Boston College Athletics
Saturday, October 7
Hamden, CT
7:00 PM
Boston College
at
Quinnipiac
Photo by: John Quackenbos
No. 6 Eagles Travel to No. 2 Quinnipiac Saturday for Season Opener
October 06, 2023 | Men's Hockey
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Sixth-ranked Boston College begins its 102nd season of men's hockey on Saturday with a trip to Hamden, Connecticut to face defending NCAA champion No. 2 Quinnipiac at M&T Bank Arena at 7 p.m. The game will air live on NESN and ESPN+ with radio coverage on WEEI 850 AM at 6:45 p.m.
Boston College enters the 2023-24 season with 14 newcomers to a roster of 27 players, including 11 freshmen and three graduate transfers. Represented among the newcomers are seven forwards, four defensemen, three goalies and seven NHL draft picks.
LEADERS ELECTED
• Senior defenseman Eamon Powell has been elected to serve as captain this season, while senior forward Gentry Shamburger will serve as an assistant captain
• It marks the second straight season that a defenseman will wear the 'C' for the Eagles as Powell takes over the captaincy from Marshall Warren
• Powell nearly doubled his career point total as a junior last season with five goals and 17 assists for 22 points, eclipsing his previous career-high of 14 points as a freshman
• He also led the Eagles in minutes played and won the team's Most Improved Player Award
PRESEASON POLL
• Boston College was picked to finish second in Hockey East this season, according to the annual Preseason Coaches' Poll
• The Eagles received two first place votes and finished with 99 points in the poll, trailing only preseason favorite Boston University (109) which earned the other nine first place votes
• Merrimack (81) was picked to finish third in the poll, while Northeastern (75) came in fourth
• UConn (68), Providence (65) and UMass Lowell (62) were separated by just six points in fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively
• UMass (54), Maine (52), New Hampshire (30) and Vermont (20) rounded out the 11-team poll
HISTORIC DRAFT
• For the second time in four years, three incoming Boston College players – U.S. National Team Development Program linemates Will Smith, Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault – were selected in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft in June at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville
• Smith went fourth overall to the San Jose Sharks, becoming the highest drafted player in BC history; Bill Guerin (1989), Noah Hanifin (2015) and Cutter Gauthier (2022) were all fifth picks
• Leonard was drafted with the eighth overall pick by the Washington Capitals, making BC just the third NCAA school to have two top-10 picks in the same draft
• The New York Rangers took Perreault with the 23rd overall selection in the first round
• Boston College joined Minnesota as the only NCAA schools to have three players selected in the first round of the same draft on more than one occasion
• Six total draft picks at the 2023 Draft was tied for the most in a single draft for BC since 1989 when seven were selected
• The Eagles are tied for first nationally with 14 NHL Draft selections on their current roster
DARNELL ADDED TO STAFF
• Brent Darnell was hired to join the program as an assistant coach after serving as the assistant director of player personnel for USA Hockey's National Team Development Program
• Darnell made his IIHF coaching debut as an assistant coach with the U.S. Under-18 Team at the 2023 U18 World Championships in Switzerland, where Team USA captured the gold medal
• He coached a total of six incoming Eagles, including five 2023 NHL Draft selections, at the U18 World Championships where the U.S. defeated Sweden in overtime to win gold
• Darnell joined the USNTDP in 2019 and served two seasons as an assistant coach for the U-17 and U-18 squads; he was previously the senior director of education for College Hockey, Inc.
• Darnell played four collegiate seasons at Michigan State and skated in 137 career games
CUT IT OUT
• Team MVP Cutter Gauthier closed his freshman season as a Hockey East Third Team All-Star and was a unanimous selection to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team
• Gauthier led the team with 37 points on 16 goals and 21 assists in 32 contests
• He was tied for second in Hockey East with seven power play goals and closed the regular season ranked third in the league in goals per game
• Gauthier was selected to Team USA for the IIHF World Junior Championship and was also picked to play for his country at the IIHF World Championship
COOKING WITH GAS
• As a freshman, Andre Gasseau ranked tied for third on the team with 29 points last year
• Gasseau ranked sixth among Hockey East freshmen in points per game as he registered 10 goals and 19 assists in 36 games
• He did most of his damage during the second half with 20 total points after New Year's, including six of his eight multi-point performances
• Gasseau was honored with the team's Bernie Burke Outstanding Freshman Award
FRESH TRIO IN NET
• All three of BC's goalies – Jacob Fowler, Jan Korec and Alex Musielak – are freshmen this season
• It marks the first time BC will go three consecutive seasons with a new starting goalie since 1991-92 to 1993-94 (Scott LaGrand, Josh Singewald, Greg Taylor)
• Notable true freshman goaltending performances in recent BC history include:
• Spencer Knight (2019-20): 33 GP, 23-8-2, 1.97 GAA, .931 SV% (Played 97% of Games)
• Joseph Woll (2016-17): 34 GP, 17-13-3, 2.64 GAA, .913 SV% (85% of Games)
• Thatcher Demko (2013-14): 24 GP, 16-5-3, 2.24 GAA, .919 SV% (60% of Games)
• Parker Milner (2009-10): 14 GP, 10-2-1, 2.32 GAA, .909 SV% (33% of Games)
• John Muse (2007-08): 44 GP, 25-11-3, 2.20 GAA, .921 SV% (100% of Games)
• Cory Schneider (2004-05): 18 GP, 13-1-4, 1.90 GAA, .916 SV% (45% of Games)
SERIES HISTORY
• Saturday will mark the seventh all-time meeting between the schools and just BC's second-ever trip to M&T Bank Arena in Hamden
• Boston College is winless (0-4-2) in six previous meetings against Quinnipiac
• The Eagles and Bobcats are meeting for the third straight season opener
• QU came into Kelley Rink and opened last season with a 4-0 win in Chestnut Hill
• The teams skated to a 2-2 tie in the 2021-22 season opener, which was played at the Icebreaker Tournament at the DCU Center in Worcester
• Prior to last year, the previous three meetings had been decided by a total of one goal
UP NEXT
• BC follows the Quinnipiac matchup with a six-game homestand at Kelley Rink, starting with its home opener against LIU next Friday night at 7 p.m.
Boston College enters the 2023-24 season with 14 newcomers to a roster of 27 players, including 11 freshmen and three graduate transfers. Represented among the newcomers are seven forwards, four defensemen, three goalies and seven NHL draft picks.
LEADERS ELECTED
• Senior defenseman Eamon Powell has been elected to serve as captain this season, while senior forward Gentry Shamburger will serve as an assistant captain
• It marks the second straight season that a defenseman will wear the 'C' for the Eagles as Powell takes over the captaincy from Marshall Warren
• Powell nearly doubled his career point total as a junior last season with five goals and 17 assists for 22 points, eclipsing his previous career-high of 14 points as a freshman
• He also led the Eagles in minutes played and won the team's Most Improved Player Award
PRESEASON POLL
• Boston College was picked to finish second in Hockey East this season, according to the annual Preseason Coaches' Poll
• The Eagles received two first place votes and finished with 99 points in the poll, trailing only preseason favorite Boston University (109) which earned the other nine first place votes
• Merrimack (81) was picked to finish third in the poll, while Northeastern (75) came in fourth
• UConn (68), Providence (65) and UMass Lowell (62) were separated by just six points in fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively
• UMass (54), Maine (52), New Hampshire (30) and Vermont (20) rounded out the 11-team poll
HISTORIC DRAFT
• For the second time in four years, three incoming Boston College players – U.S. National Team Development Program linemates Will Smith, Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault – were selected in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft in June at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville
• Smith went fourth overall to the San Jose Sharks, becoming the highest drafted player in BC history; Bill Guerin (1989), Noah Hanifin (2015) and Cutter Gauthier (2022) were all fifth picks
• Leonard was drafted with the eighth overall pick by the Washington Capitals, making BC just the third NCAA school to have two top-10 picks in the same draft
• The New York Rangers took Perreault with the 23rd overall selection in the first round
• Boston College joined Minnesota as the only NCAA schools to have three players selected in the first round of the same draft on more than one occasion
• Six total draft picks at the 2023 Draft was tied for the most in a single draft for BC since 1989 when seven were selected
• The Eagles are tied for first nationally with 14 NHL Draft selections on their current roster
DARNELL ADDED TO STAFF
• Brent Darnell was hired to join the program as an assistant coach after serving as the assistant director of player personnel for USA Hockey's National Team Development Program
• Darnell made his IIHF coaching debut as an assistant coach with the U.S. Under-18 Team at the 2023 U18 World Championships in Switzerland, where Team USA captured the gold medal
• He coached a total of six incoming Eagles, including five 2023 NHL Draft selections, at the U18 World Championships where the U.S. defeated Sweden in overtime to win gold
• Darnell joined the USNTDP in 2019 and served two seasons as an assistant coach for the U-17 and U-18 squads; he was previously the senior director of education for College Hockey, Inc.
• Darnell played four collegiate seasons at Michigan State and skated in 137 career games
CUT IT OUT
• Team MVP Cutter Gauthier closed his freshman season as a Hockey East Third Team All-Star and was a unanimous selection to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team
• Gauthier led the team with 37 points on 16 goals and 21 assists in 32 contests
• He was tied for second in Hockey East with seven power play goals and closed the regular season ranked third in the league in goals per game
• Gauthier was selected to Team USA for the IIHF World Junior Championship and was also picked to play for his country at the IIHF World Championship
COOKING WITH GAS
• As a freshman, Andre Gasseau ranked tied for third on the team with 29 points last year
• Gasseau ranked sixth among Hockey East freshmen in points per game as he registered 10 goals and 19 assists in 36 games
• He did most of his damage during the second half with 20 total points after New Year's, including six of his eight multi-point performances
• Gasseau was honored with the team's Bernie Burke Outstanding Freshman Award
FRESH TRIO IN NET
• All three of BC's goalies – Jacob Fowler, Jan Korec and Alex Musielak – are freshmen this season
• It marks the first time BC will go three consecutive seasons with a new starting goalie since 1991-92 to 1993-94 (Scott LaGrand, Josh Singewald, Greg Taylor)
• Notable true freshman goaltending performances in recent BC history include:
• Spencer Knight (2019-20): 33 GP, 23-8-2, 1.97 GAA, .931 SV% (Played 97% of Games)
• Joseph Woll (2016-17): 34 GP, 17-13-3, 2.64 GAA, .913 SV% (85% of Games)
• Thatcher Demko (2013-14): 24 GP, 16-5-3, 2.24 GAA, .919 SV% (60% of Games)
• Parker Milner (2009-10): 14 GP, 10-2-1, 2.32 GAA, .909 SV% (33% of Games)
• John Muse (2007-08): 44 GP, 25-11-3, 2.20 GAA, .921 SV% (100% of Games)
• Cory Schneider (2004-05): 18 GP, 13-1-4, 1.90 GAA, .916 SV% (45% of Games)
SERIES HISTORY
• Saturday will mark the seventh all-time meeting between the schools and just BC's second-ever trip to M&T Bank Arena in Hamden
• Boston College is winless (0-4-2) in six previous meetings against Quinnipiac
• The Eagles and Bobcats are meeting for the third straight season opener
• QU came into Kelley Rink and opened last season with a 4-0 win in Chestnut Hill
• The teams skated to a 2-2 tie in the 2021-22 season opener, which was played at the Icebreaker Tournament at the DCU Center in Worcester
• Prior to last year, the previous three meetings had been decided by a total of one goal
UP NEXT
• BC follows the Quinnipiac matchup with a six-game homestand at Kelley Rink, starting with its home opener against LIU next Friday night at 7 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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