Boston College Athletics
Men's Hockey Preview: The Defense
September 28, 2015 | Men's Hockey
Boston College returns five defensemen and ushers in a pair of rookies on the blue line
DEFENSEMEN
Lettermen Returning/Lost: 5/2
Newcomers: 2
York on Boston College's Defensemen:
"We will definitely have to find a way to alleviate the professional losses of Michael Matheson and Noah Hanifin. They played big minutes for us. I think the additions of rookies Casey Fitzgerald and Josh Couturier will certainly augment the defense going forward and help bolster the blue line. Fitzgerald will make a huge impact on our team. He's a player we have been watching over the last few years and I really like the way he's progressed. Couturier is a little bit more of a sleeper for us. He's a little older and he will bring good size to our defense. We believe he'll be a contributor throughout the season. The core of Steve Santini, Ian McCoshen, Scott Savage and Teddy Doherty are all familiar with our system and I have the utmost confidence. Santini and McCoshen are two shut-down defensemen while Savage and Doherty will provide some support up front, as well. Travis Jeke will be a senior and I think he will be able to see some more minutes as well."
Ian McCoshen is not only considered one of the most tactical defensemen in Hockey East, the Faribault, Minn., native touts a fearsome slapshot and was demonstrated in his three power play tallies as a sophomore last year. McCoshen was BC's third highest scoring blue liner with six goals and 10 assists and tied for second on the squad with a +14 rating. Even with his offensive knack, the junior assistant captain did his part defensively and led the Eagles with 64 blocked shots last year en route to a Hockey East All-Star Honorable Mention award last year.
Steve Santini, another assistant captain for the Eagles this season, is one of the most vicious, physical defensemen in the nation and is chomping at the bit to get back for a full season. Last year, the Mahopac, N.Y., native endured an injury that shelved him for 16 games. The third-year presence logged a goal and four assists in his abbreviated season, and despite missing almost half the year, Santini finished fifth on the club with 30 blocked shots.
Teddy Doherty, this year's captain, is coming off a career year across the board, posting career highs in goals (six), points (23), shots (65), plus/minus (+15) and game-winning goals (2). The Hopkinton, Mass., native wasn't only the second-most prolific scorer on the team behind Matheson, he led the Eagles in the plus/minus category. In all of college hockey, Doherty tied for 29th in scoring amongst all defensemen (0.61 ppg). He returns to the team tied for the most career points on the club (54) as a defenseman.
Scott Savage will be counted on as one of BC's top defensemen this year as the San Clemente, Calif., native looks to make his mark this year. Savage logged six assists as a sophomore after an 18-point campaign as a rookie. The third-line rearguard finished fourth on the team last year with 37 blocked shots.
Travis Jeke, one of two senior defensemen, looks to crack the lineup more often this year after skating in eight games last season. The Pittsburgh native provides ample size down low and looks to become a force in his final season.
Casey Fitzgerald and Josh Couturier, BC's two incoming defensemen, should have an immediate impact. Fitzgerald skates in from the U.S. National Team Development Program and joins his brother, Ryan, after a successful tenure in Ann Arbor, Mich. He won a gold medal with U-18 Team and logged 25 points from the blue line. Couturier will offer more size to the defense and looking to produce up front, as well, after scoring 38 points (16-22-38) last year for the Boston Junior Bruins.
Lettermen Returning/Lost: 5/2
Newcomers: 2
York on Boston College's Defensemen:
"We will definitely have to find a way to alleviate the professional losses of Michael Matheson and Noah Hanifin. They played big minutes for us. I think the additions of rookies Casey Fitzgerald and Josh Couturier will certainly augment the defense going forward and help bolster the blue line. Fitzgerald will make a huge impact on our team. He's a player we have been watching over the last few years and I really like the way he's progressed. Couturier is a little bit more of a sleeper for us. He's a little older and he will bring good size to our defense. We believe he'll be a contributor throughout the season. The core of Steve Santini, Ian McCoshen, Scott Savage and Teddy Doherty are all familiar with our system and I have the utmost confidence. Santini and McCoshen are two shut-down defensemen while Savage and Doherty will provide some support up front, as well. Travis Jeke will be a senior and I think he will be able to see some more minutes as well."
Ian McCoshen is not only considered one of the most tactical defensemen in Hockey East, the Faribault, Minn., native touts a fearsome slapshot and was demonstrated in his three power play tallies as a sophomore last year. McCoshen was BC's third highest scoring blue liner with six goals and 10 assists and tied for second on the squad with a +14 rating. Even with his offensive knack, the junior assistant captain did his part defensively and led the Eagles with 64 blocked shots last year en route to a Hockey East All-Star Honorable Mention award last year.
Steve Santini, another assistant captain for the Eagles this season, is one of the most vicious, physical defensemen in the nation and is chomping at the bit to get back for a full season. Last year, the Mahopac, N.Y., native endured an injury that shelved him for 16 games. The third-year presence logged a goal and four assists in his abbreviated season, and despite missing almost half the year, Santini finished fifth on the club with 30 blocked shots.
Teddy Doherty, this year's captain, is coming off a career year across the board, posting career highs in goals (six), points (23), shots (65), plus/minus (+15) and game-winning goals (2). The Hopkinton, Mass., native wasn't only the second-most prolific scorer on the team behind Matheson, he led the Eagles in the plus/minus category. In all of college hockey, Doherty tied for 29th in scoring amongst all defensemen (0.61 ppg). He returns to the team tied for the most career points on the club (54) as a defenseman.
Scott Savage will be counted on as one of BC's top defensemen this year as the San Clemente, Calif., native looks to make his mark this year. Savage logged six assists as a sophomore after an 18-point campaign as a rookie. The third-line rearguard finished fourth on the team last year with 37 blocked shots.
Travis Jeke, one of two senior defensemen, looks to crack the lineup more often this year after skating in eight games last season. The Pittsburgh native provides ample size down low and looks to become a force in his final season.
Casey Fitzgerald and Josh Couturier, BC's two incoming defensemen, should have an immediate impact. Fitzgerald skates in from the U.S. National Team Development Program and joins his brother, Ryan, after a successful tenure in Ann Arbor, Mich. He won a gold medal with U-18 Team and logged 25 points from the blue line. Couturier will offer more size to the defense and looking to produce up front, as well, after scoring 38 points (16-22-38) last year for the Boston Junior Bruins.
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