Historic Programs Battle Sunday on Mike Mottau Day

Sunday, November 27

Chestnut Hill, MA

1:00 PM

Boston College

Minnesota

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Historic Programs Battle Sunday on Mike Mottau Day

November 26, 2016 | Men's Hockey

No. 4 Boston College welcomes in perennial power No. 11 Minnesota to The Heights on Sunday afternoon on the day the men's Boston College hockey program will retire Mike Mottau's jersey

WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 28, 2016 (1 p.m.)

WHERE: Kelley Rink / Chestnut Hill, Mass.

GAME NOTES: PDF / WEB

HOW TO FOLLOW:
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MIKE MOTTAU DAY
Former Boston College defenseman and Hobey Baker winner Mike Mottau (1997-2000) will have his jersey retired on Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016 at Kelley Rink. The ceremony will take place when the Eagles welcome Minnesota to Conte Forum at 1 p.m.

The Avon, Mass. native will become the 13th Eagle in Boston College hockey history to have his jersey retired, joining the ranks of:
- John "Snooks" Kelley (1932-42 & 1946-72 – Head Coach)
- Ray Chaisson (1940-42)
- Edward "Butch" Songin (1946-50)
- Bernie Burke (1946-49)
- Len Ceglarski (1948-51 – Player & 1972-92 – Head Coach)
- Bill Daley (1958-61)
- Jim Logue (1958-61)
- Tom "Red" Martin (1958-61)
- John Cunniff (1963-66)
- Joe Mullen (1975-79)
- David Emma (1987-91)
- Jerry York (1964-67 – Player & 1994-Present – Head Coach)

Mottau is Boston College's career record holder for most assists all-time (130) and 22nd, all-time, in points scored on The Heights (27 - 130 - 157). He played in 163 career games for the maroon and gold, tying him for ninth all-time. In his four years, the Eagles amassed a record of 99-52-14. The 6-foot-0 blue liner 's 157 career points are also the most ever by an Eagle defenseman. Mottau wore the number three (3). His jersey will be retired but his number will remain in rotation. The number 16 (David Emma) is the only retired number in Boston College hockey history to date. The jersey retirement ceremony will take place at the first intermission of the contest against Minnesota. Sunday's matinee begins at 1 p.m.

BOSTON COLLEGE vs. MINNESOTA
A historic matchup will take center stage on Sunday afternoon at Kelley Rink when Minnesota comes to town. Despite being winless in their last four against the Gophers (0-3-1), the Eagles possess a 2-1-2 mark, all-time, against UM at Kelley Rink. Minnesota owns a slight 16-13-3 overall advantage in the series as Sunday's showdown marks the 33rd contest between these two storied teams. Minnesota paid a visit to The Heights in 2014 and came away with a 6-2 win in the teams' last bout. Ten of the 33 meetings have occurred in the NCAA Tournament where the Eagles own a 6-4 advantage. Both Boston College (1949 | 2001 | 2008 | 2010 | 2012) and Minnesota (1974 | 1976 | 1979 | 2002 | 2003) have won five national championships in their program's history. Combined, the Eagles and Golden Gophers have been to 46 Frozen Fours as BC owns the most appearances with 25. Since arriving at Boston College, Jerry York has gone 4-6-2 against Minnesota. York and Minnesota head coach Don Lucia have squared off nine times at their respective institutions and Lucia owns the slight advantage, 5-3-1. When York and Lucia square off, the two will have combined for 1,722 victories.

GAUGING THE GOPHERS
The Golden Gophers skate into Sunday's matinee after a tough 6-4 loss at Northeastern on Friday after Thanksgiving. Senior forward Justin Kloos scored a hat trick, as Minnesota took a 4-2 lead into second intermission before Northeastern stormed back and scored four goals in the third to win. Sophomore Tyler Sheehy leads the Gophers in scoring with 14 points (4-10-14) while Kloos' hat trick put him in the team lead in goals scored (6). Sophomore goaltender Eric Schierhorn is one of six goaltenders to have amassed three ( 3 ) shutouts this season as Minnesota's defense is tied for 26th in the nation. The Gophers are surrendering 2.91 goals per game and scoring at a rate of 3.45 goals per game, which is tied for 13th in the country. Minnesota's most lethal unit is its power play, converting at a clip of 25.5 percent (12-for-47), which is fifth in all of college hockey.

TRENDING UP
Boston College has been lighting the lamp often lately, having scored an aggregate of 54 goals in its last 12 outings. The Eagles are now averaging just under four goals per game (3.93 gpg) on the season which is fourth best in all of college hockey and the most productive offensive unit in all of Hockey East.

FIRED UP FITZ
Following his first three-point performance of the season (1 - 2 - 3), Ryan Fitzgerald overtakes the points lead with five goals and 11 assists through 15 games played. The North Reading, Mass. is tied for 59th in the country in scoring, averaging 1.07 points per game and is tied for 10th in Hockey East. The senior assistant captain is currently tied for 38th, all-time, in the Boston College record books in goals scored with 59.

BENCHMARK SCORING
No other team in college hockey has scored as many points as Boston College has this season. The Eagles are leading the NCAA in total points (169), total assists (110), game-winning goals (11) and overall plus/minus (+28). Boston College has also tallied the 13th-highest average of shots on net to this point, triggering 32.73 shot attempts per outing.

IN THE RED
The Eagles are outscoring their opponent at a significant margin and possess the fourth-highest mark in the NCAA. Boston College's + 1.67 goal differential is the best in Hockey East as the Eagles have netted 59 goals and given up only 34. The +28 mark is the best in the NCAA.

THE GREAT WOLL OF CHESTNUT HILL
First-year goaltender Joe Woll has been steady in net for the Eagles all season and is currently in the top 24, nationally, in all goaltending categories. Woll is currently 19th in save percentage (.920), 24th in goals against average (2.38) and tied for 15th in winning percentage (.708). The Dardenne Prairie, Mo. native has only given up more than three goals once in his last seven starts.

CASE'N THE JOINT
Sophomore defenseman Casey Fitzgerald has been on fire as of late and is currently tied for 86th amongst ALL college skaters and not just blue liners. The North Reading, Mass. native is tied for ninth amongst all defensemen with 0.93 points per game and tied for second within his position for goals scored with five ( 5 ). Within conference play, Fitzgerald's point total is tied for second best amongst all defensemen.

DEFENSIVE DEEDS
Following the 5-2 beating of UConn on Nov. 22, Boston College is only surrendering 2.27 goals per game which is ninth best in college hockey. Despite being the third-most penalized team in college hockey thus far (18.9 PIMs / game), the Eagles' penalty-killing unit has done a good job, snuffing out 78-of-96 opportunities at a rate of 81.2 percent.

NONPLUSSED
Senior Scott Savage finished with a career-best +4 rating at UConn on Nov. 22 and possesses one of the top plus/minus rankings in college hockey. Savage has a +13 rating on the season and is tied for eighth-best in college hockey and second best in Hockey East. (Savage is tied with Austin Cangelosi for eight). Amongst other defensemen, freshman Connor Moore weighs in with a +12 rating, which is tied for 12th best amongst all skaters in the game.

HATS OFF FOR EVERYBODY
Sophomore JD Dudek scored Boston College's third hat trick of the season and 341st in program history in the victory at UConn on Nov. 22, 2016. Between the span of Oct. 16 to Nov. 22, the Eagles have accounted for three hat tricks which is the fastest three hat tricks scored in a season since the 2009-10 season. Christopher Brown (3-1-4 • Oct. 16 at Wisconsin), Austin Cangelosi (3-0-3 • Nov. 4 at Maine) and JD Dudek (3-0-3 • Nov. 22) all turned the trick in a matter of 38 days. It marks the fastest three hat tricks scored for Boston College since Cam Atkinson scored two on March 12, 2010 and March 28, 2010 with one sandwiched in between from Matt Lombardi on March 20, 2010 at the end of the 2009-10 season (14 days).

DUDE!(K)
Along with JD Dudek's hat trick at UConn on Nov. 22, he also registered career highs in goals (3) points, (3) shots (7) and plus/minus (+2). The Auburn, N.H. native also recorded his first-career power play goal (second tally of his three) and his second-career game-winning goal. The sophomore winger has six goals and a pair of assists on the season.

CONFERENCE CONFIDENCE
Boston College remains unbeaten in league play having assembled a 6-0-1 mark in conference play. The Eagles are four points clear of second-place Vermont with 13 points. It marks the second-consecutive years the Eagles have started out 6-0-1 in conference play. Boston College is also the first team in college hockey to crack into the double digits column in victories, reaching 10 victories faster than any other program in college hockey this season.