Boston College Eagles Set to Face Maine in Hockey East Quarterfinals
**Chestnut Hill, Mass. ** - As the postseason heats up, the No.
17/16 Boston College Eagles are gearing up to take on the Maine Black Bears in the Hockey East quarterfinals. The puck drops this Friday at 7:00 p.m. at Kelley Rink, with coverage on NESN and ESPN+, and radio broadcast available on WEEI 850 AM.
Setting the Scene
The Eagles, boasting a 19-14-1 record and a 13-11-0 finish in Hockey East, are looking to bounce back after a couple of tough losses. Meanwhile, Maine comes in at 18-13-3 overall and 12-11-1 in league play. With BC ranked No. 17 in the USCHO poll and No. 16 in the USA Hockey poll, fans can expect a thrilling matchup.
BC in the Hockey East Tournament
Boston College has a storied history in the Hockey East Tournament, holding a 79-38-2 all-time record. Against Maine, they are 8-5 in tournament play and have a strong 46-22-1 record in quarterfinal matchups.
Recent Setbacks
The Eagles are coming off two narrow defeats to close the regular season. They fell 2-1 to UMass and 4-2 to Northeastern. Despite the losses, James Hagens extended his point streak to 12 games, and Ryan Conmy added two assists against Northeastern, bringing his season total to 17.
Key Players for the Eagles
James Hagens leads the charge for BC with 42 points, including 21 goals and 21 assists. Dean Letourneau follows with 35 points, tallying 19 goals and 16 assists.
On defense, Nolan Joyce and Lukas Gustafsson have each blocked 36 shots. Between the pipes, Louka Cloutier boasts an 18-12-1 record, a .909 save percentage, and a 2.37 goals against average.
Hockey East Honors
Hagens was recognized with two prestigious Hockey East awards: the Service Credit Union Scoring Leader and the league's Three Stars Award. Luka Radivojevic earned a spot on the Pro Ambitions All-Rookie Team, while Will Vote was honored with the Len Ceglarski Individual Sportsmanship Award.
A Look at Maine
Maine enters the quarterfinals after a 5-3 loss to Vermont. Brandon Holt leads the team with 32 points, combining six goals with 26 assists.
Justin Poirier is the top goal scorer with 18, closely followed by Josh Nadeau with 17. Goalie Mathis Rousseau has played 16 games, posting a 2.56 goals against average and a .897 save percentage.
Holt was named Hockey East's Best Defensive Defenseman and shared the Len Ceglarski Individual Sportsmanship Award with BC's Vote. Owen Fowler took home the Best Defensive Forward accolade.
Head-to-Head
Historically, BC leads the series against Maine with a 75-57-11 record. The teams split their regular season series at Kelley Rink in November, with BC taking the first game 7-3 and Maine responding with a 3-0 shutout the next night.
As the Eagles and Black Bears face off, fans can expect an intense battle with both teams eager to advance in the Hockey East Tournament.