Jim ConnellyThanks to a Brock Bradford power-play goal, Boston College is clinging to a 1-0 lead over Michigan State heading into the third period of the national championship game. The goal came at 6:50 of the second period when Nathan Gerbe battled two defenders in the corner and forced a turnover to Bradford’s stick. The sophomore … Read more
Though Boston College, riding a 13-game winning streak, is easily the hottest team in college hockey, things haven’t always been that smooth this season for the Eagles. At the midway point, not only were things not going well on the ice, the team’s makeup and unity was extremely tested when head coach Jerry York stripped … Read more
It was one of the craziest finishes that could be scripted in a national tournament game, but a six-goal outburst in the final seven minutes of play to break a 2-2 tie led to Boston College eking out a 6-4 victory over North Dakota in the national semifinal Thursday night. The win advances BC to … Read more
‘What If?’ That’s always the question, and it certainly was no different for Maine after its semifinal loss to Michigan State. Jim Connelly looks at the dreaded scenario.
Forty minutes of play in Thursday’s second national semifinal game between Boston College and North Dakota has settled nothing as the two clubs head to the final period knotted at 2. Each team has used special teams to its advantage with the Fighting Sioux 1-for-4 on the power play and the Eagles 2-for-5 with the … Read more
As Maine’s top goaltender Ben Bishop sat injured during the stretch run, watching his Black Bears lose the final four games of the season, including the Hockey East quarterfinal series to Massachusetts, one thought sat in his mind. “Once we found out we were in the tournament, I really just wanted to get back out … Read more
When you think of rivalries in college hockey, Michigan-Michigan State, Minnesota-North Dakota and Boston College-Boston University all come to mind. Regional relations are paramount, in general, when it comes to building a rivalry. And then there’s North Dakota and Boston College For the sixth time since 1999, the Eagles and Fighting Sioux will lock horns … Read more
Okay, so after carefully considering the field of the NIT, here are those teams that are moving on…. #1 Wisconsin, on a roll heading into the NIT, had no trouble dismantling the inferior Cornell. A Jake Dowell hat trick and a 23-save performance by Brian Elliott in net propels the Badgers to the final four. Things … Read more
Okay, so after carefully considering the field of the NIT, here are those teams that are moving on…. #1 Wisconsin, on a roll heading into the NIT, had no trouble dismantling the inferior Cornell. A Jake Dowell hat trick and a 23-save performance by Brian Elliott in net propels the Badgers to the final four. Things … Read more
It’s probably going back about five or six years ago (maybe as far back as 2000), but the creative posters to the USCHO.com Fan Forum once developed a fictional post-season tournament named the “College Hockey NIT.” It certainly was enjoyable to pass some time reading the dramatic posts for each game that mimiced what now … Read more
It’s probably going back about five or six years ago (maybe as far back as 2000), but the creative posters to the USCHO.com Fan Forum once developed a fictional post-season tournament named the “College Hockey NIT.” It certainly was enjoyable to pass some time reading the dramatic posts for each game that mimiced what now … Read more
Three days worth of some great games has yielded a very familiar Frozen Four of Boston College, Maine, North Dakota and Michigan State. The Spartans, who upset Notre Dame in Saturday’s Midwest Regional final, are the only newcomers from last year’s field (Michigan State, of course, takes the place of defending champion Wisconsin). I guess … Read more
Three days worth of some great games has yielded a very familiar Frozen Four of Boston College, Maine, North Dakota and Michigan State. The Spartans, who upset Notre Dame in Saturday’s Midwest Regional final, are the only newcomers from last year’s field (Michigan State, of course, takes the place of defending champion Wisconsin). I guess … Read more
A high-flying offense coupled with a defense that limited quality chances and relied on its goaltender when necessary was the perfect formula for second-seeded Boston College to overtake the pesky and physical fourth seed, Miami, 4-0, in Sunday’s Northeast Regional championship. The victory earns the Eagle seniors their third trip to the Frozen Four in … Read more
After a day and a half of upsets and near-upsets in the 2007 NCAA tournament, No. 2 seed Boston College finally restored order, skating to a 4-1 victory over No. 3 St. Lawrence in the second game of the Northeast Regional. Though the game didn’t require any dramatic comebacks or overtimes for the higher seed … Read more
Saturday’s second regional semifinal in Manchester is an interesting battle of two totally opposite clubs. Boston College features a senior class that has been to three straight NCAA tournaments and two Frozen Fours. St. Lawrence, having not been in the tournament since 2001, doesn’t have a single game of experience among its players, though head … Read more
Saturday’s second regional semifinal in Manchester is an interesting battle of two totally opposite clubs. Boston College features a senior class that has been to three straight NCAA tournaments and two Frozen Fours. St. Lawrence, having not been in the tournament since 2001, doesn’t have a single game of experience among its players, though head … Read more
New Hampshire coach Dick Umile is not only happy to have his Wildcats team in this year’s NCAA tournament, but he’s also excited by the personalities that surround him. In addition to the BC coaching staff that Umile knows well, he also has long-time friend Joe Marsh, head coach of St. Lawrence, in the Manchester … Read more
New Hampshire coach Dick Umile is not only happy to have his Wildcats team in this year’s NCAA tournament, but he’s also excited by the personalities that surround him. In addition to the BC coaching staff that Umile knows well, he also has long-time friend Joe Marsh, head coach of St. Lawrence, in the Manchester … Read more
As much as I’d love to be able to provide in-depth blog coverage from all of the regional tournaments this weekend, unfortunately cloning has made the advances I’d hoped at this point and thus you’ll have to settle on getting the inside scoop from the Manchester regional. I’ll be up here all weekend, providing you … Read more