Boston College Athletics
Hockey Set To Kick Off Rivalry Weekend Against Notre Dame
October 25, 2001 | Men's Hockey
Oct. 25, 2001
Boston College - Notre Dame Game Notes in PDF Format
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FRIDAY'S GAME Boston College enters Friday's game with a 1-3-1 overall record and a 0-2-0 mark in HOCKEY EAST games. The Eagles are winless in their last four decisions. BC opened the season with a 5-1 victory at Vermont on Oct. 6, before falling to Denver on Oct. 12, 4-3, in the first round of the Nye Frontier Classic hosted by Alaska-Anchorage. In the second round of the tournament, UAA stormed back to tie the Eagles, 4-4, on Oct. 13. In their last two games, the Eagles fell to UMass-Lowell, 7-2, at home and at Northeastern, 4-3.
Sophomore Tony Voce leads the Eagles in scoring with 10 points (four goals, six assists) in five games, while classmate Ben Eaves is second on the team with seven points (two goals, five assists) in three games.
Notre Dame arrives at the Heights with a 0-3-1 overall record and a 0-1-1 mark in CCHA games. The Irish opened the season with a pair of losses (2-1 and 7-4) against Union on Oct. 11 and 12, then played to a tie (4-4) and a loss (3-2) against CCHA rival Ohio State on Oct. 20 and 21.
RIVALRY WEEKEND Friday's hockey game kicks off the annual Rivalry Weekend between the Eagles and the Irish. Each year since the 1995-96 season, except 1999-2000, the hockey teams from both schools have met the night before the annual football match up. Since Rivalry Weekend began, the Eagles' hockey team owns a 4-0-1 advantage over the Irish the night before the football games.
Other events scheduled for the weekend include a pep rally for both the football and hockey teams on Thursday, Oct. 25 on O'Neill Plaza at 6:30 p.m., and the football game at 7:45 p.m. on Saturday night, which will be aired on ESPN.
AGAINST THE IRISH Boston College and Notre Dame have met 21 times with the Eagles holding the series advantage, 13-7-1. BC is undefeated in the last six meetings, earning a 5-0-1 mark since the 1995 season. The two schools met for the first time on December 20, 1969 when the Eagles defeated the Irish, 7-3, at McHugh Forum. Notre Dame's last win came on December 28, 1994 when the Irish beat the Eagles 3-2 at Conte Forum.
Senior Jeff Giuliano leads all current Eagles in scoring against Notre Dame. He has notched three goals and one assist in three games. Sophomore Ben Eaves is second with three assists. Sophomores Tony Voce (two goals) and Brett Peterson (two assists) have also accumulated multiple points against the Irish. Ales Dolinar has also scored one goal.
Last season, the squads met twice. The teams opened the season in the first round of the Maverick Stampede, hosted by Nebraska-Omaha, on Oct. 13. Boston College defeated the Irish, 4-1, behind two goals from Giuliano. In the second meeting, during Rivalry Weekend on Nov. 10, the Eagles again defeated Notre Dame, this time by a 5-3 score as Voce potted two goals.
LAST TIME AGAINST NOTRE DAME Tony Voce scored two goals less than two minutes apart as Boston College defeated Notre Dame, 5-3, at the Joyce Center on November 10, 2000. The win was the Eagles' second of the season against the Irish. Mike Lephart and Brett Peterson each added two assists as Scott Clemmensen made 34 saves in the win.
BC jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a Jeff Giuliano goal 1:10 in the game, but the Irish knotted the score on the power play midway through the first period. Voce's two goals - at the 7:07 and 9:00 marks of the second period - gave BC a 3-1 lead before Mark McLennan added to the total at 12:48 of the stanza.
Notre Dame climbed back within one goal at 9:39 of the third period, but Brian Gionta added a shorthanded, insurance goal less than three minutes later to secure the win.
LAST TIME OUT Freshman Ryan Shannon netted two goals, including a 6x5 goal with 41 seconds to play, but it was not enough as the Eagles fell to Northeastern, 4-3, in a HOCKEY EAST contest on Saturday, October 20 at Matthews Arena.
Shannon kick-started the scoring 30 seconds into the game, taking a Dave Spina pass and sending it past Husky goaltender Mike Gilhooly. Northeastern responded with three straight goals - including a power-play and shorthanded tally - to take a 3-1 lead in the second period.
Ales Dolinar brought BC back within one goal when he knocked in a Tony Voce rebound, but NU's Mike Ryan scored his second goal of the night to open the third period and retake a two-goal lead.
Shannon's second goal came with the extra skater when BC pulled goaltender Matti Kaltiainen, but the Eagles could not get another goal across the line in the closing seconds to tie the game. Kaltiainen stopped 14 shots, while Gilhooly made 35 saves for the win.
WHO'S HOT Tony Voce has netted 10 points - four goals and six assists - in five games ... before missing the last two games with bruised ribs, sophomore Ben Eaves registered seven points (two goals and five assists) in the three games he played... the freshman tandem of Ryan Shannon and Dave Spina has recorded eight points in the last four games. Shannon has notched five points over that span (three goals, two assists), while Spina has recorded three points (two goals, one assist). The two players have alternated goals in the last four games with Spina scoring against Denver (Oct. 12) and UMass-Lowell (Oct. 19) and Shannon scoring against Alaska-Anchorage (Oct. 13) and Northeastern twice (Oct. 20).
INDIVIDUAL STREAKS CONTINUE After recording one assist on Oct. 20 against Northeastern, Tony Voce extended his personal scoring streak to nine games, dating back to the championship game of the 2001 HOCKEY EAST Tournament on March 17 ... two players - Voce and Ben Eaves - have scored in each of the Eagles' games they've played this season.
YOUNG IN THE BACK... The Boston College defense is a young unit that features four freshmen. The lineup has included just one junior (Bill Cass), either two (J.D. Forrest and Brett Peterson) or three (Joe Schuman) sophomores and several freshmen (Andrew Alberts, John Adams and Taylor Leahy) in each game this season.
...AND UP FRONT... The forward lines for the Eagles also have a youthful look to them as four freshmen have played in each of the five games. Ryan Murphy has been a key component of the second line, while the threesome of Ned Havern, Ryan Shannon and Dave Spina skated together for the first three game before being moved around due to the team's injuries. Ben McManama, also a freshman, has seen action in each of the last two games. In addition to the freshmen, there are four sophomores dressing in the forward lines. Justin Dziama, Ben Eaves, Ty Hennes and Tony Voce have all seen regular action this season.
...BUT THEY'RE LEADING THE CHARGE The sophomore class has accounted for 50.0 percent of the Eagles scoring this season (seven goals and 16 assists for 23 points). When adding the freshman class' production to the total, the underclassmen have scored 71.7 percent of the team's points (12 goals and 21 assists for 33 points).
LIGHTNING STRIKES EARLY Twice this season, Boston College has lit the lamp before the first minute of the game had elapsed. In the opening game of the year against Vermont, Ben Eaves scored a power-play goal 45 seconds into the game. In BC's game against Northeastern, Ryan Shannon struck 30 seconds into the game with an even-strength goal.
PUCKS HAVING TROUBLE FALLING Boston College has out-shot its opponents four times this season but has only one win to show for its efforts. In the first game of the season - against Vermont on Oct. 6 - the Eagles outshot the Catamounts 30-16 and won by a 5-1 margin. But since that game, the Eagles have faced some stiff goaltending from their opponents.
Against Denver, BC outshot the Pioneers 28-24, but fell in a 4-3 decision. In the following game against Alaska-Anchorage, BC led in shots, 34-21, and tied the game with a 4-4 score. In BC's last game, the Eagles unloaded a season-high 38 shots, but fell to Northeastern 4-3.
BEEN A LONG TIME Boston College is winless in its last four games. The last time the Eagles endured a similar stretch was at the beginning of the 1999-2000 season when BC dropped four-straight games and dipped to 5-5 on the season. The Eagles fell to Northeastern, Maine, Merrimack and New Hampshire from Nov. 12 through Nov. 20 ... with its loss to Northeastern on Saturday, Oct. 20, BC lost back-to-back games for the first time since BC fell to Boston University (4-1) in the Beanpot final on Feb. 14, 2000 and at New Hampshire (4-1) on Feb. 19, 2000.
EAGLES GET THEIR WINGS Of the 10 members of the freshman class, four Eagles have already made their marks on the BC statistics. Forwards Dave Spina and Ryan Shannon recorded their first career goals at the Nye Frontier Classic, while goaltender Matti Kaltiainen made his first career start in the tournament. Defenseman Andrew Alberts recorded his first assist against UMass-Lowell on Oct. 19.
Spina scored his goal in the Eagles' contest against Denver on Oct. 12, netting a power-play goal 5:16 into the first period. Shannon made a mark in the UAA game, netting his first career goal at 6:36 of the first period to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. He later assisted on two goals in the game. Shannon previously recorded his first career point on Tony Voce's second goal in the Vermont game.
Kaltiainen started the Eagles' game against Denver, making 21 saves in the game, including several on odd-man rushes. Alberts fed Tony Voce the primary assist on a his 4x4 goal against the River Hawks.
LEAGUE HONOREE For his five-point performance (three goals, two assists) against Vermont, sophomore Tony Voce earned HOCKEY EAST Player of the Week honors on Oct. 8.
ALL-TOURNAMENT ACCOLADES Sophomore forward Ben Eaves and sophomore defenseman J.D. Forrest were both selected to the Nye Frontier Classic All-Tournament Team for their performances against Denver and Alaska-Anchorage. Eaves was tied for the tournament's third-leading scorer, with one goal and two assists and was an active part of the Eagles' power-play unit that went 4-for-11 in the tournament. Forrest, also a member of both the power-play and penalty-kill units, logged nearly half a game on the ice in each of the two games. He also recorded one goal and two assists in the tournament.
FINNISH FIRST Freshman goaltender Matti Kaltiainen is the first non-North American player on the Boston College hockey roster. A native of Espoo, Finland, he played the 2000-01 season for the Espoo Blues of the Finnish Junior League. Kaltiainen made his Eagle debut on Oct. 12 against Denver in the first round of the Nye Frontier Classic. In 59:23 of action, he stopped 21 Pioneer shots in the Eagles' 4-3 loss. He also started the game against Northeastern on Oct. 20.
KELLEHER DEBUTS AS OPENING NIGHT STARTER For the first time in four seasons, Boston College had a new starter in goal on opening night. Junior Tim Kelleher started in net against Vermont on Oct. 6, marking the first goaltender in four years other than Scott Clemmensen - who graduated in 2001 - to start an opening night game for BC. Ironically, Clemmensen, who signed with the New Jersey Devils after he graduated, made his NHL debut that same night, entering in the third period of the Devils' 6-1 loss to Washington.
EAGLES IN HOCKEY EAST PRESEASON POLL Boston College was selected third, and received three of the nine possible first-place votes, in the 2001-02 HOCKEY EAST Preseason Poll, released at the league's annual Media Day on Monday, Oct. 1. Providence was first in the poll, followed by Maine with four first-place votes. New Hampshire and Boston University followed the Eagles and each received one first-place vote. UMass-Lowell, Northeastern, Merrimack and UMass-Amherst round out the poll.
2001-02 EAGLE CAPTAIN Senior forward Jeff Giuliano will serve as the team's captain for the 2001-02 season. Last season, Giuliano set career highs in goals (14), assists (22) and points (36). He is the team's second-highest returning scorer from 2000-01. The Nashua, N.H. product was awarded the James E. Tiernan Memorial Award as the team's Most Improved Player last season. In his first three years at the Heights, Giuliano has appeared in all 128 games the Eagles played, recording 29 goals and 50 assists for 79 total points.
ASSISTANT CAPTAIN Senior forward Ales Dolinar will serve as the team's assistant captain this season. In his first three years, Dolinar appeared in 123 games, recording 19 goals and 31 assists for 50 points. He posted career numbers in both assists (16) and points (23) last season as a junior.
EAGLE NEWCOMERS Boston College's roster features 10 new players this season: two goaltenders (Matti Kaltiainen and Robbie Miller), four defensemen (John Adams, Andrew Alberts, Taylor Leahy and Ben McManama) and four forwards (Ned Havern, Ryan Murphy, Ryan Shannon and Dave Spina).
OFF-SEASON COMINGS AND GOINGS Over the summer, three Boston College players opted to forgo their remaining collegiate eligibility and pursue professional careers. Senior defenseman Brooks Orpik signed a professional contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins, while sophomore forward Chuck Kobasew left the Eagles to play in the Western Hockey League. Junior forward Krys Kolanos also decided to pursue professional hockey, joining the Phoenix Coyotes' organization. All three players were first-round draft picks in the NHL Entry Draft.
The Eagles also gained back a player as junior Anthony D'Arpino rejoined the team after playing the latter half of the 2000-01 season with Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League.
CONSISTENCY BREEDS SUCCESS The Boston College coaching staff is in its seventh season working together, guiding the Eagles. Head coach Jerry York arrived at the Heights before the 1994-95 season and brought associate head coach Scott Paluch with him from Bowling Green. That season marked associate head coach Jim Logue's second with the team. A year later, assistant coach Mike Cavanaugh joined the staff.
Since the 1997-98 season, Boston College has recorded a 118-44-13 mark (.711 winning percentage). The Eagles won three HOCKEY EAST Tournaments over that span and were the 2001 national champions.
YORK REWARDED This summer, head coach Jerry York signed a new, five-year contract that runs through the 2005-06 season. Sixth on the college hockey career wins list, York has led the Eagles to the last four Frozen Fours, culminating in a national championship in 2001. He has also won three HOCKEY EAST Tournament titles and coached 11 All-American selections since arriving back at the Heights.
FAMILIAR FACES STAYING TOGETHER The Eagles' roster boasts six sets of teammates who played together in high school, as well as at the Heights. Senior assistant captain Ales Dolinar and sophomore Tony Voce were teammates at Lawrence Academy (Mass.). Freshmen Ryan Shannon and Taylor Leahy both came to BC from Taft (Conn.). Sophomore Joe Schuman and freshmen Andrew Alberts both played defense at Benilde-St. Margaret's in Minnesota. Junior A.J. Walker and sophomore Ben Eaves were also linemates at Shattuck St. Mary's (Minn.) before re-teaming at the Heights. Sophomore Justin Dziama and freshman Ben McManama played alongside each other at Noble & Greenough (Mass.). And, while not a high school team, four players were members of the United States National Development Program teams: junior Bill Cass, sophomore J.D. Forrest, and freshmen Ryan Murphy and Dave Spina.
SUMMER IN LAKE PLACID Three Boston College players participated in the USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp in Lake Placid, N.Y. from August 3-6. Sophomore Ben Eaves and freshmen Ryan Murphy and Dave Spina attended the camp from which the U.S. junior national team will be chosen.
Eaves and Murphy also played with Team USA at the USA Hockey Summer Challenge, Aug. 7-12 in Lake Placid, and are still under consideration for the U.S. Junior National Team that will compete in the 2002 IIHF World Junior Championships to be held in the Czech Republic, Dec. 25-Jan. 4.
INJURY UPDATE Sophomore defenseman Joe Schuman suffered a groin injury against UMass-Lowell on Oct. 18 and is expected to miss Friday's game.
UP NEXT Boston College will travel to Wisconsin to face the Badgers in a two-game set on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 2 and 3. Both games face off 8:05 p.m. EST (7:05 local time) in Madison.
