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.
Linebacker Vinny DePalma finishes his BC career holding Fenway Bowl trophy aloft.
Well, that was refreshing . . . and unexpected.
In Fenway Park, in the rain, BC defeated SMU 23-14 today to win the Wasabi Fenway Bowl. The Mustangs, ranked #17 in the Associated Press top 25, came into the game 10 1/2-point favorites. And the victory was not because of some sudden, fluke play. The Eagles outgained SMU, which had averaged 40 points a game winning 11 of 13, and held the Mustangs scoreless in the second half.
Quarterback Thomas Castellanos was the star for BC, as he had been in most Eagle victories this season. He rushed for 156 yards in 21 carries, losing only one yard in the game, and scored two touchdowns. The conditions made passing difficult for both teams. Castellanos was 11-of-18 for 102 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception.
Castellanos finished his debut season at BC with 3,361 yards total offense in 13 games, third in BC history behind Matt Ryan in 2007 (14 games) and Doug Flutie in 1984 (12 games). He gained 2,248 yards passing and 1,113 rushing.
The Eagles scored first, converting an SMU fumble on their opening drive forced by defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku and recovered by DE Neto Okpala into a 45-yard field goal by Liam Connor, his longest ever.
The Mustangs went ahead 7-3 in the second quarter, but BC responded with a 10-play, 77-yard drive for a touchdown, scoring on a six-yard run by Kye Robichaux. SMU essentially closed out the first half with their own 10-play drive to take the lead 14-10.
SMU had the clear statistical edge in the first half. They ran 40 plays for 192 yards, while BC managed only 26 plays for 122 yards. The Mustangs were 15-22 passing for 122 yards, while the Eagles attempted only 7 passes, completing 3 for 6 yards.
The third quarter was essentially even and scoreless. SMU gained 85 yards total offense, BC 69 yards.
The Eagles won the game in the final quarter. While scoring two touchdowns and gaining 173 yards total offense, BC held the Mustangs to 32 yards, 10 of them passing. (Connor missed the final point-after.) The Eagles had the ball for 9:46 and SMU for only 5:14. The game ended with BC on the SMU 7, Castellanos taking two kneeldowns to run out the clock.
Castellanos was named the game’s offensive MVP and linebacker Kam Arnold won the defensive MVP award. Arnold led the team with six tackles — four solo and two for a loss. Five other Eagles had five tackles apiece.
Highlights (3:09)
BC finished the season with a 7-6 record and their first bowl game victory since 2016, a 30-16 win over Maryland in the Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit.
Somewhat ironically, BC and SMU play again next season. SMU, Cal Berkeley, and Stanford join the ACC. Schedules will be announced in late January.
With the early kickoff time (8 am PT), the emphasis of the chapter gamewatch moved more to breakfast. San Diego Eagles gathered at The Bar at The Grill at The Lodge at Torrey Pines. Below is the group.
L-R: Lissa Tsu ’00, daughter, Brian Tsu ’00, Bill McDonald ’68 standing in rear, Dave Cubeta ’07 and kids and wife Christa, Joe Mahler ’74 P’07 standing, Caitlin Mahler ’07 CGSOM’17, and Eileen Mahler.
Miami players celebrate another touchdown. BC fans do not.
In 1984, BC played Miami on the day after Thanksgiving. That was the game with the iconic 60+-yard “Hail Mary” pass from BC’s Doug Flutie to Gerard Phelan at game’s end to win, 47-45.
Yesterday, the day after Thanksgiving, Miami and BC played again and Miami again scored 45 points. That was the only similarity between the games. The Eagles fell to the Hurricanes, 45-20. With Miami up 28-7 at halftime, there were no dramatics later.
Yet BC started the game in a different manner than had been usual this year. They took the opening kickoff 75 yards in 10 plays to go up 7-0. Quarterback Thomas Castellanos threw a pass or ran on the first nine plays. He was four-of-five through the air. Running back Kye Robichaux scored on a one-yard run.
Miami wasn’t phased. They answered with a 15-play drive for 67 yards and a tying touchdown. With the Eagles having only brief possessions in the second quarter, Miami drove for three additional touchdowns to go up 28-7 at the half.
In the second quarter, the Hurricanes ran 24 plays for 196 yards, making 10 first downs, while BC ran 13 plays for 58 yards and three first downs.
As the final score reflects, Miami’s dominance continued in the second half. The Eagles traded touchdowns with Miami in each of the final two quarters. Castellanos scored on a 21-yard run in the third and he passed to Lewis Bond for a two-yard score in the fourth.
In the game overall, the Hurricanes gained 532 yards in 76 plays, 242 of them rushing. The Eagles ran only 51 plays in the game, for 143 yards rushing and 151 yards passing.
As had been common earlier in the season, Castellanos was dominant for the Eagles rushing, as well as passing. Castellanos carried the ball 19 times for a net 130 yards. Robichaux and running back Alex Broome added 13 yards on seven carries. Castellanos was 15 of 25 passing for 151 yards and one touchdown, with two interceptions.
Wide receiver Lewis Bond led the team in receiving, with six catches for 46 yards. Dino Tomlin added 48 yards on three receptions.
“I feel like we need to regroup,” Castellanos said. “Getting a bowl game was really good, but that’s where we kind of stopped at. We got complacent, and we got over our heads. Guys kind of laid off.”
The Eagles fell to 6-6 for the regular season, 3-5 in conference. Announcements of bowl game invitations will be made Sunday, December 3.
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.
