Boston College Athletics
Eagles Draw First-Round Rematch with Denver
March 22, 2015 | Men's Hockey
Tournament Bracket | Buy Tickets | BC NCAA Tournament Central
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - The 11th-ranked Boston College men's hockey team earned at at-large bid into the 2015 NCAA Tournament and will play No. 5 Denver on Saturday, March 28, at 3 p.m. at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, R.I. The Eagles, who will play in their 16th NCAA Tournament in the last 18 seasons, will be the No. 3 seed in the East regional.
Saturday's game, which will mark the 29th meeting all-time against the No. 2-seeded Pioneers, will be broadcast live on ESPN2 in high definition and will be streamed online and available on all WatchESPN platforms. The BC-DU contest will be the only first-round matchup shown on ESPN2.
No. 1-seed Miami (Ohio) and No. 4-seeded Providence will join the Eagles and Pioneers at the Dunkin' Donuts center and will face off a 6:30 p.m. (EST).
Not only did Boston College and Denver split at Magness Arena on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, but the Eagles and Pioneers were first-round opponents in last year's NCAA Tournament. Boston College dominated Denver, 6-2, on March 29, 2014, at the DCU Center in Worcester. Johnny Gaudreau scored his first-career hat trick in that contest while his line of Kevin Hayes and Bill Arnold combined for 13 points (6-7-13) in the victory.
Denver has mounted a 23-13-2 record, including a 13-10-1 mark in National College Hockey Conference (NCHC) play. The Pios were third-place finishers in their conference tournament, most recently dumping North Dakota, 5-1, in the consolation bout. Since the BC series, Denver has won 19-of-32 (19-11-2) tilts.
The Pioneers have made the NCAA Tournament eight-consecutive seasons and won seven national titles in their program's existence (1958, 1960, 1961, 1968, 1969, 2004 and 2005).
In the two-game series out in Denver earlier this season, head Coach Jerry York won his 500th contest at Boston College on Oct. 31, 2014, after Ryan Fitzgerald scored both goals in a come-from-behind 2-1 victory. The following night, the Pioneers won via Danton Heines' two goals, including the walk-off winner at 4:05 of the overtime session.
Dating back to the last 18 seasons, Boston College has earned a spot in the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament every season except 2002 and 2009, including six-consecutive trips to the postseason.
The Eagles are 47-40, all-time, in NCAA Tournament play and a 34-11 mark under head coach Jerry York. York has led his clubs to 22 NCAA Tournament berths, including six at Bowling Green and 16 at Boston College. York is 39-21-1, all-time, in NCAA play while his 39 tournament triumphs are the most in college hockey history.
At the Dunkin' Donuts Center
Boston College returns to the Dunkin' Donuts Center for the first time since 2013. The Eagles look to avenge their first-round exit to Union in 2013. The Eagles have a 5-6-0 record at the Dunkin' Donuts Center (formerly the Providence Civic Center), including a 3-4 mark in NCAA Tournament play.
Below are the seven results from the Eagles' seven entries in NCAA Tournament play at the Dunkin' Donuts Center:
- March 30, 2013 - Union (Loss - 5-1)
- March 30, 2003 - Cornell (Loss - 2-1 OT)
- March 29, 2003 - Ohio State (Win - 1-0)
- April 8, 2000 - North Dakota* (Loss - 4-2)
- April 6, 2000 - St. Lawrence (Win - 4-2)
- March 25, 1978 - Boston University (Loss - 5-3)
- March 24, 1978 - Bowling Green (Win - 6-2)
* National Championship
TELEVISION COVERAGE
Saturday's contests will be broadcast live on ESPN2 with John Buccigross on the call. Here is a comprehensive listing of ESPN's television coverage: ESPN COVERAGE.
