Top-Ranked Eagles Initiate 2015-16 Campaign at West Point

GAME DAY INFORMATION
When	Friday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m.
Where	West Point, N.Y. // Tate Rink
Information	Live Stats // Video // Audio (webstream only)
Game Notes	PDF // Web Version
On The Call	P x P: Tom Grace // Color: Andy Powers

BOSTON COLLEGE vs. ARMY
Boston College will open the 2015-16 season with its second contest in three years against Army West Point on the road at Tate Rink, marking the Eagles' first trip to West Point in over 20 years. The last time BC played at Army was on Oct. 22, 1994 (9-3 win). The Eagles have enjoyed a great deal of success against the Atlantic Hockey conference foe as BC has won 37-of-41 encounters, holding a 37-3-1 advantage, including 25-consecutive victories over the Black Knights. Army's last victories over the Eagles took place in West Point, N.Y., on Feb. 22, 1994. In four of the last six games against Army, Boston College has scored at least nine goals, including an 11-0 whitewashing on Nov. 10, 2013. BC's 11 goals scored marked the most in game since defeating UMass Lowell, 15-6, on Jan. 30, 1985. It was also the first time BC netted 11 goals since taking on Holy Cross on Nov. 19, 1984. Friday's season opener marks the second meeting between Army's Brian Riley and Jerry York. Army holds a significant spot in Coach York's tenure on The Heights as his first regular season game as head coach of the Eagles took place against Army on Oct. 22, 1994.

KNIGHT VISION
Army West Point finished its 2014-15 season with an overall mark of 8-22-4 (.294) with an 8-16-4 (.357) total in Atlantic Hockey play. The Black Knights finished ninth in their league standings last season and never managed to win back-to-back outings. Army mustered up 68 goals last year but luckily for the Black Knights, they return 81.3 percent of their offense from 2014-15. Over 16 percent of Army West Point's offense was channeled through one skater in now sophomore Tyler Pham. Pham led the squad in both goals (nine) and assists (20) and finished 60th amongst all skaters with 0.91 points per game. The Fort Collins, Colo., native finished fifth overall amongst rookie skaters last season. Army's offense generated exactly two goals per game, ranking it 52nd overall, while the defense surrendered 3.18 goals per game (47th overall). Army West Point returns its two netminders in junior Parker Gahagen and sophomore Cole Bruns. Gahagen started the majority last season, earning 25 starts with a 6-15-3 record and a .913 save percentage. Gahagen posted a 2.83 goals against and will be leaned on heavily this season. Army West Point ushers in nine freshmen this season, same amount as BC, tying it for ninth-largest incoming class along with 10 other programs. The Black Knights won their season opener over Sacred Heart last season.

RECAPPING THE EXHIBITION
Miles Wood and Scott Savage both found the back of the net in a 5-2 setback against University of New Brunswick in the Eagles' exhibition bout on Saturday night. For Wood, it counted as his first tally as an Eagle while Savage broke a scoreless drought after not scoring last season. Newcomers Jeremy Bracco and Colin White both doled out an assist in the setback as did juniors Austin Cangelosi and Adam Gilmour. Junior goaltender Thatcher Demko stopped all 16 shots he faced in the first period while first-year backstopper Chris Birdsall stopped 12-of-17 shots. The Eagles held a 2-0 lead before the Varsity Reds exploded for a five-goal second period to put UNB ahead for good.

POLE POSITION
The Boston College men's hockey team was tabbed the unit to beat as the Eagles earned the No. 1 preseason ranking in both the USCHO.com and USA Today / USA Hockey Magazine polls unveiled on Sept. 28 and Oct. 5, respectively. This marks the seventh time the Eagles have been slotted as the top position in the preseason. The last time Boston College was ranked No. 1 in the country was towards the end of the 2013-14 season when the Eagles ran off a 19-game unbeaten mark, winning 17 games and skating to a pair of draws over the course of the run. Boston College finished No. 13 and No. 14, respectively, in the USCHO.com and USA Today / USA Hockey Magazine final polls upon conclusion of the 2014-15 season.

LIVING HISTORY
The Schiller Family Head Hockey Coach of Boston College, Jerry York, enters his 44th season of coaching college hockey. Not only is York the winningest coach in the game's history, having amassed 984 victories and a win loss total of 984-591-105 (.616), York is approaching another historic benchmark. After locking up the most wins all-time at his alma mater (502) and heads into his 22nd season behind the Eagles' bench, he now has the 1,000-win plateau in his sites. York is just 16 wins away from hitting that number as he is already the winningest coach in the game's history.

PRESEASON PRECEDENT
Boston College was selected as the preseason favorite to win the Hockey East regular-season title as voted on by the league coaches and announced on Sept. 21. The Eagles received 115 overall votes and picked up seven of the league's 12 first-place votes. The Eagles' pick as the preseason favorite marks the seventh time in the last eight seasons and the 14th time in the last 17 occasions that BC has been picked as the preseason favorite, or co-favorite, to win the league title.

YORK IN SEASON OPENERS
Since Jerry York took over the BC program in 1994, the Eagles have amassed a 12-8-1 mark in season opening games of the season. Friday's game at Army also marks the seventh-consecutive season the Eagles have opened on the road.

KELLEY RINK ON THE BRINK OF 300
Boston College celebrates its 28th season of playing hockey on Kelley Rink at Conte Forum. Starting in 1988, BC's overall record at Kelley Rink is 298-118-37 (.699). The Eagles played at McHugh Forum prior from 1958-86 when Boston College posted an overall mark of 282- 95-10 (.748). Boston College has one 10 or more games at home the last seven-consecutive seasons.

EAGLETS
Boston College is the youngest team in college hockey by an average of 10 days. As of Oct. 1, the Eagles average age was 20 years and 169 days, 10 days behind Boston University. The Terriers average 20 years and 179 days per player. Michigan rounds out the top three (20 years, 235 days).

DO YOU FEEL A DRAFT?
Boston College sports the most NHL draft picks of any current college hockey team. The Eagles have 13 student-athletes that have already been drafted by a National Hockey League franchise while Michigan, Minnesota and North Dakota all have 12 on their respective teams. Of the eight student-athletes that are first-round draft picks, BC has two dressing in maroon and gold. Alex Tuch (Minnesota) was drafted 18th overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft while Colin White (Ottawa) was taken 21st overall in the 2015 Draft.

START SPREADIN' THE NEWS
Boston College and North Dakota will meet in a new marquee event next season, the College Hockey Showdown, on December 3, 2016 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The NCHC will serve as a co-host for the College Hockey Showdown with Madison Square Garden while North Dakota will be designated as the home team. Fans can also stay up to date on the latest College Hockey Showdown at Madison Square Garden information by following the event on Twitter @HkyShowdown_MSG.

Top-Ranked Eagles Initiate 2015-16 Campaign at West Point

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Chris Birdsall

Austin Cangelosi

Thatcher Demko

Adam Gilmour

Scott Savage

Alex Tuch

Colin White

Miles Wood