Boston College Athletics
Boston College Hockey Preview
June 21, 1999 | Men's Hockey
September 29, 1998
With more than 500 wins to his credit, Jerry York has already gained the respect of his peers, his players and all those who have followed the great game of college hockey for the past 26 years.
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| Coach York's ready to lead another powerful Boston College squad. |
Yet, some now believe York even has a knack for seeing into the future. Look what the coach said in last year's preview:
"When I look at our (1997-98) club, I like what I see," York said. "I believe we have a good mix of seasoned veterans and new players who can make a difference right away. With our improved strength and quickness, I'm certain we can make great strides this season."
Great strides, for sure. The team lived up to -- and even exceeded -- York's billing. The Eagles won 28 games, captured the HOCKEY EAST Tournament title and advanced to the national championship game.
Put together, York believes the veterans and the newcomers will return the Eagles to their rightful place atop the college hockey world.
Now, York and his troops have their sights set on the 1998-99 campaign. And what does the coach think?
"I'm convinced that we have the work ethic in place to compete at the top level. We have a number of talented players who now know how hard it is to get to the NCAA Championships," York said. We've been able to build a program that has a number of key players on offense and on defense."
Small wonder, York has "great expectations". When he assumed the coaching reins at his alma mater a few years ago, he spoke of "high hopes" and "returning to the top". Now, the head coach has expectations, not hopes. He's not alone. His staff also believes great things are possible. His players, well, they've just continued to work and work and work. No time for predictions or praise. Just keep working, they say, and good things will continue to happen.
Yet there is good reason for optimism as the 1998-99 season nears. The Eagles enter the season as a mature, experienced team with 19 lettermen returning from last year's juggernaut. Included among that group are two Titan All-America selections, two All-HOCKEY EAST honorees and four HOCKEY EAST All-Rookie Team choices.
The Eagles did lose senior-to-be Marty Reasoner, who led the nation in scoring last winter, to the NHL's St. Louis Blues. Reasoner signed a contract with the Blues on July 24, ending a collegiate career that saw him lead the Eagles in their return to their rightful place atop the college hockey world. He led the team in scoring in each of his three seasons, serving as team captain as a junior.
Junior defenseman Mike Mottau and sophomore winger Brian Gionta, who, like Reasoner, earned Titan All-America honors last winter, will lead the 1998-99 Eagles. Mottau provides a strong and steady performer in the defensive zone, and a talented scorer at the other end. He led the nation's defensemen in scoring last year with 49 points -- 13 goals and 36 assists.
"Mike has brought an identity to our team. He's a strong, physical defenseman who also possesses the offensive skills that can break a game open," York said. "His emotion and his relentless way -- shift after shift -- are remarkable attributes."
Gionta's remarkable freshman numbers -- 62 points -- don't begin to tell the story of his impact on the program. His energy and enthusiasm are unbelievable. His love for the game unquestionable. Ask his teammates. Ask his opponents. Or just watch him.
"Brian had an incredible freshman year," the head coach said. "Yet, he's never satisfied, and he'll want to be better in all aspects this year.
"His energy level and enthusiasm are contagious. He pushes all the other players to perform at the top of their games -- whether it's in practice or in the third period of a hockey game. Brian brings a great deal of excitement to the game."
This dynamic duo will lead the 1998-99 Eagles, but they're not alone. York has 17 "other" players -- scorers, scrappers, penalty-killers and more -- returning, and four newcomers who promise to make substantial contributions this season. Junior defenseman Cory Bilodeau sat out the 1997-98 season after transferring to the Heights after two years at RPI. Freshman blueliner Brooks Orpik joins the team after a distinguished career at Thayer Academy. Orpik, who has also been playing with U.S. Select Teams for several years, continues the Eagles' tradition of landing the nation's best prospects.
Freshmen Ales Dolinar and Jeff Giuliano add size and skill to the team's forward lines. Dolinar comes to the Heights from Lawrence Academy, where he teamed with current BC sophomore Marty Hughes. Giuliano played his schoolboy hockey at the St. Paul (N.H.) School.
Suffice it to say, York and the Eagles are excited to get started. How excited? Boston College won't wait one extra day. The Eagles will travel to Minneapolis' Marriuci Arena for the season-opening IceBreaker Tournament on October 9.
ON OFFENSE:
Lettermen Returning/Lost: 11/2
Newcomers: 2
"I think what jumps out at me when I look at our offensive attack is the diversity and the game-breaking skills that our players have."
Despite the loss of Reasoner, York has a long and talented list of forwards returning from last year's team that advanced to the NCAA Tournament's title game. Included on this list are five of the Eagles' top six scoring forwards from 1997-98, a group that combined to score nearly 46 percent of the team's goals.
York and his staff will have plenty of options when it comes time to put these talented individuals on the ice.
"Each year, we start from scratch and build our team," York explained. "Certainly, we'll look at reuniting some of those who played together last year, but we're also open to new combinations."
Gionta and senior left wing Andy Powers return from last year's first line. This duo and Reasoner netted 75 goals on the top line last winter. Gionta alone tallied 62 points, making him the nation's top-scoring rookie and its seventh-leading overall scorer. What earned him HOCKEY EAST and New England Rookie of the Year accolades, however, were not only his points, but also his presence. When Brian's on the ice, penalties are drawn, opportunities created, and, quite often, goals scored. Gionta recorded two hat tricks in his first season, including a four-goal effort against UMass-Lowell. This past June, the New Jersey Devils selected Gionta in the third round of the NHL Entry Draft.
Powers, who earned the 1997-98 team's Most Improved Player award, is truly the Eagles' unsung hero. Often overlooked last year because of his two high-scoring linemates, Powers still scored 29 points. After getting the first-line assignment from the coaching staff early last season, Powers utilized his speed and "nose for the puck" to give BC the nation's most potent line.
"Without a doubt, Marty and Brian benefitted from the play of Andy Powers last year," York said. "Andy has a great deal of speed and hockey sense."
If York decides to keep last year's lines intact, he has his entire second line returning. Juniors Blake Bellefeuille and Jeff Farkas, and sophomore Mike Lephart provide opponents with still more headaches. Bellefeuille and Farkas each finished last season with 39 points. Bellefeuille netted 19 goals, while Farkas had 11. Farkas missed two games last winter while playing with Team USA in the World Junior Championship in Finland. By playing in the tournament, the Williamsville, N.Y. resident joined an elite group of Americans who have played in three championships.
"Blake and Jeff really have a feel for each other and they play off each other very, very well. They've played together on World Junior teams, they're classmates and roommates," the head coach said. "Both have become gritty, defensive players as well as offensive 'difference makers'."
Both Bellefeuille and Farkas will be key components on the Eagles' penalty-kill and power-play units.
Not as heralded as some of his classmates when he arrived at the Heights, Lephart wasted no time in making his presence felt. York recognized his ability and maturity early in the season and gave Lephart a real opportunity. The Niskayuna, N.Y. product responded in fine fashion, tallying 27 points in his first season, including a hat trick against Harvard in the Badger Showdown and a power-play goal against Michigan in the second period of the NCAA Tournament's championship game.
"Mike became a dominant freshman on the national level late last season. He's a good checker with a keen sense of the offensive part of the game," York said. "His upside is very, very good."
Also returning for the Eagles are three more senior forwards -- Chris Masters, Matt Mulhern and Nick Pierandri. All three were valuable members of the team's penalty-killing unit. Masters, one of the league's top face-off men, tallied 15 points last winter.
"Chris will have a major impact on whether or not our team reaches its expectations this season," the head coach said. "He may have improved more than any other player from his freshman to his senior year. His strength and skating ability have made great strides, and his hockey sense has shown significant improvement."
Mulhern and Pierandri each notched 13 points a year ago, despite being hampered by wrist injuries. Each player underwent surgery this past spring to repair the damage. Mulhern led the 1997-98 team in blocked shots.
"Neither Matt nor Nick receives the accolades, but both are appreciated by their teammates. They've earned the respect of the other players with the grind-it-out type of game they bring to the table," York said.
Juniors Kevin Caulfield and Tony Hutchins return and provide the Eagles with powerful forwards. The hard-hitting Caulfield tallied 15 points in 41 games last year. He saved his best hockey of the year for the Eagles' post-season run. He netted four of his nine goals in the final five games, including the first goal of the NCAA Tournament's title game against Michigan. Hutchins registered 17 points in 39 games last season.
"Both Kevin and Tony are power-type forwards, the type that we've always tried to recruit to Boston College. They're in the Kevin Stevens-type mold," York said. "Both have the physical strength that's important to their games, but they've also both gained quickness to further benefit their games."
Sophomore Mark McLennan rounds out the list of returning forwards. Last year, McLennan saw action in 17 games, registering three assists. This year, York and his staff expect a bigger contribution.
Dolinar and Giuliano are welcome additions. Dolinar, a native of Slovenia, was a two-time All-Indepedent School League selection at Lawrence Academy. Giuliano was the Independent School League MVP in his final season, recording 30 goals and 25 assists at the St. Paul (N.H.) School.
ON DEFENSE:
Lettermen Returning/Lost: 5/1
Newcomers: 1
"I think our defensemen's strength will definitely be greatly improved this year. The off-season conditioning has brought a toughness that will be evident this winter. This group of players will also be able to generate a lot of offense."
A year ago, York was cautiously optimistic about his defensive unit. He had three reliable veterans and some highly-regarded newcomers. He knew they'd be good, but he didn't know how quickly they'd mesh or just how good they'd be.
This year, the head coach knows he has a defensive unit that's talented from top to bottom. Two of last year's three veterans return even better than a year ago, while the three "newcomers" return after proving they're among the nation's premier blueliners.
Senior Brendan Buckley is the most experienced member of the 1998-99 team, having already played in 115 collegiate contests. Last year, he was a leader among the Eagles' young defensive corps. A physical presence, he also contributed 15 points.
"Brendan is a special player here at Boston College," York said. "He's a hard-nosed, defensive defenseman whose approach to the game generates tremendous team spirit."
Capturing All-America accolades last winter, Mottau proved to others what his teammates already knew -- that he was among the nation's best defensemen. Strong at both ends of the ice, Mottau also earned honors at each of last year's post-season stops. He gained All-Tournament honors at the HOCKEY EAST Tournament in Boston, at the NCAA Tournament's regional site in Albany, N.Y. and at the FleetCenter's semifinal/championship venue.
This year, York wants nothing more than "more of the same" from his junior sensation. Yet, Mottau has worked endlessly since last winter. He certainly wants more.
The sophomore blueliners -- Bobby Allen, Marty Hughes and Rob Scuderi -- displayed their skills as freshmen and will be counted on again this season. Allen and Scuderi each captured HOCKEY EAST All-Rookie Team honors last winter.
Allen, who was selected by the Boston Bruins in the second round of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft (52nd overall selection), is effective at both ends of the ice. A good skater, he has excellent passing skills and a hard, accurate shot. York and his staff utilized Allen on the power-play last winter. He netted five of his seven goals in man-advantage situations.
Hughes enjoyed a fine freshman campaign, despite missing eight games in the middle of the season with a broken right ankle. Nevertheless, the Hicksville, N.Y. resident tallied 17 points, and played a key role in the team's limiting opponents to fewer than three goals per game.
Scuderi, a solid two-way performer, was one of just five Eagles to play in all 42 games last winter. He tallied 24 assists, including five multiple-point games. His play not only gained him post-season recognition, but also raised the eyebrows of some NHL scouts. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the fifth round of the league's 1998 entry draft.
"Our three sophomore defensemen -- Bobby, Marty and Rob -- had as much an impact on our team last year as anyone else in the line-up," the head coach said. "They came in as promising newcomers and became important cogs by mid-season. Now, their challenge is to raise their games in all aspects. These three are core players whom we can build our program around."
Junior Bilodeau and freshman Orpik join the five talented returnees. Bilodeau played two years at RPI, before transferring to Boston College in September 1997. He used last year to gain additional strength and work with the Eagles' talented defensive unit. Orpik, meanwhile, was completing his stellar career at Thayer Academy, the same school that produced fellow BC blueliner Mottau and forward Caulfield. A member of the US Select Teams for the last three years, Orpik competed at the USA Hockey Summer Challenge in Lake Placid, N.Y. this past August.
"Brooks' transition to the college game is going to be made easier because of the others on the blue line with him," York said. "He has good size, skating ability and toughness, and he's going to have the benefit of watching Mike Mottau, Brendan Buckley and the three sophomores."
IN GOAL
Lettermen Returning/Lost: 3/0
Newcomers: 0
"I'm confident that Scott will continue to improve, and both Andy and Mike are capable of stepping in at this level. They make our depth very solid."
Sophomore Scott Clemmensen returns as the Eagles' top netminder. After two years in the United States Hockey League, Clemmensen arrived at the Heights last fall anxious to get started. Instead, a pre-season foot injury sidelined him for the season's first two games. Yet, once he got started, he showed he could play. While many recognized his potential, few could have imagined the immediate impact he'd have.
By year's end, Clemmensen had established BC single-season records with 24 victories and four shutouts. He also earned his place in the NCAA regular-season record book by holding opponents scoreless for (a consecutive) 254:23. He captured HOCKEY EAST All-Rookie Team honors, and played a key role in the team's HOCKEY EAST Tournament title and its run to the NCAA Tournament's championship game.
This winter, with a year of collegiate experience, Clemmensen promises to be even better.
"Scott's early-season injury last year prevented him from seeing early ice time, but when he returned his goaltending skills quickly became apparent. I was amazed at the poise he brought to the position as we made our late-season run," York said.
Seniors Andy McLaughlin and Mike Correia provide the Eagles with two experienced back-ups. McLaughlin finished the 1997-98 season with an undefeated record -- 4-0-1. He earned two one-goal victories, and made a career-high 36 saves in a spectacular effort in a 3-3 tie at Boston University.
Correia saw action in just one game last winter, but has played in 19 collegiate contests. He played in seven games for the Eagles in 1994-95, before spending one year with the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League. He returned to play in 11 games -- and record three victories -- in 1996-97.
THE SCHEDULE
The Eagles open the 1998-99 season in the Ice Breaker Tournament in Minneapolis, Minn. In the tournament, BC could meet Ohio State, a highly-ranked team that the Eagles defeated 5-2 in the NCAA Tournament's semifinal round last April. The Eagles could also face Minnesota and/or St. Lawrence, both teams BC will also play later in the season.
Boston College begins its 24-game HOCKEY EAST schedule against UMass-Lowell on Friday, October 30.
Other highlights of the 1998-99 schedule are a non-league date with Notre Dame on Friday, November 6, the eve of the schools' football meeting; three games against traditional ECAC foes (Clarkson, Harvard and St. Lawrence); a trip to the Denver Cup on December 27-28; a two-game home series against Minnesota on January 2-3; and, of course, the 47th annual Beanpot at the FleetCenter on February 1 and 8.
