What BC’s opening loss portends for rest of men’s college hockey

The season-opening matchups between Boston College and Quinnipiac have served as a superb barometer lately. Three years in the past, the Bobcats rolled into Conte Discussion board and emerged with a 4-0 win. That squad went on to the Frozen Four and captured the program’s first national championship in Tampa Bay.

The next October, the Eagles performed spoiler on the night time Quinnipiac raised its championship banner, defeating the Bobcats, 2-1, at M&T Financial institution Enviornment to start a season during which BC rolled all the way in which to an appearance in the NCAA championship game earlier than falling to Denver.

So, what did we make of Quinnipiac’s 4-3 win at Conte Discussion board final Friday?

Let’s check out what we realized on the opening weekend of the lads’s school hockey season, in addition to a glimpse forward to a different weekend of nonconference showdowns.

· One of many causes BC entered the season ranked sixth nationally regardless of the departures of Ryan Leonard, Gabe Perreault, and Jacob Fowler was the returning protection corps, which has 5 gamers who appeared in not less than 30 video games final season. However the play and puck administration towards Quinnipiac was sloppy at occasions, resulting in breakdowns.

“Surprisingly, it wasn’t the younger guys,” mentioned BC coach Greg Brown. “It was our older guys, that ought to know, and be the guides and the calm ones on the market. However they had been attempting to do a bit an excessive amount of, and it simply wasn’t clicking in any respect.”

· Bruins 2025 first-round decide James Hagens centered the highest line, flanked by Teddy Stiga and UNH switch Ryan Conmy, each of whom registered power-play objectives. It marked Conmy’s first objective as an Eagle after posting 29 objectives and 35 assists in two seasons with the Wildcats.

There were seven Bruins draft picks on the ice between the teams — 5 for BC and two for Quinnipiac. Hagens, who had the first help on Conmy’s objective, was joined by teammates Oskar Jellvik, Will Moore, and Andre Gasseau, who shaped BC’s second line, in addition to 2024 first-rounder Dean Letourneau.

· Sophomores Chris Pelosi and Elliott Groenewold are Bruins choices skating for a Quinnipiac squad that’s favored to win a sixth straight ECAC regular-season crown. Pelosi scored what proved to be the winner at BC.

· Quinnipiac’s Dylan Silverstein recorded 12 saves to get the win in his return to Chestnut Hill. The netminder initially enrolled at BC within the fall of 2022, however he by no means took the ice as he handled accidents earlier than leaving the college.

· Subsequent up for the Eagles, who dropped to eleventh on this week’s USCHO.com ballot, is a pair of video games at No. 12 Minnesota. That’s considered one of three Hockey East/Large Ten matchups this week. UNH is off to No. 2 Michigan State, whereas No.7 Windfall will host No. 9 Michigan.

· Quinnipiac seemed to be in midseason type with its stifling protection that restricted BC to fifteen photographs. The Bobcats moved as much as eighth and head to Arizona to face Alaska Fairbanks within the Ice Breaker match, then will play Notre Dame or Arizona State.

· Boston College opened with a 4-2 win over Lengthy Island on Saturday, though coach Jay Pandolfo was not precisely happy.

“I imply, I appreciated the outcome,” mentioned Pandolfo. “It was definitely not fairly. We simply performed a really immature sport. Our puck administration was atrocious … There’s quite a bit to study for our group, so there’s plenty of good takeaways that method.”

Sophomores Cole Eiserman (two objectives) and Cole Hutson picked up the place they left off final season. Hutson’s strike within the third interval was the winner. He additionally had an help.

The third-ranked Terriers adopted up the win with a 3-0 shutout of RPI in an exhibition on Sunday. They’ll host Colgate for a pair of video games this weekend.

· Northeastern and Holy Cross tried to shake off the rust within the season opener for each groups at Matthews Enviornment, gained by the Huskies, 6-4.

Matthew Perkins, a switch from Minnesota Duluth, centered NU’s high line, skating with Joe Connor and Dylan Hryckowian. The trio mixed for 4 objectives, led by Connor’s pair.

3 times the Crusaders reduce the deficit to at least one objective, however NU answered in brief order, highlighted by Connor’s second of the night time.

Northeastern’s front-loaded residence schedule continues Friday with Military, whereas the Crusaders hit the street for a pair of video games at No. 6 Maine.

· UMass had a commanding 70-26 edge in photographs in its season opener in Amherst, however nonetheless wanted to rally for the 5-3 win due to Northern Michigan goalie William Gramme’s 65-save effort. The Minutemen accomplished the sweep with a 4-1 win on Sunday. Junior Jack Musa had three objectives and a pair of assists on the weekend.

UMass hits the street for a Friday contest at Stonehill, which is enjoying its residence video games this season at Warrior Ice Enviornment.

· Jay Ahearn made his presence felt in his first sport with UMass Lowell. The graduate switch from Niagara scored a pair of objectives because the River Hawks opened with a 4-0 win over Merrimack at residence. Freshman Austin Elliott stopped 17 photographs to file a shutout in his first collegiate sport. The groups meet once more Friday, this time at Merrimack.

· UConn ahead Joey Muldowney picked up the place he left off final season. After posting 29 objectives as a sophomore, Muldowney scored a objective in every of the Huskies’ first two video games over the weekend as they earned a break up at Colorado Faculty. UConn is off this weekend.

· Bentley opens its season this weekend with a street journey, taking over Colorado Faculty earlier than shifting on to No. 5 Denver.