In a game postponed one day because of a snow storm, BC men’s hockey team defeated Providence, 3-1, today in the second game of a “Frozen Fenway” doubleheader. A sparse crowd braved what felt like single-digit temperatures to watch the Eagles come back from a goal down to win. BU defeated UMass in the opener.

The day delay helped BC in that goalie Joe Woll and forward Colin White had another day of acclimation after they helped the US win the World Junior Hockey Championship in Toronto Thursday (item below).

Ryan named all-pro
Matt Ryan ’08 was named quarterback on this year’s Associated Press all-NFL team. He edged out Tom Brady of the New England Patriots to be all-NFL quarterback for the first time in his nine-year NFL career.

Many suggest Ryan may also overtake Brady in the contest for the NFL’s most valuable player this season, to be announced February 4, the day before the Super Bowl.

Eagles help USA win World Juniors
BC hockey forward Colin White scored the tying goal in the World Junior Hockey Championship game against Canada Thursday. White’s goal made the score 4-4, which was the score at the end of regulation. USA won the game and championship in the shoot-out.

BC goalie Joe Woll did not play in the championship, but was the USA goalie in its 3-1 victory over Canada in the preliminary round, December 31. He stopped 25 Canada shots.

White led USA with 7 goals in the tournament, tying for second in total points.

Eagles fall in ACC games
The men’s basketball team lost at Duke, 93-82, falling to 1-2 in conference play. After beating Syracuse at home, 96-81, on January 1, BC left friendly Conte Forum and lost at Wake Forest, 79-66, Tuesday.

BC’s women’s basketball team also won its ACC opener, 60-48, over Clemson on Tuesday, but have since fallen to Pittsburgh, 56-43, and today to Syracuse, 79-52.

Following BC’s 45-7 loss to Florida State Friday night, the Boston Globe said the “the monstrous gap between the Eagles and their competition in the ACC couldn’t be more apparent.”

This was BC’s 6th loss in 7 games against ACC opponents this season and 14th loss out of the last 15 games against ACC opponents. Due to the presence of teams like UMass, Wagner, and Buffalo on the schedule earlier, the Eagles have a 4-6 record and, with wins in the final games against UConn and Wake Forest, would qualify for a post-season bowl.

From 1999 through 2015, BC lost 4 games by 30 points or more. The Florida State loss was the team’s 4th such loss this season. The Eagles have been shut out 4 times in the last two season. They had 60 games 2010-14 in which they were not held scoreless.

As for the game itself, the highlight for BC might have been just running out into the stadium in front of 74,000 fans and thinking out great it would be to upset the Seminoles on national television. Alas, when Richard Wilson scored a touchdown for BC with just over 3 minutes left in the game, Florida State had 45 points on the board. It was 21-0 at halftime.

The Eagles gained a total of 146 yards in the game. They rushed for 96 yards, 39 of which came on a 39-yard run by Myles Willis in the first quarter. Quarterback Patrick Towles was 3 of 11 for 29 yards. Florida State had 24 first downs to BC’s 8, and gained 416 yards overall.

Game video (It is all Florida State. Duh.)

Basketball/Hockey roundup

Last year, the BC men’s basketball team matched the football team in going winless in conference play. With 10 more chances than the football team to win (18 games vs. 8), the could be considered even more egregiously bad.

But it’s a new season, right? BC opened its season yesterday at home against Nicholls State (that’s that school in Thibodaux, Louisiana). Never behind, Nicholls State beat BC 79-73. Details unbecoming.

Women’s basketball traveled to Connecticut for its opener and lost 65-56 to Hartford.

Women’s hockey swept UNH this weekend, after splitting with BU the previous weekend. BC is 9-3-2 overall and 8-2-0 in Hockey East. As of November 7, they were ranked #6 nationally. The men’s hockey team, meanwhile, moved up to #3 in the country, as of November 7, and have compiled a record of 9-2-1, 5-0-1 in Hockey East.