Boston College Athletics
Men's Hockey Starts Off at No. 11 Michigan
October 08, 2013 | Men's Hockey
Oct. 8, 2013
- Boston College Game Notes | Michigan Game Notes
- Live Audio (WEEI 850 AM)
- Game broadcast will be shown on BC cable, channel 11
RECAPPING BC'S EXHIBITION BOUT
Boston College got off to a strong start in its season-opening exhibition bout against St. Francis Xavier on Sunday, Oct. 6. The Eagles used eight different goal scorers in an 8-2 victory with senior Kevin Hayes leading the way with three points (1-2-3). Despite surrendering the first two tallies of the game, BC stormed back with eight unanswered goals, including three strikes within a span of 2:38 minutes in the second period. Six different Eagles logged a multi-point performance while 14 of the 23 dressed forwards and defense accounted for at least one point (60.8 percent). Not only did Boston College's veterans come through as seniors captain Patrick Brown and alternate captain Bill Arnold lit the lamp, but 6-of-10 newcomers to the lineup scored at least one point. Rookies Chris Calnan and Austin Cangelosi each scored a goal and an assist while junior forward Johnny Gaudreau picked up where he left off from last season and posted a goal and an assist.
WOLVERINE WATCH
The University of Michigan hockey program has never been more eager to get back on the ice. The Wolverines had their 22-year NCAA Tournament streak snapped at the end of last season after finishing last season under .500 (18-19-3 | 10-15-3 CCHA). U-M was slated to finish third (behind Wisconsin and Minnesota) in the inaugural season of the Big Ten hockey conference. The Wolverines return 18 letterwinners from last year's club, including three of its top five point scorers (Alex Guptill, Boo Nieves and Phil Giuseppe). Sophomore goaltender Steve Racine returns to staff the pipes for Michigan after earning a majority of the starts (22-of-40) in 2012-13. Racine charted a 12-6-3 record alongside a 2.65 goals against average and a .899 save percentage. In Michigan's first test of the season, the Wolverines lost to the University of Waterloo in an exhibition bout, 2-1, on Oct. 6. Racine stopped 11-of-13 shots faced as the Wolverines outshot the Warriors, 35-22.
THE BOSTON COLLEGE - MICHIGAN SERIES
Thursday's contest marks the 18th time Boston College and Michigan will square off on the ice. Boston College trails the overall series, 6-11-0. The last 10 meetings resulted in a deadlock as both teams have won five times, but never on one another's home turf. Boston College is 2-0 against U-M at home while the Wolverines have protected home ice all four times in Ann Arbor. BC and U-M have met 11 times neutrally where Michigan holds the 7-4 advantage. The first time these teams met was the 1947 NCAA Tournament. Michigan skated away with a 6-4 (OT) victory at the Broadmoor Ice Palace in Colorado Springs, Colo. The last meeting occurred at the Great Lakes Invitational at Joe Louis Arena in 2011 (U-M won, 4-2). BC head coach Jerry York is 4-4 against the Wolverines.
BATTLE OF THE TITANS
Boston College and Michigan are no strangers to success on the ice, particularly over the course of recent history. Since 1997, the Eagles and Wolverines sit atop the most prestigious categories in the game. BC owns the most national championships (4), NCAA Tournament victories (32), Frozen Four appearances (10) and national runners-up showings (4) over any other program in college hockey. Michigan leads the way in total victories (435) and NCAA Tournament appearances (15). In all, U-M owns the most national championships all-time (9) while BC has captured five in its course of history. In regards to overall tournament appearances U-M and BC rank first and third, respectively. The Wolverines have appeared 35 times in the NCAA Tournament while BC has gone 32 times. Michigan and BC also rank first and second, in that order, when it comes to Frozen Four appearances. U-M holds the slightest of margins, 24-23.
YORK vs. BERENSON
When Boston College head coach Jerry York and University of Michigan head coach Red Berenson meet on Thursday, more history will be on the line. These two coaches represent the most active career win total amongst college hockey coaches today. York's 935 victories is the college hockey benchmark while Berenson's 770 victories is second-best amongst active coaches and fifth highest all-time. Together, the two have won 1,705 college hockey games.
IN YORK WE TRUST
Jerry York, The Schiller Family Head Hockey Coach at Boston College, is a cornerstone of college hockey. York begins the season as the game's all-time winningest coach with 935 victories. On Dec. 29, 2012, York surpassed Ron Mason (Michigan State) to become the active leader with a victory over Alabama-Huntsville in Minneapolis, Minn, securing his 925th career win.
UNPRECEDENTED PUCKDROP
Thursday's contest between Boston College and Michigan not only pits two of college hockey's historic programs against one another, it also marks the beginning of a new era. Yost Ice Arena will play host to the first-ever contest between the Hockey East Association and the newly-formed Big Ten hockey conference. It also marks the first team of the Big Ten Conference to play a regular season game.
EAGLES TABBED CO-FAVORITES TO WIN HOCKEY EAST TITLE
Boston College has been chosen as the preseason co-favorite to win the Hockey East regular-season crown voted on by the league coaches and announced at the conference's annual media day at TD Garden on Sept. 24, 2013. The Eagles received the same amount of points as UMass Lowell (104 points) and garnered four of the league's 11 first-place votes. The Eagles' co-favorite pick marks the sixth straight season and 13th time in the last 15 seasons that BC has been picked as the preseason favorite, or co-favorite, to win the league title.
EAGLE(T)S
Boston College is the youngest team in college hockey. As of Oct. 1, 2013, the Eagles' collective average age is 20 years and 58 days, 180 days younger than ironically, their opponent on Thursday night. Michigan is the second youngest team in the country with an average age of 20 years and 238 days. One of the biggest reasons Boston College is the youngest team, collectively, in the country is because it has college hockey's youngest player, rookie goaltender Thatcher Demko. The San Diego, Calif., native was born on Dec. 8, 1995. Boston College is one of nine teams to usher in a class of 10 freshmen in 2013-14 (Michigan is one of those clubs). Northeastern and Sacred Heart lead the way with 12 while Alabama-Hunstville welcomes in 11.
PRO-RATED EAGLES
Boston College's 2013-14 roster sports 10 players selected in the NHL Entry Draft. Only North Dakota (15), Minnesota (14) and Michigan (12) have more. Notre Dame also has 11 on its squad. Four of BC's incoming freshmen were drafted in either 2012 or 2013, including Ian McCoshen (Florida - 2nd round - 31st - 2013), Steve Santini (New Jersey - 2nd round - 42nd - 2013), Chris Calnan (Chicago - 3rd round - 79th - 2012) and Ryan Fitzgerald (Boston - 4th round - 120th - 2013). Senior Kevin Hayes and sophomore Michael Matheson are Jerry York's 10th and 11th first-round draft picks he has secured, respectively. Hayes was selected by Chicago in the first round (24th overall) in 2010 while Matheson's rights were dealt to Florida in 2012 (23rd overall). Matheson became the 14th Eagle in the last 26 years to have been selected in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft.
HERE'S JOHNNY
College hockey's leading scorer (in points per game) is back. Johnny Gaudreau, a fourth-round selection (104th overall) of the Calgary Flames in 2011, logged 51 points (1.46 ppg) in 35 games by way of 21 goals and 30 assists. The Carneys Point, N.J., native is college hockey's active leader in career game-winning goals with 11. The next closest is Allan McPhearson of Clarkson with nine. For his career, the 5-8 left hander is averaging 1.20 points per game and is five points away from reaching the 100-point plateau (42-53-95). Gaudreau is the reigning Hockey East Player of the Year, an ACHA All-America East first-teamer, the Leonard Fowle Award as New England MVP and was one of three finalists for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award in 2013, given to the nation's premier collegiate player. Gaudreau missed two games later year while representing his country at the World Junior Championship.
NESTING EAGLES
The BC hockey program now has three coaches on staff that are Boston College alums. Including York ('67) and Associate Head Coach Greg Brown ('90), the addition of Marty McInnis ('90) comprises the triumvirate. All three coaches have been inducted into the Boston College Varsity Club Hall of Fame. Mike Ayers (New Hampshire `04) is also new to this year's coaching staff.
BOSTON COLLEGE AND THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
The Boston College hockey program is tied for the lead with Wisconsin in having the most names from one college on the Stanley Cup. Both BC and the Badgers have 16 names from their respective programs on hockey's silver chalice. BC's representatives are Joe Mullen (1989 - Calgary, 1991, 1992 - Pittsburgh), Kevin Stevens (1991, 1992 - Pittsburgh), Brian Leetch (1994 - NY Rangers), Bill Guerin (1995 - New Jersey, 2009 - Pittsburgh), Doug Brown (1997, 1998 - Detroit), Brian Gionta (2003 - New Jersey), Ryan Shannon (2007 - Anaheim), Rob Scuderi (2009 - Piitsburgh, 2012 - Los Angeles), Brooks Orpik (2009 - Pittsburgh) and Ben Smith (Chicago - 2013).
BC LEADS HOCKEY EAST IN NHL RANKS
Boston College led all Hockey East members in number of alumni to open the 2013-14 season on National Hockey League rosters. Fifteen former Eagles will help constitute Hockey East's group of 50 alumni to start off the season. Nine active Hockey East alums have won the Stanley Cup, including BC's Ben Smith who won it last season with the Chicago Blackhawks. Boston University is the only other Hockey East team with more than ten former players who made NHL teams this season, finishing second behind the Eagles with 11.
YORK IN SEASON-OPENING GAMES
Since Jerry York took over the BC program in 1994, the Eagles have amassed a 12-6-1 mark in season opening games of the season.
25 SEASONS AT KELLEY RINK
Boston College celebrates its 25th season of playing hockey on Kelley Rink at Conte Forum. Starting in 1988, the BC's overall record at Kelley Rink is 277-107-34 (.700). The Eagles played at McHugh Forum prior from 1958-86 when Boston College posted an overall mark of 282-95-10 (.748).
FOLLOW @BCHockeyNews ON TWITTER
Be sure to follow the Boston College hockey program via Twitter at twitter.com/BCHockeyNews (@BCHockeyNews) and by using the hashtag WeAreBC and BCHockey. This account will provide insight to the program and provide in-game updates along the way. Also, be sure to follow BC's other main Twitter account, @BCSportsNews, and `Like' us on Facebook at Facebook.com/BostonCollegeAthletics. The Eagles are also on Instagram at Instagram.com/bcathletics.
#EAGLETWEETABLES
• .@BCHockeyNews is the youngest team in college hockey with an average age of 20 years and 58 days #WeAreBC
• Thatcher Demkois the youngest player in college hockey - his birthday is December 8, 1995 #WeAreBC
• .@BCHockeyNews sports 11 players selected in the NHL Entry Draft; tying for fourth most in the country #WeAreBC
• The meeting between Jerry Yorkand Red Berenson marks the most possible career wins (1,702) betwee current coaches #WeAreBC
• Coach Jerry York is the winningest collegiate hockey coach of all-time with a record of 935-569-98 #WeAreBC
