the season with 19 straight wins is just incredible. The improvement of so many players as the season went on was also pretty remarkable. I mean, look at Parker Milner, he lost his job in December but thanks to hard work with Coach Louge, he earned his job back and boy did he shine. In terms of superstars, this team sure has it's fair share in Dumoulin, Kreider, Johnny G, and Milner but they also had a lot of players that are really good, under the radar type of guys (Mullane, Carey, Almeida, Cross). To answer the question above, I would have to say no, this is not the best BC team of all time. There are a couple of reasons why I think this. First of all, the best team in my mind was the 2001 National Championship team which finished with a 33-8-2 record. That team also won the Beanpot, Hockey East tournament, and obviously NCAA championships. Also, while this team has it's stars, that team was full of some of the greatest players in the history of Boston College hockey. Leading the 2001 team was forward Brian Gionta who is by far and away, the greatest player in the history of Boston College hockey. I don't think there is anyone even close. I mean the guy had an amazing 54 points (33 G 21 A) in his senior year and mix that in with other stars like Krys Kolanos (Who had the OT winner vs UND) who also had a 50 point season with 25 goals and 25 assist. Throw in guys like Tony Voce, Ben Eaves, and Chuck Kobasew and it doesn't get any better.

Ok, I love this team and all but to be honest, I just don't think it is the best BC team of all time. I think it is definitely better than the 2008 team which really wasn't star loaded except for a guy named Nathan Gerbe. The best comparison would be the 2010 team, as I have been debating this one for a while. I think I will go with this team over that team. While that team was good, they didn't dominant everyone down the stretch like this team did. I mean the only close game we had this year from the Beanpot on was the National Championship game which was still a three goal victory. If you compare the teams, both have some amazing talent. 2010 had guys like Atkinson, Whitney, Gibbons, and Muse all of whom are some of the best players ever to play under Coach York. But this team also had it's fair share of talent and was much deeper. From top to bottom, I would say this team is better than the 2010 championship team, but not what the 2001 team had. When you have guys like Gionta, Kolanos, Eaves, and Voce, it is really hard to say that any team, let alone any other BC team, can top them. Feel free to comment and state who you think is the best BC team of all time.

Until next time,

GO EAGLES

BC To Host Yale on January 5th

As we try to sort out next years non conference schedule, I can confirm that BC will be playing Yale on January 5th of 2013 @ Conte Forum.

Chris Kreider To Forgo Senior Season At Boston College

Jr forward Chris Kreider will be leaving Boston College to go play for the New York Rangers. While a big loss for the Eagles, the team still has some big firepower staying next year. I wish Chris the best of luck with the Rangers and hope to see him succeed in whatever he does.

GO EAGLES

Brian Dumoulin To Forgo Senior Season At Boston College

Well, what can I say....he is ready to play in the pros. Of all of the players on this years team, Brian is the most pro ready. Congratulations to Brian and I wish him the best of luck with the Carolina Hurricanes (The team he signed with.

A True Class Act.

A lot has been said about the leadership of Coach York and his staff as of late and don't get me wrong, Coach deserves a BOATLOAD of credit for what he did this year as I think it is his best coaching job of all time. There is however another person who I think played a huge role in the turn around of this team not just on the ice but off it as well. Tommy Cross. There have been a lot of amazing captains over the last couple years here at BC (Price, Brennan, Whitney) but none in my mind, top Tommy Cross. He is the essential leader, he is someone on the team that the younger guys like a Johnny Gaudreau, Quinn Smith or Mike Sit look up to. He is a winner, a great hockey player, a great leader, and fantastic human being. I don't think he has gotten enough credit for what he did with this team this season. On the bus ride back from Orono, Coach York loves to talk about how Tommy told the guys that they are not going to let this season slip away and they must work harder to be successful. His leadership not only on the ice but off of it as well is something that is rarely seen from a senior in college. Not to mention, he should have been an All American for his play on the ice this season. If you look at who are the best defenseman in Hockey East, I would say Tommy Cross could be second on that list behind fellow teammate Brian Dumoulin. Unfortunately for Tommy, much of his BC career was plagued with bad knee injuries. If it wasn't for those injuries, I think we would be talking about one of the great defenseman in the history of the program in terms of raw talent and ability. To be a great leader, you first of all, need to be tough in the big stages and be a role model for the others on your team. I think if you ever listin to what Tommy says to the guys during the games, in between periods, and after the games, you would clearly see that he is the all around leader that any team in any sport would wish to have.

Put it this way, without Tommy's leadership this season, I don't think BC would have won a National Title. I mean how many guys before they say anything to the media about the actual game say "I would like to thank all of you for covering us this year". That's exactly what Tommy did after the win over Ferris State on Saturday. I personally, don't know anyone else that has ever done that. A real class act in everything he does on and off the ice. He has certainly set the standerd of what this coaching staff is looking for in a true leader within their hockey program. Congratulations to Tommy on a fantastic career at Boston College and I wish him the best of luck in whatever he does in or out of hockey.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS ! (AGAIN)

When I walked into the rink in late September for the first practice of the year, I was fortunate enough to talk with Coach York for a few minutes. I asked him "Coach what do you think of everyone writing you off after losing a lot of scoring ? " He gave a nice, simple reply. "Mike, this is a good hockey team. "We can Win a National Championship." Last night, for the 3rd time in the last 5 years and for the fifth time overall, Boston College captured that coveted national title that this team has been working so hard for all season long with a 4-1 victory over a tough Ferris State team. What I really want to talk about however, is not the game or what happend, but how this team (And this coach staff) have been able to rally off 19 straight wins and win a National Championship. If you had called me on our ride back from Orono and said "This team will win the National Championship", I would not have believed you at all. I mean look, we were losing to UMass, Maine, and having trouble with teams like Northeastern. But, after that weekend in Orono, I began to notice something a little bit different in the way this team went about their business, something a little different in the attitude they had each and everyday at practice. This team suddenly realized that just because you're wearing a Boston College sweater, it doesn't necessarily mean your going to automatically win (Although it does fell like that now !) This team worked hard and they EARNED this National Championship with the hard work they put forth not just in the past three months, but since September.

In terms of the game, I thought BC held their own versus one of the better teams I have seen all season long. Ferris State battled so hard all night and had the Eagles up just one goal late in that game before Johnny G, who is not only the best freshman in Hockey East, but in the country, potted another one of his highlight reel goals to put the cherry on top of the sundae. In reality, the offense was great but the two reasons we won this game were the always amazing goaltending of Parker Milner and the solid defense and penalty killing in big time situations. The Eagles did a fabulous job of killing off all four FSU pp's as they ended the season with allowing just one PP goal since the Beanpot final versus BU. The speed that this PK comes at you with gives you no time to settle down and think about what your next move is going to be. At BC, everyone of these penalty killers plays really hard and attacks the puck whether it's down low or up top on the point. Give credit to Coach Cav, his penalty kill is certainly one of the reasons this time won a National Title. I thought BC's power play worked it around pretty well last night and were rewarded with a nice PP goal from Paul Carey (Who was my MVP of the tournament). Just an amazing way to cap off a special season.

The third thing I would like to talk about is our head coach. Ok, I'll give you John Wooden, Pat Summit, maybe Joe Paterno and Coach K but after that, there is no one better than Coach York. I don't care what anyone says, he is the best coach in NCAA Division 1 athletics today. His ability to motivate his teams while being the classiest human being in the world is something that you will never see, anywhere you look. I don't know when it will happen but this school needs to build a statue of this man. Yhea sure Dough Fluite was great and all, but the biggest icon in the history of Boston College athletics is Coach York. I would also like to talk about a player that I probably talk too much about but tonight is certainly a night where his name must be talked about. Tommy Cross is not just a special hockey player and a special leader, he is a special human being. Let me give you an example. After the game last night, before saying anything else to the media, he thanked them for all of their hard work trying to promote the game of college hockey. Just a class act in everything he does. In the history of Boston College hockey, we have had a lot of great captains but Tommy Cross has set the standerd of what a true leader should be. An amazing career Tommy, amazing career.

What can I say ? I could not be more proud of this hockey team and this hockey program. You know I couldn't write this without telling you that we have now tied Parker and his program with 5 National Titles. It's kind if amazing that before 2001, BU had four championships while we had just one. My dad always tells me  " You're so lucky that your a BC fan right now", " We have suffered through so much for a long time ". I think I can rest assured that our suffering is over and for the boys down on the ugly side of Comm Ave, it's just the beginning.This is the golden age of Boston College hockey, led by the greatest coach in the history of college hockey. What a year, NATIONAL CHAMPIONS !

Why BC Won

1. Parker Milner. I have said enough. He should have been an All American. He played amazing again last night. Give Coach Logue a lot of credit for what he has done with Parker and his development as a goaltender.

2. The PK. It got to a point where I was 100 % convinced they were not going to let up a goal. This unit has been so good all year long.

3. So many guys played well. I thought Steve Whitney, Paul Carey, Bill Arnold, and Pat Mullane played their best hockey all season this weekend. The way these guys can skate and create chances in the offensive zone is just amazing.

4. We have the greatest coach in college sports. I don't care what anyone says, he is the greatest.

Notes 

1. This is the fifth National Championship in school history, tying Minnesota and The Other School who also have 5.

2. The BC senior class ends their careers with a 110-42-1 record. Amazing.

3. Paul Carey, Steve Whitney, Brian Dumoulin and Parker Milner were all named to the NCAA All Frozen Four team.

4. Parker Milner was named Frozen Four MVP.

Personal Note- 

I personally would like to thank all of you for reading this blog over the course of this year. When I started this thing last December, I never thought it would get to the 600 something views it gets per day. I would like to thank my mom, dad, and uncle for sacrificing their time to drive me to road games this season and supporting me all the time. I would also like to thank Tim Clark of the BC Media Department. Without him, I don't think it would be possible for this blog to exist. He has helped me in so many ways and for that I thank him. If you think this is the end of blogging, you are wrong. I will still write 2-3 post every week whether it is about recruiting, scheduling, lineup changes, etc....

So I thank you and wish you a happy golf season !,

GO EAGLES !

Pump Up Video. GO EAGLES !

Previewing....The Ferris State Bulldogs

There are a lot of great nights throughout the year.. Christmas Eve, Beanpot Eve, Hockey East Eve, Masters Sunday Eve (Tonight as well), but none, in my opinion top tonight. Tonight presents itself with a chance for this BC hockey team to once again achieve greatness on the highest level. Standing in the way of glory however, are the Ferris State Bulldogs out of Big Rapids, Michigan. While they may not be a very well known school nationally, within the college hockey world, these Bulldogs have let it be known that they are a very good hockey team. For those that say Ferris has 0 chance of winning tonight, think about this. Would they be here if they were an awful hockey team that had no business playing in such a big game ? No. While BC is a heavy favorite to win it's fifth championship in school history (And tie that evil school down the street), it should be known that Ferris State, if they come to play, has a shot of winning this hockey game. Now, if BC plays like they did in the second and third period in the Minnesota game, I'd go on the record and say that Ferris has no chance of winning this game. But hey, it's sports and anything can happen (Especially in hockey). In terms of their actual hockey team, Ferris is no slouch. They are led by All American goaltender Taylor Nelson who, from my vantage point, can definitely steal a game or two for this hockey team. From what I saw on Thursday night in the FSU vs Union game, I can definitely say that this kid is a great goalie.

Up front, the Bulldogs are led by forward Jordie Johnson who ranks fourth in the CCHA in scoring this season with 20 goals and 16 assist so far this season for the Bulldogs. With his big frame and speed, Johnson is definitely a big threat on the ice tonight for Ferris. Another top forward to watch is Kyle Bonis who recorded two of Ferris' three goals on Thursday vs Union (One being a PP goal). When I watch this Ferris team play, I notice a couple of things. the first thing is that they know how to play defense. It's no joke that they rank near the top of the country in team defense because they really know how to defend, especially in front of their own net. Talking to some people inside the Eagles' camp, they said "They (Ferris) really play to their system well, skate well, and are a seasoned team". When I asked if they expect another roll over, they said "No way, it will be a good game". For Ferris to win tonight, they will need to play a perfect game. They need to get great goaltending (Unlike Minnesota), stay out of the box (Unlike Minnesota), and get some bounces their way. In reality, I don't see the Bulldogs winning this game but let it be known that they certainly have a shot in this game.

Players to Watch 

Jordie Johnson- He is the leading scorer for FSU this season and is definitely one of their key guys on special teams.

Matt Kirzinger- The second leading scorer on the Bulldogs' squad with 10 goals and 24 assist so far this season.

Chad Billins- The best defenseman on the FSU squad. From what I could see on Thursday, Billins plays a huge role in everything FSU does in all three zones.

Keys for the Eagles 


1. Turnovers. When I talked to some of the players on how they got the ship turned in the right direction so quickly, they all pointed to less turnovers, Hopefully it continues.

2. Special Teams. When BC wins the special teams battle like they did on Thursday, BC should come away with another "Natty Ship"

3. Getting all four lines rolling. I love the way every line is playing. If each line can create chances and play solid defense, we could be celebrating by 10:00 tonight.

Notes- 

1. FSU has two players that have scored 20 or more goals this season (Johnson and Bonis) but also have eight players with 20 or more points this season

2. Some of Ferris' key wins include Western Michigan, Miami, Notre Dame, and obviously the three wins verus Denver, Cornell, and Union so far in the NCAA tournament. Bad losses include Vermont and Alabama Huntsville.

3. They have two All Americans in Nelson (goalie) and Billins (Defense)

Prediction- BC 5 FSU 2

Biggest night of they year, let's hope all goes well !!

GO EAGLES

Eagles move within one game of another National Championship.

So much for a classic college hockey game between two of the greatest programs in the history of the sport. The Boston College Eagles defeated the Minnesota Golden Gophers by a 6-1 margin last night. BC had goals from Paul Carey (2), Steve Whitney, Kevin Hayes, Chris Kreider, and Brian Dumoulin. All that has to be said about this game is that BC just humiliated a team that some thought had a viable chance in this game. This was the best game I have seen a Boston College hockey team play since the 2006 Northeast regionals final versus Parker and his Terriers. The Gophers actually came out looking ready to play but Parker Milner stuffed any chances UM had in the early going. Once the Eagles had their first "Grade A" chance of the game, they took advantage of it. Barry Almeida made a fantastic pass to Steve Whitney for the games first goal. Really, this was the story of the night. BC was able to capitalize on their grade A scoring chances and the Gophers were not. After only being up a goal through one period, BC broke the game open in the second. Well, early on, Kevin Hayes recorded a huge power play goal to give the Eagles a nice two goal cushion but UM didn't seem to be letting up. However, the last two minutes of the second stanza were just horrible for Minnesota coach Don Lucia and his club. A bad turnover at the BC blue line led to a 2 on 1 for Destry Straight and Chris Kreider, who soon capitalized on a wide open net after a great pass from Straight. Just a mere 18 seconds later, Paul Carey put the nail in the coffin when he scored with just 16 seconds left in the period. The whole goal happend because of a beautiful pass from Johnny Gaudreau, who was getting hacked while making his way to the net. After a quick Gopher strike in the first minute of the period, Carey once again ended all hope the Gophers had with his 17th goal of the season and 2nd of the game just a minute after the Gopher goal. Brian Dumoulin added a nice power play goal just for kicks at the end of the game.

What are my going to say ? This team is absolutely loaded and I don't care what anyone says. When you have three potential first lines like BC does, it makes it so tough for any opponent, even a team like UM to try to keep up with the Eagles. Anyways, after thinking about it for a while last night, I think I would put Parker Milner's second half of the year up there with some of the great goalie performances ever. I mean he made some huge stops early on in that game that allowed BC to keep it's lead at one going into the second. Just an another amazing performance by Parker, he continues to amaze everyone that is watching him. Milner has been great but the defenseman in front of him have also been outstanding. I thought Tommy Cross and Brian Dumoulin both had one of their better games of the whole season last night (Dumoulin had a goal). The improvement that all six defenseman have shown from the start of this year to this point is mind blowing. With the defense playing like it is right now, I don't see BC losing to Ferris State on Saturday but you never know. Overall, it's great to back in the National Championship and it will be interesting to see if the Bulldogs can give the Eagles a run for their money.

Why BC Won

1. Parker Milner was fantastic. He continues to be amazing, the best goalie in the country without a question.

2. Special Teams. Two power play goals, holding the Gophers to 0/4 on the PP was another reason why BC was able to get it done.

3. BC took advantage of their chances. It's all about execution. BC executed when it needed to and Minnesota didn't.

Problems 

I got nothing.

Player of the Game- I thought Paul Carey was phenomenal last night. So was Milner, as he always is.

Notes 

1. BC will be going for their 5th National Championship on Saturday

2. BC is now 6-4 versus Minnesota in the NCAA tournament.

3. The Eagles will get Ferris State in the finals (They beat Union)

4. This is the first time all postseason in which BC scored two power play goals.

Until Tomorrow,

GO EAGLES

Eagles and Gophers agree to four year deal

Coach York announced today that BC and Minnesota will start a four year home and home series starting next season when BC will travel out to St.Paul to take part in Minnesota's Mariucci Classic (It's over Christmas Break). That however, is another matter for another time. This team needs to beat the Gophers tomorrow !

GO EAGLES !

Sources- UCONN To Hockey East is Official

According to CTNow.Com, the Connecticut Huskies will be joining Hockey East in the 2013-2014 season. If they were to join, this would be what the conference would look like. We shall see if it becomes official in the next couple of days.

BC
BU
Merrimack
Vermont
Maine
UMass
Lowell
UNH
Northeastern
Providence
Notre Dame
UConn

Previewing the Minnesota Golden Gophers

We made it !! For the fifth time in the last six years, the Boston College Eagles will be heading to the Frozen Four with a chance to win a 5th National Championship. Standing in the way, are the Golden Gophers from Minnesota. The Gophers rolled through the West Regional by smoking BU (!) and then  by putting a beatdown on archrival North Dakota the next night to advance to the Frozen Four. The Eagles last played the Gophers in the 2008 Northeast regional semifinals, a game in which BC won, advancing to the regional finals in Worcester that year. While the Eagles are the favorites heading into the weekend, this Gopher team poses one tough challenge for BC. Minnesota is led by forwards Nick Bjugstad, Kyle Rau, and Erik Haula, all of whom have recorded at least 40 points on the season thus far. While the Gophers are a team that is clearly loaded with talent, they have had some pretty bad losses to teams like Vermont, Northeastern, and Wisconsin (Who had a pretty down year). The weird thing about Minnesota is that they got blown out in the WCHA "Final Five" by UND but were quick to respond a week later with two great wins versus the Terriers and the Sioux. The Gophers definitely seem to be playing their best hockey at the right tome of year (Sounds like a team I know).

Key Gopher Stats 

1. Minnesota has the best offense in the country, averaging 3.67 goals a game this season.

2. The Gophers rank 8th in team defense as they have allowed 2.21 goals a game this season

3. Like many teams BC has faced this year, Minnesota has a great power play as they rank 5th in the country with a 23% conversion rate.

4. Unlike their power play, the Gopher PK hasn't been so strong as they rank 36th in the country in that country with and 81 % kill rate.

5. Gopher goalie Kent Patterson has had a fantastic season so far as he ranks 1st in the country with seven shutouts and is second in minutes played.

Keys for the Eagles 

1. Special Teams. In these types of big games, good special teams always makes the difference. Just look at the Beanpot, Hockey East championship, or last weekend. The team recorded big kills or got big goals when they needed them. Hopefully it continues.

2. Who will win the battles in the trenches ? Getting pucks out of the zone, creating smooth breakouts, and winning battles in the corner will be a pivotal component in who wins this game.

3. Our big line versus their big line. Almeida, Arnold, and Whitney need to be ready to face a really good Gopher first line. Look for that matchup to be the big one as the night goes on. Those guys really need to play well for the Eagles.

Players to Watch 

1. Erik Haula- Haula leads the team in points as he has recorded a 20-28-48 line so far this season.

2. Nick Bjugstad- Bjugstad has recorded the most goals on this Gopher team with 25 so far this season.

3. There are a lot of others. This Gopher team has seven players with at least 30 points and four with at least 40. Thats pretty good.

All Time Series- The Gophers led BC with a 14-11-2 record all time versus BC. Coach York's teams are 3-3-1 all time versus Minnesota. BC is 5-4 all time vs Minnesota in the NCAA tournament.

BC NCAA Notes 

1. This is BC's 23rd appearance in the Frozen Four. BC has won four National Titles.

2. Since 1998, BC has made the most Frozen Fours with 10 appearances since then.

3. BC has a 31-10-1 record so far this season.

4. The Last win vs Minnesota was Coach York's 800th win. Very cool.

Prediction- Can't go against my Eagles. BC 4 UM 3 OT. 


Note- The game is on TV but I will be down in Tampa ! Second Frozen Four for me !! (First as a blogger) 2004 was the first.

Come to Conte for a 4 PM Send off !

Come over and say good luck to the Eagles tomorrow at 4:00 at Conte Forum as the team will soon depart for Tampa Bay, Florida later tomorrow night.

Note- It is on the Flute Side.

GO EAGLES !