Category Archives: Hockey

Seven Eagles win gold

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Seven members of the BC men’s hockey team won gold medals today as members of the USA National Junior Team that defeated Sweden, 6-2, in Gotheburg, Sweden, for the world junior championship.

The contingent of Eagles — forwards Cutter Gauthier, Ryan Leonard, Gabe Perreault, and Will Smith; defensemen Drew Fortescue and Aram Minnetian; and goaltender Jacob Fowler — is the largest number of players from a single team ever to be members of the USA squad.

Gauthier was named the tournament’s best forward. He tied for the scoring lead in the tournament with 12 points, including 10 assists. He scored the winning goal in the USA comeback 3-2 victory over Finland to reach the final. In his 2022-23 freshman year at BC, he led the team in scoring with 16 goals and 21 assists. The Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League picked Gauthier fifth overall in the 2022 NHL draft.

Interestingly, Gauthier was born in Sweden, during his father’s playing career for a professional Swedish hockey team. His family now resides in Scottsdale, Ariz.

The USA featured a forward line of Perreault, Leonard, and Smith. Perreault and Leonard both scored goals in the gold medal game, while Smith had two assists.

BC, ranked #1 in the country in NCAA hockey, has been on hiatus during the tournament because of the absence of so many team members. The team returns to the ice tomorrow for an exhibition game with Simon Frazier University of BC (British Columbia), Canada. They return to Hockey East play next Friday against Providence.

 

Frosh named nation’s top player

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Freshman forward Daryl Watts has been named winner of the 2018 Patty Kazmaier Award as the nation’s top women’s collegiate hockey player. She is the first freshman to win the award and the second Eagle to win it in three years. Alex Carpenter ’16 won it in 2016.

The award was announced earlier today.

“I came to Boston College to have fun playing hockey at the highest level, learn from great coaches, and be part of a special group of teammates,” Watts said. “I never dreamed this year could’ve gone as it did. I am so lucky to be coached by Katie (Crowley), Courtney (Kennedy) and Court (Sheary) and be on the ice with our incredible team. They push all of us to be better every day and this award is as much my teammates’ as it is mine.”

At age 18, Watts is the nation’s leading scorer (82 points) and has the highest point total ever in an Olympic year (when some top college players are on leave from their teams) during the NCAA era (since 2000-01). The Toronto, Ontario, native posted just the 7th 40-goal, 40-assist season in NCAA history, the first in an Olympic year, and just the 3rd in the last 13 seasons.

Watts was the 2018 Hockey East Player of the Year and unanimous selection as the Hockey East Rookie of the Year, in addition to unanimous selections to both the conference’s All-Star First Team and All-Rookie squad.

Her 82 points mark the second-highest point total ever posted by a freshman in NCAA play, while her 42 goals are tied for the most by a freshman in NCAA history, matching Harvard forward Julie Chu’s 42 in 2002-03. Watts’ 82 points are also the second-highest single-season point total in Boston College history.

BC finished the season 30-5-3, 3rd-best record in program history. Eagles won their 5th-straight Hockey East regular-season title with a 19-2-3 record, and claimed their 3rd-straight Beanpot title. The Eagles advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 10th time in program history, drawing a top-4 seed for the 7th time in program history.

Tournament time! :(

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[UPDATE: Eagles lost today to BU in the Hockey East semifinals, 4-3, in OT. It is unlikely BC will be selected for the NCAA Tournament.] [UPDATE: Men’s basketball lost to Western Kentucky, 79-62, in the opening round of the NIT and finishes its season at 19-16.] Seasons for men’s hockey and men’s basketball are not over.

The men’s hockey team will play . . . who else? . . . BU in the semifinals of the Hockey East Tournament Friday. The Eagles, who won the Hockey East regular season title, beat Merrimack on consecutive nights Friday (1-0) and Saturday (4-3 OT) to advance. Game time is 2 pm PT and it is being broadcast on NESN.

If BC wins, they will play the winner of Northeastern-Providence on Saturday. A win in that game may be necessary for the 20-13-3 Eagles to make the NCAA Tournament.

Men’s basketball will play in the post-season for the first time since 2011. BC (19-15) plays at Western Kentucky (24-10) Tuesday at 5 pm PT in the opening round of the National Invitational Tournament (NIT). Game can be seen on ESPN3. The Eagles are seeded 5th in their bracket. Thirty-two teams play in the NIT.

Nine teams from the ACC will play in the NCAA Tournament. BC finished 12th in the ACC this season with a 7-11 conference record. Notre Dame and Louisville are also in the NIT.