Boston College Athletics
Hockey Preview: Harvard
November 14, 2005 | Men's Hockey
Nov. 14, 2005
Series Information
Boston College and Harvard are meeting for the 110th time. BC has a 62-42-5 record against the Crimson since the first time the teams played each other in the 1918-19 season. BC has played more games against Harvard than any other non-conference opponent.
What You Should Know
Three-of-four BC game-winning goals this season have been scored by a freshman. Brock Bradford registered back-to-back game-winning goals against Providence (10/28) and at New Hampshire (11/1) and Nathan Gerbe scored both BC goals -- which included the gamewinner with 5:10 left to play -- at Vermont (11/13) ... Sophomore goalie Cory Schneider has started all seven games this season. In league play, he is 3-1-1 with a conference-best 1.58 GAA ... The Eagles have allowed just eight goals in the last five games ... Nine of the 12 goals scored by opponents in the first four games of the season have come on the power play. Since that time, the Eagles have not allowed a power-play goal, thwarting all 16 opponent power plays in the last three games.
For the Record
Prior to a 3-1 loss in Bright Arena on November 16, 2004, BC was undefeated in its last nine meetings against Harvard, dating back to February 8, 1999. Within the span, the Eagles had recorded three shutouts. BC's largest margin of victory in that streak was the 4-0 win over the Crimson in the 2002 Beanpot.
On Offense
Senior forward Chris Collins leads the team -- and ranks second in the nation -- in goals per game with seven goals in seven games. The Fairport, N.Y. resident saw his three-game scoring streak snapped at No. 8 Vermont (11/13). Collins has two short-handed goals to his credit this season and is tied for first nationally with three others ... Freshman forward Nathan Gerbe scored both BC goals in a 2-1 win at No. 8 Vermont (11/13)... Freshman forward Brock Bradford scored the first two goals of his collegiate career in dramatic fashion. Bradford scored his first career goal to snap a 2-2 tie at 2:25 in the third period to lift BC over Providence (10/29), then scored his second game-winning goal in as many contests at No. 12 New Hampshire (11/1) with just under three minutes left to play ... Boston College averages 3.00 goals per game ... Ten Eagles have scored at least one goal this season and 17 players have tallied at least one point ... Boston College's plus/minus leader is junior forward Brian Boyle (+7).
Rookie of the Week...
Freshman forward Nathan Gerbe earned Hockey East's Rookie of the Week award after scoring both Boston College goals, including the gamewinner with less than six minutes to play, in a 2-1 win at Vermont on Sunday. The Oxford, Mich resident has tallied five points -- three goals, two assists -- in seven games this season. Gerbe ranks second on the team in both goals and shots (23) and is currently third on the team in points.
On Defense
Senior captain Peter Harrold anchors the BC defensive corps, which includes one junior, two sophomores and four freshmen ... The Eagles' defense ranks 14th nationally in scoring defense, having allowed just 17 goals in seven games, an average of 2.43 goals per game. Yet, in the last five games, BC has not allowed more than two goals in a game, holding opponents to 1.58 goals per game during that span ... Freshman defenseman Brett Motherwell returned to the lineup at Vermont (11/13) after missing the last three games because of injury.
In Goal
Sophomore Cory Schneider is the Eagles' top goaltender. Schneider is 17-3-5 in his career and owns a 2.08 goals against average. In 2005-06, Schneider is 4-2-1 with a 2.41 goals against average. He finished his freshman campaign with a 13-1-4 record, a 1.90 goals against average (ranked sixth in the nation) and a .916 save percentage in 18 games. In 15 career league games, Schneider is 9-1-5 with a 1.80 goals against average. Schneider suffered his only conference loss against Maine (10/28).
The Senior Class
Jerry York's senior class consists of forwards Chris Collins and Stephen Gionta and defenseman Peter Harrold. In three-plus seasons at the Heights, the 2005-06 seniors own a record of 83-29-15 (.713) and has advanced to the NCAA Tournament the past three seasons. Collins leads the Eagles with 127 games played and is the top scorer with 36 goals and 31 assists for 67 points. Gionta has played in 119 games and has recorded 22 goals and 39 assists for 61 points, while Harrold has played in 121 games and scored eight goals and tallied 34 assists for 42 points.
Eagles at Home
Boston College is 117-47-19 (.691) at Kelley Rink under Jerry York. The Eagles have won 10 or more home games in seven of the last eight seasons, including a record of 11-1-5 in 2004-05. In the last four seasons, BC owns a record of 37-9-8 (.759) in Kelley Rink.
Eagle Newcomers
The Eagles' roster features 10 newcomers: five forwards (Brock Bradford, Benn Ferriero, Nathan Gerbe, Kyle Kucharski and Andrew Orpik), four defensemen (Anthony Aiello, Tim Kunes, Tim Filangieri and Brett Motherwell) and one goaltender (Adam Reasoner). Through seven games this season, the freshman class has accounted for 14 points (five goals and nine assists).
