Men's Hockey Travels West for Two at Denver

Oct. 30, 2014

GAME NOTES: PDF  |  ISSUU (web version)  |  Denver Notes

TV: ROOT Sports (Local broadcast)

LIVE AUDIO: WEEI 850 AM (P x P: Jon Rish  |  Color: Mike Mottau)

LIVE STATS

2014-15 Media Guide

BOSTON COLLEGE vs. DENVER

A non-conference matchup featuring a combined 12 national titles will be in the national spotlight out West this weekend when Boston College and Denver square off at Magness Arena for a pair. Not much time has passed since the last time the Eagles and Pioneers faced off. On March 29, 2014, BC drew DU in the first round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament. Boston College marched passed the Pios when the line of Johnny Gaudreau – Bill Arnold – Kevin Hayes combined for all six goals in a 6-2 beating. It marked the third time Boston College and Denver had seen one another in the NCAA Tournament with DU claiming the prior contests on March 14, 1986 (4-1) and March 15, 1973 (10-4). The March 14, 1968 contest marked the first of a 26-game series between the two programs as Denver holds a slight 14-12 advantage. The last time Boston College embarked upon a trip to the Mile High City, then No. 1 BC swept the Pioneers by respective counts of 6-2 and 3-0 on Oct. 15-16, 2010. The Eagles are 8-3-1 in 12 outings in Denver. This weekend marks BC’s sixth trip to the Rocky Mountains since the 1994-95 season and will be head coach Jerry York’s second trip. Since York took over, Boston College is 7-5 against Denver.

PIO PEEK

No. 11 Denver started off on a tear, sweeping Rensselaer by respective 3-0 and 4-1 scores on Oct. 17-18 followed by a 3-1 win over NCHC opponent Minnesota Duluth on Oct. 25. The Bulldogs stopped Denver in its tracks with a 6-1 drubbing the following night in Duluth to settle DU’s record to 3-1 heading into this weekend’s series. Senior Zac Larraza leads the Pioneers in goal scoring with three and is averaging 0.75 goals per game which is tied for 14th in the NCAA. Two of Larraza’s markers have come via the power play, tying him for fifth in the land with a pair of PPGs. Junior Quentin Shore and sophomore Trevor Moore are both tied with 1.25 points per game, tied for 27th in the nation. Junior Nolan Zajac is tied for 12th in scoring amongst defensemen with a goal and three assists while Will Butcher has logged three to put him in a tie for 27th amongst blue liners. Newcomer Danton Heinen (1-3-4) is averaging a point per game, tied for sixth amongst all freshmen. SNetminder Evan Cowley has seen the brunt of the work and ranks in the top 20 in both goals against average (1.85 – 13th) and save percentage (.937 – 15th). Cowley’s staunch play has the Pioneers’ defense tied for eighth in the country, giving up only two goals per game. The Denver offense is scoring at a clip of 2.75 goals per game, tied for 31st in the NCAA. Denver’s power play has been the driving force behind the offense, scoring six of its 11 goals with the extra skater. The Pioneers’ power play ranks sixth in college hockey, converting 28.6 percent of their chances (6-for-21). The penalty kill has also been put to the test as DU has committed the third most penalties per game in the country, netting 20.5 PIMs per outing. The Pioneers’ penalty kill ranks 39th, preventing 78.3 percent of opponents chances (18-for-23).

HISTORY (STILL) IN THE MAKING

The Schiller Family Head Hockey Coach of Boston College, Jerry York, enters his 43rd season of coaching college hockey. Not only is York the winningest coach in the game’s history, having amassed 966 victories and a win loss total of 966-578-102 (.618), York is approaching another historic benchmark at his alma mater. Now in his 21st season as BC bench boss, York’s next victory behind the Eagles’ bench will result in his 500th victory as Boston College head coach. York is 499-243-68 (.659) up this point.

OFFENSIVE ONSLAUGHT

The Eagles scored six goals in back-to-back games on Oct. 18 and Oct. 24 against RIT and Colorado College, in that order. The last time Boston College combined for 12 goals in two games was last season when the Eagles defeated Boston University, 6-4, and Maine, 7-2, back-to-back on Jan. 17-18, 2014. Under Jerry York, Boston College has combined for 12 goals or more over the span of two games all but three times in a single season. The only seasons BC has never scored 12 or more goals in back-to-back games was 1994-95 (first season), 2003-04 and 2012-13.

SHUSHING SHUTOUTS

Boston College has not been shutout in 102 games. That is the longest active streak in the country. Denver is in second, having scored a goal in 71-consecutive games while Union is in third at 69.

OFFENSIVELY ON THE LOOSE

Through four games, Boston College has reestablished itself as the most prolific offense in the country. Up to this point of the season, the Eagles have scored 17 goals and are averaging 4.50 goals per game. That marks stand as the best in college hockey.

POWER PLAY PUSH

Thanks to four power play goals in Boston College’s last three outings dating back to Oct. 18, the Eagles’ power play unit is tied for ninth in the county right now. BC has converted a quarter of its chances this season, scoring on 4-of-16 opportunities.

FIVE-ON-THREE FLURRY

Sophomore Adam Gilmour tallied a pair of 5-on-3 goals against Massachusetts on Oct. 25 with help from the same two defensemen in Noah Hanifin and Michael Matheson. A few season have come and gone since the Eagles scored two 5-on-3 power play goals in one game. The last time Boston College turned the trick was on Nov. 27, 2009, against Clarkson when Paul Carey and Carl Sneep’s game-winning goal both came with a two-skater advantage.

GIMMIE MOUR GILMOUR

Following his two power play goal performance and an assist with a career-high six shots against UMass on Oct. 25, Adam Gilmour  picked up Boston College’s second-consecutive Hockey East honor after claiming Player of the Week honors on Monday, Oct. 27. One of Gilmour’s two 5-on-3 goals proved to the game winner against the Minutemen. The opening night against Colorado College, Gilmour doled out a pair of assists for a five-point weekend. Gilmour now has a pair of two-goal games under his belt his first occurring against Boston University on Jan. 17, 2014. Saturday’s three-point performance also stands as the fourth of his career. Gilmour is tied for the team lead in points (2-3-5).

GOAL-MOUR

Adam Gilmour is the only player in Hockey East who has scored more than one power play goal this season. Gilmour is also the first player to score a pair of power play goals in a game for Boston College since Patrick Brown scored a pair against Maine on Jan. 18, 2014.

CAN’T TOUCH TUCH

Newcomer Alex Tuch is riding a three-game point streak, including multi-point efforts in his last two outings. Tuch notched a goal and an assist on Oct. 24 and Oct. 25 and is now currently the second-leading scorer amongst all rookies in college hockey. The Baldwinsville, N.Y., native is averaging 1.25 points per game (2-3-5) and is second only to Boston University’s Jack Eichel (2.00 ppg).

QUINN CAN

Quinn Smith has scored a goal in his last two outings, citing his second-career goal scoring streak. Smith’s first two-game goal scoring streak took place from Feb. 1-4, 2013).

FITZ ON FIRE

Sophomore forward Ryan Fitzgerald is the lone Eagle to have scored consecutive goals in three straight outings. The North Reading, Mass., native has scored goals in straight games four times in his career and with his goal against Colorado College, he is now the Eagles’ leading career goal scorer with 16.

ROOKIE PARTY

Freshmen Zach Sanford and Alex Tuch both recorded their first points as Eagles against RIT on Oct. 18. Sanford exploded for a playmaker, registering three assists. Tuch scored early in the third period in front of the hometown crowd, just a few miles from where he grew up. Hanifin’s first career point was a goal against Colorado College and he followed that with a two-assist performance against UMass on Oct. 25.

SILKY SMOOTH

Junior Brendan Silk posted his first-career multi-point game with a pair of assists in the victory against RIT on Oct. 18. That contest marked the junior’s 75th-career game. 

CASH CAM

Cam Spiro set up the play for Teddy Doherty’s game-winning goal against RIT on Oct. 18.  it marked the Hingham, Mass., native’s first point since March 15, 2013. The following outing against Colorado College on oct. 24, Spiro scored his first-career two-goal game in his 28th outing as an Eagle. It also markeds the senior’s second-career two-point game. The last time Spiro notched two points was a one goal, one assist performance against Alabama-Huntsville on Dec. 29, 2012.

DEFENSIVE POSITIONING

Boston College’s offense has been clicking but the defense has shown marked improvement from its opening night. The Eagles’ defensive corps is tied for 22d in the country, surrendering 2.50 goals game. That mark ranks sixth in Hockey East.

BLUE-LINE BOPPERS

The Eagles’ defensive corps is not having a problem lighting the lamp itself. Boston College has scored 18 goals on the season with five coming from the twigs of the blue liners.  In BC’s first victory of the season against RIT, four of Boston College’s six goals game from defensemen (Matheson, Doherty, Santini, McCoshen).

MATHESON HITS 50

Junior captain Michael Matheson turned in his third-career playmaker (three assists) in the win against UMass on Oct. 25 with his last one taking place against Providence on Jan. 10, 2014. On his last assist, Matheson recorded his 50th-career point in his 78th game donning the maroon and gold.

HANGIN’ WITH HANIFIN

Newcomer Noah Hanifin scored his first-career goal as an Eagle against Colorado College and followed that with his first-career mutli-point game with both assists on Adam Gilmour’s 5-on-3 tallies against UMass.

CONNECTING THE DOHTS

Junior defenseman Teddy Doherty earned Boston College’s first Hockey East award of the season after landing Defensive Player of the Week honors. Doherty not only accounted for his second-career three-point performance with a goal and two assists, he also notched his first-career game-winning goal and was a game-high +4. Doherty was also recognized as BC’s Male Eagle of the Week his exploits. Doherty is tied for fifth amongst all defensemen in scoring with 1.25 points per game (1-4-5).

LAST LINE OF DEFENSE

Sophomore goaltender Thatcher Demko has won his third-consecutive outing, surrendering only give goals in his last three outings. The San Diego native currently ranks 26th in the NCAA with a 2.26 goals against average  and 31st with a .916 save percentage. Demko’s winning percentage has risen to .750, tying him for 17th in the country. Following his freshman campaign, Demko was drafted by Vancouver, 36th overall, in last summer’s NHL Entry Draft. As a freshman, Demko turned in in college hockey’s sixth-best winning percentage (.729 – 16-5-3) with a 2.24 goals against average and a .919 save percentage. Not only did the 6-foot-4 goaltender go 9-1-1 in Hockey East last season, his 1.35 goals against average in conference action  was also the lowest goals against average mark since Jimmy Howard’s (Maine) record of 1.15 in 2003-04. A member of the Hockey East All-Rookie Team, Demko captured the 2014 Eberly Award (goaltender with the best save percentage in the Beanpot) with a save rate of .966, marking the second-best save percentage in Beanpot Tournament history.

SANTINI TO MISS REMAINDER OF FIRST HALF

Steve Santini will miss the remainder of the first half of the season following scheduled wrist surgery on Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 28, 2014. The 6-foot-2 blue liner has skated in every game for Boston College save two games in December last season when he was representing the United States at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship in Malmo, Sweden. Santini suffered the injury in the middle of the second period against Massachusetts on Oct. 25. The New Jersey Devils prospect scored his first goal of the year at RIT on Oct. 18. In 39 games at defense, Santini has logged four goals and eight assists with a +27 rating.

HOCKEY HALL CALL

Three members of the Boston College hockey family were enshrined as part of the 2014 Class of the BC Varsity Club Hall of Fame, including Jeff Farkas ('00), William Hogan (‘33) and Marty Reasoner (‘98). Farkas earned All-America accolades, was a Hobey Baker finalist and ranks sixth all-time in scoring (190). Hogan was instrumental in resurrecting this treasured sport at Boston College, following suspension of hockey as a varsity sport during the Great Depression. Reasoner earned NCAA East first-team honors, AHCA All-America honors, twice captured All-Hockey East first-team honors and helped bring BC to the NCAA National Championship game in 1998.

Boston College Athletics

Men's Hockey Travels West for Two at Denver

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