Sophomore Serena Sommerfield

In the midst of an, at best, uncertain football season, it is refreshing to note that two of BC’s most successful sports teams — men’s and women’s hockey — are about to open their seasons.

The women’s team, ranked #3 in the nation preseason by USCHO.com, plays at Minnesota Duluth this Friday and Saturday. They meet Maine in their home opener in a two-game series the following weekend. (You can see schedule/results of BC teams on our “Sports Schedules/Results” page.) BC split two exhibition games, losing 3-2 to Boston Pride, a professional team in the National Women’s Hockey League that features several BC alumnae on the roster, and beating the Cambridge Rivulettes, a local junior hockey team, 7-1.

The men’s team is ranked #5 in the nation preseason, according to USCHO.com., but was picked to finish 6th in Hockey East by the league coaches. There are obviously differing opinions on how well the Eagles will adjust to the loss of several players to graduation or the pros, including goalie Thatcher Demko, of San Diego. You can find a lot of information on BC hockey (as well as other BC sports) at bcinterruption.com.

BC men’s hockey has an exhibition game this Sunday against Carleton, a Canadian university in Ottawa, at Warrior Ice Arena, the Boston Bruins’ practice facility in Boston. The following weekend, October 7/8, the Eagles play in the Icebreaker Tournament in Denver. They meet the Air Force Academy in the opening round Friday and either Denver or Ohio State in the second round Saturday.

As with most sports, college hockey is showing up more on TV schedules. Several BC men’s hockey games will be televised, including games against Wisconsin on October 14 and 16. Also on the tube(?) will be games against North Dakota December 3 and Notre Dame December 10. Watch for information on San Diego game watches for those and other games.

BC men’s hockey lost today in the semifinals of the Frozen Four. Quinnipiac, ranked #1 nationally for most of the season, scored two early goals and then hung on for a 3-2 victory.

The Eagles finish with a record of 28-8-5. Quinnipiac will play the winner of the North Dakota-Denver game, which takes place today, on Saturday.

Aw, no game watch. :(

UPDATES
— BC finished #3/#4 in the US in the final polls. Denver and BC flipped positions in each poll. National champion North Dakota and runner-up Quinnipiac were #1 and #2.
— Goalie Thatcher Demko was among the three finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, presented to the best male player in college hockey. Harvard’s Jimmy Vesey won the award. Demko won the Mike Richter Award as the nation’s best college goalie.
— Steve Santina, Miles Wood, and Adam Gilmour signed NHL contracts shortly after season’s end. Demko, a junior and first-round NHL draft choice, has not announced his intentions.

San Diego’s Thatcher Demko celebrates the Eagles’ win.

BC’s hockey team is in the Frozen Four!

The Eagles beat Minnesota-Duluth, 3-2, Saturday to advance to the final four of the NCAA hockey tournament in Tampa, Fla. BC plays overall #1 seed Quinnipiac in the early semifinal game, 2 pm PT,  Thursday, April 7.

A gamewatch during a workday afternoon is not feasible, so we will await the Eagles’ potential appearance in the national final Saturday, April 9, 5 pm PT.

BC went out to a 3-0 lead over Minnesota-Duluth and then held on for the 3-2 final score. The Bulldogs scored twice in the latter part of the final period and had a great opportunity for the tying goal. Photo below shows BC goalie Thatcher Demko and forward Austin Cangelosi eyeing the puck, before Cangelosi swept it from the goal line with his stick.

The Eagles will play in the national semifinals for the 25th time, the most of any college hockey team. This will also be the 12th time in the last 19 years that a BC team coached by Jerry York will be in the Frozen Four. BC has been in the championship game 8 times over that span, and has won 4 championships (2001, 2008, 2010, 2012).

Go Eagles!