Friday, October 6
Chestnut Hill, Mass.
7:00 PM
Boston College
vs
Quinnipiac
Hockey Returns to The Heights Friday Night
October 04, 2017 | Men's Hockey
No. 13 Boston College plays in its first true home opener since the 2008-09 season
BOSTON COLLEGE vs. QUINNIPIAC
Boston College starts off its 2017-18 campaign at home on The Heights and welcomes in for the first time a strong Quinnipiac squad that has defeated the Eagles in the two prior matchups from the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. At the 2016 Frozen Four, BC and Quinnipiac met up for the first time in program history as the No. 1-seeded Bobcats' halted the Eagles' championship hopes in the national semifinals, 3-2, on April 7, 2016 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. Boston College and Quinnipiac met up again last season at the Three Rivers Classic in Pittsburgh on December 29, 2016 at PPG Paints Arena. QU handed the Eagles their second loss of the series, 3-1. Friday's home opener marks the first non-neutral contest between these two college hockey powers. Rand Pecknold has been at the helm of the Bobcats' in both meetings against BC.
QUEEPING TABS ON QUINNIPIAC
Quinnipiac finished last season with a 23-15-2 and finished fifth in the ECAC with a 13-8-1 mark in conference play last season. Over the last few years, the Bobcats have been one of the most impressive programs in college hockey. Since QU qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2012-13 through 2016-17, Quinnipiac ranks first among all NCAA Division I programs in the country with 132 wins in that span. The Bobcats have won 20 games or more in their last six seasons. Quinnipiac also returns senior Landon Smith, who currently ranks second in all of college hockey with 97 career points (38-59-97).
HOME, HOME ON THE HEIGHTS
It's hard to believe Boston College has not had its season opener at Kelley Rink in almost TEN years. The last time the Eagles lifted the lid on their first game of the year was in 2008-09 when BC welcomed Wisconsin on Oct. 10. Boston College emerged victoriously, 5-4. Under head coach Jerry York's tenure, the Eagles have only had five TRUE home openers before Friday night's against Quinnipiac. BC has a perfect 5-0 record in those affairs. Including the Wisconsin win, BC defeated Northeastern (2006-07), Denver (2004-05) and Bowling Green twice (1999-2000 and 1997-98) when the Eagles play their first game of the season on The Heights.
WHAT RETURNS TO THE HEIGHTS AS A WHOLE
When you're the youngest team in the country (again), you're going to end up losing a good amount of scoring from the previous season. Despite losing its top five point producers from 2016-17 (Cangelosi, Gaudreau, White, Ryan Fitzgerald, Savage), Boston College will return 45.7 percent (169-of-37) of its point production and 48.5 percent (64-of-132) of its goal scoring production from last season.
WHAT RETURNS TO THE HEIGHTS INDIVIDUALLY
Junior captain Christopher Brown (9-17-26) returns as BC's leading point getter from last season while JD Dudek's 13 tallies are the most to grace the 2017-18 Eagle addition. Sophomore David Cotton, Boston College's leading freshman scorer last season, netted four power play goals which is the most to return to the lineup this season. Dudek also lobbed 101 shots on net which is the most of all returners. Defenseman Casey Fitzgerald quarterbacks much of the play and returns a team-best 17 assists.
LOOKING BACK AT LAST SEASON
Boston College averaged 3.30 goals per game last season which slotted the Eagles in third place, overall, in Hockey East play and 12th on the national level. The Eagles 132 lamp lighters were also 12 most in college hockey, just 28 goals behind 2016-17 national leader Penn State. Despite this falling more into the defensive category, Boston College was able to turn a negative into a positive last year, tying UMass Lowell for the most short-handed goals on the season. BC accounted for 11 shorties last year, only one of three teams to record 10 or more all season.
SPECIAL EFFECTS
The Eagles' power play finished 41st on the power play last season (28-of-172 - 16.3 percent), yet the combined special teams ended up in seventh in all the NCAA (208 - of - 388 - 53.6 percent). From a scoring margin perspective, Boston College outscored its opponent by a margin of +0.70 goals per game (132 to 104), slotting the Eagles 14th in all of college hockey.
DON'T GET ALL DEFENSIVE
Boston College returns a strong core of its blue line unit (Casey Fitzgerald, Kim, McInnis, Moore, Jes. Mattila and Campoli), losing only one skater, veteran Scott Savage to graduation. Last season, Boston College held its opponents to under almost two and a half goals per game (2.60 gpg), tying the Eagles with North Dakota for 20th overall and fifth in Hockey East.
PATROLLING THE PENALTY KILL
The Eagles were the 10th-most penalized (15.1 PIM/game) team in the NCAA last season, but did a sturdy job on the penalty kill, staving off 180 - of - 216 short-handed opportunites, tying them in 22nd place (83.3 percent) with Colgate. As mentioned before, BC's penalty kill managed to score 11 times last season, tied for most in all of college hockey with UMass Lowell.
GOOD GOALTENDING
Perhaps the strength of Boston College's roster is at the goaltending position, particulary returning sophomore Joseph Woll. The St. Louis native layed in and started 34 games, assembling a 17-13-3 record with a 2.64 goals against average (33rd - NCAA) and a .913 save percentage (28th - NCAA). The 6-foot-4 netminder was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team and earned a spot as a Hockey East Honorable Mention All-Star last season. Woll is accompanied by classmate Ryan Edquist who played in eight games, started six, and posted a 4-2-1 record with a 1.82 goals against average and a .923 save percentage. Both goaltenders turned in strong first-year campaigns on The Heights and will be pushed by 6-foot-7 bakcstopper Ian Milosz. The junior goalie did not see anytime last season but has played in a couple tight spots with the Eagles a couple seasons back.
EAGLETS
For the third time in four seasons, Boston College sports the youngest roster in NCAA hockey. As of Oct. 1, the average age of the Eagles roster is 20 years and 125 days. Boston University is second with a mean just two days short of 20 years and 127 days. Michigan is the third youngest team at 20 years and 324 days.
SENIOR-ITIS
Much of why the Eagles roster is so youthful is because Boston College has zero true seniors on its roster. If it was not for graduate student transfer, Kevin Lohan, who comes by way of the University of Michigan, Boston College would join Colorado College as the only two programs without a fourth-year member. The seniors this season would have been Noah Hanifin (Carolina Hurricanes), Zach Sanford (St. Louis Blues) and Alex Tuch (Vegas Golden Knights).
OCTOBER'S BAPTISM BY FIRE
There is literally no one in college hockey who can point to Boston College's early non-conference slate and call it a cupcake. The Eagles first seven games not only include a tilt at home against defending champion and No. 1-ranked Denver on Oct. 28, all five opponents BC will play in its first seven games are currently ranked 14th or higher. Quinnipiac skates into Friday's season opener ranked No. 14 while Wisconsin weighs in at No. 12 for next Friday's bout. BC will take on Providence twice in the matter of 12 days as the Friars are currently ranked No. 11. Boston College will head to St. Cloud State on Oct. 20-21 as the Huskies possess a ninth-ranked label. All seven of these games fall in October.
RETURNING CHAMPS
Many of the pundits are saying that it's anyone's league in Hockey East this season as Boston College was selected to finish fourth in the conference preseason poll. The Eagles technically return as regular season champions after BC won its league-record 15th Hockey East regular season championship in 2016-17. Boston College has claimed nearly half of the league's regular season crowns as we head into 34 years of Hockey East action. The Eagles joined UMass Lowell and Boston University as the league's first tri-Hockey East regular champion.
IRON EAGLES
Boston College skated in 40 contests last season (21-15-4) and the Eagles will have four student-athletes return to the roster that played in every game last season, including David Cotton (10-14-24), JD Dudek (13-9-22), Michael Kim (5-16-21) and Connor Moore (1-12-13).
DON'T FORGET ABOUT THAT GUY...
Boston College's head coach Jerry York needs no introduction as the Eagle skipper skates into his 24th season at the helm on The Heights and 46th season in all. York's 1,033 victories are the most of any Division I coach in the history of college hockey, nore than 100 wins clear of the former leader, Ron Mason (Michigan State - 924). York is one of only three coaches in NCAA history to lead two different schools to national titles; led Bowling Green to the 1984 NCAA title, and Boston College to the 2001, 2008, 2010 and 2012 NCAA titles. He is the all-time leader in NCAA Tournament wins with 41 victories, as well, and has led 22 teams to 25 or more wins.
SHOW DOGS
Starting off the 2017-18 season, with 548 former NCAA players having reported to National Hockey League training camps this week for preseason preparation, the Boston College men's hockey program led the way with 33 representatives spread out over 18 franchises. As has been the way in the past, the Eagles' professional pedigree shined through as BC led all schools with 33 alumni earning training camp invitations, followed closely by Minnesota (29), Michigan (28), North Dakota (28) and Boston University (27). Boston College also had the most former players represent the Eagle hockey program in the NHL in 2016-17, having had 24 skaters dress in at least one NHL game last season.
DRAFTED
Boston College has the fifth-most draft picks on any 2017-18 roster this college hockey season with eight, including: Joseph Woll (Toronto), Graham McPhee (Edmonton), JD Dudek (New Jersey), Casey Fitzgerald (Buffalo), Christopher Brown (Buffalo), David Cotton (Carolina), Aapeli Räsänen (Edmonton) and Michael Karow. Minnesota leads the way with 13, Boston University has 12, Michigan with 10 and Providence and Wisconsin each have nine.
SHOT CALLERS
Sophomore forward Graham McPhee's father, George, played for Coach York at Bowling Green where he won the Hobey Baker Award in 1982 and is now the general manager of the new Las Vegas Golden Knights franchise. Junior captain Casey Fitzgerald's father, Tom, is the assistant manager of the New Jersey Devils.
FAMILY TIES
The Eagles are a tight-knit group, but even more so given the number of family ties within the BC hockey program. Not only do the Eagles sport one set of twin brothers in Jesper and Julius Mattila, but Luke McInnis, sophomore defenseman for Boston College this season, is the son of Marty McInnis who is not only tied for 39th in most goals all-time on The Heights (58), but he is also entering his fifth season as an assistant coach. Associate head coach Greg Brown is the uncle of junior captain Christopher Brown.
THE COLDEST PROGRAM OF 'EM ALL
When the Eagles took on Quinnipiac in the 2016 national semifinal contest, it marked Boston College's 25th Frozen Four appearance which is the most in college hockey history. BC looks to make it 26 this year in Minneapolis on April 5, 2017.
Boston College starts off its 2017-18 campaign at home on The Heights and welcomes in for the first time a strong Quinnipiac squad that has defeated the Eagles in the two prior matchups from the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. At the 2016 Frozen Four, BC and Quinnipiac met up for the first time in program history as the No. 1-seeded Bobcats' halted the Eagles' championship hopes in the national semifinals, 3-2, on April 7, 2016 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. Boston College and Quinnipiac met up again last season at the Three Rivers Classic in Pittsburgh on December 29, 2016 at PPG Paints Arena. QU handed the Eagles their second loss of the series, 3-1. Friday's home opener marks the first non-neutral contest between these two college hockey powers. Rand Pecknold has been at the helm of the Bobcats' in both meetings against BC.
QUEEPING TABS ON QUINNIPIAC
Quinnipiac finished last season with a 23-15-2 and finished fifth in the ECAC with a 13-8-1 mark in conference play last season. Over the last few years, the Bobcats have been one of the most impressive programs in college hockey. Since QU qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2012-13 through 2016-17, Quinnipiac ranks first among all NCAA Division I programs in the country with 132 wins in that span. The Bobcats have won 20 games or more in their last six seasons. Quinnipiac also returns senior Landon Smith, who currently ranks second in all of college hockey with 97 career points (38-59-97).
HOME, HOME ON THE HEIGHTS
It's hard to believe Boston College has not had its season opener at Kelley Rink in almost TEN years. The last time the Eagles lifted the lid on their first game of the year was in 2008-09 when BC welcomed Wisconsin on Oct. 10. Boston College emerged victoriously, 5-4. Under head coach Jerry York's tenure, the Eagles have only had five TRUE home openers before Friday night's against Quinnipiac. BC has a perfect 5-0 record in those affairs. Including the Wisconsin win, BC defeated Northeastern (2006-07), Denver (2004-05) and Bowling Green twice (1999-2000 and 1997-98) when the Eagles play their first game of the season on The Heights.
WHAT RETURNS TO THE HEIGHTS AS A WHOLE
When you're the youngest team in the country (again), you're going to end up losing a good amount of scoring from the previous season. Despite losing its top five point producers from 2016-17 (Cangelosi, Gaudreau, White, Ryan Fitzgerald, Savage), Boston College will return 45.7 percent (169-of-37) of its point production and 48.5 percent (64-of-132) of its goal scoring production from last season.
WHAT RETURNS TO THE HEIGHTS INDIVIDUALLY
Junior captain Christopher Brown (9-17-26) returns as BC's leading point getter from last season while JD Dudek's 13 tallies are the most to grace the 2017-18 Eagle addition. Sophomore David Cotton, Boston College's leading freshman scorer last season, netted four power play goals which is the most to return to the lineup this season. Dudek also lobbed 101 shots on net which is the most of all returners. Defenseman Casey Fitzgerald quarterbacks much of the play and returns a team-best 17 assists.
LOOKING BACK AT LAST SEASON
Boston College averaged 3.30 goals per game last season which slotted the Eagles in third place, overall, in Hockey East play and 12th on the national level. The Eagles 132 lamp lighters were also 12 most in college hockey, just 28 goals behind 2016-17 national leader Penn State. Despite this falling more into the defensive category, Boston College was able to turn a negative into a positive last year, tying UMass Lowell for the most short-handed goals on the season. BC accounted for 11 shorties last year, only one of three teams to record 10 or more all season.
SPECIAL EFFECTS
The Eagles' power play finished 41st on the power play last season (28-of-172 - 16.3 percent), yet the combined special teams ended up in seventh in all the NCAA (208 - of - 388 - 53.6 percent). From a scoring margin perspective, Boston College outscored its opponent by a margin of +0.70 goals per game (132 to 104), slotting the Eagles 14th in all of college hockey.
DON'T GET ALL DEFENSIVE
Boston College returns a strong core of its blue line unit (Casey Fitzgerald, Kim, McInnis, Moore, Jes. Mattila and Campoli), losing only one skater, veteran Scott Savage to graduation. Last season, Boston College held its opponents to under almost two and a half goals per game (2.60 gpg), tying the Eagles with North Dakota for 20th overall and fifth in Hockey East.
PATROLLING THE PENALTY KILL
The Eagles were the 10th-most penalized (15.1 PIM/game) team in the NCAA last season, but did a sturdy job on the penalty kill, staving off 180 - of - 216 short-handed opportunites, tying them in 22nd place (83.3 percent) with Colgate. As mentioned before, BC's penalty kill managed to score 11 times last season, tied for most in all of college hockey with UMass Lowell.
GOOD GOALTENDING
Perhaps the strength of Boston College's roster is at the goaltending position, particulary returning sophomore Joseph Woll. The St. Louis native layed in and started 34 games, assembling a 17-13-3 record with a 2.64 goals against average (33rd - NCAA) and a .913 save percentage (28th - NCAA). The 6-foot-4 netminder was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team and earned a spot as a Hockey East Honorable Mention All-Star last season. Woll is accompanied by classmate Ryan Edquist who played in eight games, started six, and posted a 4-2-1 record with a 1.82 goals against average and a .923 save percentage. Both goaltenders turned in strong first-year campaigns on The Heights and will be pushed by 6-foot-7 bakcstopper Ian Milosz. The junior goalie did not see anytime last season but has played in a couple tight spots with the Eagles a couple seasons back.
EAGLETS
For the third time in four seasons, Boston College sports the youngest roster in NCAA hockey. As of Oct. 1, the average age of the Eagles roster is 20 years and 125 days. Boston University is second with a mean just two days short of 20 years and 127 days. Michigan is the third youngest team at 20 years and 324 days.
SENIOR-ITIS
Much of why the Eagles roster is so youthful is because Boston College has zero true seniors on its roster. If it was not for graduate student transfer, Kevin Lohan, who comes by way of the University of Michigan, Boston College would join Colorado College as the only two programs without a fourth-year member. The seniors this season would have been Noah Hanifin (Carolina Hurricanes), Zach Sanford (St. Louis Blues) and Alex Tuch (Vegas Golden Knights).
OCTOBER'S BAPTISM BY FIRE
There is literally no one in college hockey who can point to Boston College's early non-conference slate and call it a cupcake. The Eagles first seven games not only include a tilt at home against defending champion and No. 1-ranked Denver on Oct. 28, all five opponents BC will play in its first seven games are currently ranked 14th or higher. Quinnipiac skates into Friday's season opener ranked No. 14 while Wisconsin weighs in at No. 12 for next Friday's bout. BC will take on Providence twice in the matter of 12 days as the Friars are currently ranked No. 11. Boston College will head to St. Cloud State on Oct. 20-21 as the Huskies possess a ninth-ranked label. All seven of these games fall in October.
RETURNING CHAMPS
Many of the pundits are saying that it's anyone's league in Hockey East this season as Boston College was selected to finish fourth in the conference preseason poll. The Eagles technically return as regular season champions after BC won its league-record 15th Hockey East regular season championship in 2016-17. Boston College has claimed nearly half of the league's regular season crowns as we head into 34 years of Hockey East action. The Eagles joined UMass Lowell and Boston University as the league's first tri-Hockey East regular champion.
IRON EAGLES
Boston College skated in 40 contests last season (21-15-4) and the Eagles will have four student-athletes return to the roster that played in every game last season, including David Cotton (10-14-24), JD Dudek (13-9-22), Michael Kim (5-16-21) and Connor Moore (1-12-13).
DON'T FORGET ABOUT THAT GUY...
Boston College's head coach Jerry York needs no introduction as the Eagle skipper skates into his 24th season at the helm on The Heights and 46th season in all. York's 1,033 victories are the most of any Division I coach in the history of college hockey, nore than 100 wins clear of the former leader, Ron Mason (Michigan State - 924). York is one of only three coaches in NCAA history to lead two different schools to national titles; led Bowling Green to the 1984 NCAA title, and Boston College to the 2001, 2008, 2010 and 2012 NCAA titles. He is the all-time leader in NCAA Tournament wins with 41 victories, as well, and has led 22 teams to 25 or more wins.
SHOW DOGS
Starting off the 2017-18 season, with 548 former NCAA players having reported to National Hockey League training camps this week for preseason preparation, the Boston College men's hockey program led the way with 33 representatives spread out over 18 franchises. As has been the way in the past, the Eagles' professional pedigree shined through as BC led all schools with 33 alumni earning training camp invitations, followed closely by Minnesota (29), Michigan (28), North Dakota (28) and Boston University (27). Boston College also had the most former players represent the Eagle hockey program in the NHL in 2016-17, having had 24 skaters dress in at least one NHL game last season.
DRAFTED
Boston College has the fifth-most draft picks on any 2017-18 roster this college hockey season with eight, including: Joseph Woll (Toronto), Graham McPhee (Edmonton), JD Dudek (New Jersey), Casey Fitzgerald (Buffalo), Christopher Brown (Buffalo), David Cotton (Carolina), Aapeli Räsänen (Edmonton) and Michael Karow. Minnesota leads the way with 13, Boston University has 12, Michigan with 10 and Providence and Wisconsin each have nine.
SHOT CALLERS
Sophomore forward Graham McPhee's father, George, played for Coach York at Bowling Green where he won the Hobey Baker Award in 1982 and is now the general manager of the new Las Vegas Golden Knights franchise. Junior captain Casey Fitzgerald's father, Tom, is the assistant manager of the New Jersey Devils.
FAMILY TIES
The Eagles are a tight-knit group, but even more so given the number of family ties within the BC hockey program. Not only do the Eagles sport one set of twin brothers in Jesper and Julius Mattila, but Luke McInnis, sophomore defenseman for Boston College this season, is the son of Marty McInnis who is not only tied for 39th in most goals all-time on The Heights (58), but he is also entering his fifth season as an assistant coach. Associate head coach Greg Brown is the uncle of junior captain Christopher Brown.
THE COLDEST PROGRAM OF 'EM ALL
When the Eagles took on Quinnipiac in the 2016 national semifinal contest, it marked Boston College's 25th Frozen Four appearance which is the most in college hockey history. BC looks to make it 26 this year in Minneapolis on April 5, 2017.
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