Author Archives: Bill McDonald '68

BC-DU for the title

Posted on by

Will Smith scores early opening goal in BC’s 4-0 shutout of Michigan yesterday. David Berding/Getty

Well, it’s not BC-BU, but BC-DU.

Boston College moves into the national championship game tomorrow after defeating Michigan, 4-0, yesterday in St. Paul, Minn. Boston University fell to Denver, 2-1, in overtime earlier in the day to deny an all-Boston final.

This will be BC’s 12th appearance in the NCAA championship game and first since 2015. A win would bring them their sixth national crown and first since 2012.

The Eagles and Pioneers already met once this season, in the fourth game of the season October 21 in Conte Forum. Then #2 Denver scored three goals in the final period to beat then #3 BC, 4-3.

Yesterday, freshman Will Smith scored two goals and classmate Jacob Fowler made 32 saves in goal, first ever shutout of the Wolverines in the Frozen Four. Freshman Gabe Perreault scored one goal and added three assists, while sophomore Cutter Gauthier scored a goal.

Overall, the Eagles were outshot 32-22 by Michigan, but much of the action took place in mid-ice as BC thwarted Wolverine advances.

“It was a track meet, which we kind of expected. A lot of rushes going both ways,” said BC coach Greg Brown in the Boston Globe. “I think our rush defense was probably the best part of our game tonight. They did a great job there.”

After Smith’s first early goal, the Eagles had only five more shots on goal in the first period. They exploded for two goals in 49 seconds during the second period and added the final score early in the final period. For the rest of the game, BC kept the clock moving, clearing the puck, and refreshing lines frequently.

“Anytime someone commits to Boston College, it’s to win championships, and we have an opportunity for that on Saturday,” Gauthier told the Globe. “Been super proud of our group up to this point. And [alluding to the earlier loss to Denver] we owe these guys.”

BC’s win was its 15th straight this season, improving its record to 34-5-1. Total victories are the most in program history. One more to go.

Seven Eagles win gold

Posted on by

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.

 

Eagles lasso Mustangs

Posted on by

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.