Boston College Heads to Milwaukee for Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off: Eagles Set for Showdown with No. 7/8 Western Michigan
**CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. ** - After a strong finish to the first half of the season, No.
12 Boston College men's hockey hits the road for Milwaukee to compete in the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off at Fiserv Forum, the home of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks. The Eagles will face a major test right out of the gate, taking on No.
7/8 Western Michigan on Sunday night at 7:30 p.m. CT.
Depending on that result, they’ll either square off with No. 2 Wisconsin or Lake Superior State on Monday.
This midseason tournament isn’t just a holiday showcase-it’s a measuring stick for where BC stands among the nation’s elite. And with three ranked teams in the field, the Eagles are stepping into a playoff-like atmosphere.
Where Things Stand
Boston College enters the tournament at 10-5-1 overall and 7-3-0 in Hockey East, riding the momentum of a weekend sweep over UMass Lowell earlier this month. That pair of 3-1 wins helped propel the Eagles to No. 12 in both the USCHO.com and USA Hockey national polls.
Western Michigan, their first-round opponent, sits at 10-6-0 and 6-4-0 in the NCHC. The Broncos split a tough series with No. 4 Minnesota Duluth in early December, showing they’re more than capable of hanging with top-tier opponents.
Wisconsin, the potential second-day opponent, is currently No. 2 in both national polls and boasts a 12-2-2 record. Lake Superior State, while unranked, has shown flashes and enters the tournament at 6-11-1.
Eagles Close First Half Strong
BC’s final series before the break was a statement. The Eagles took care of business with back-to-back 3-1 wins over UMass Lowell, showcasing depth, special teams execution, and strong goaltending.
Freshman Dean Letourneau led the charge, scoring two power-play goals on Friday and adding another tally on Saturday. Jake Sondreal was all over the scoresheet too, picking up three assists in the opener and notching a goal in the second game. James Hagens delivered the game-winner on Friday, while Lukas Gustafsson added a power-play goal on Saturday.
Between the pipes, Louka Cloutier was rock-solid, stopping 50 shots across both games and anchoring the Eagles' defensive effort.
Player Leaders and Standouts
- James Hagens continues to pace the Eagles offensively with a team-high 18 points, including 10 goals.
- Letourneau and Sondreal are right behind with 17 points each.
Sondreal leads the team in assists (11), followed by Luka Radivojevic with nine.
- Ryan Conmy, Teddy Stiga, and Will Vote are also contributing consistently, all sitting at 11 points.
- On the blue line, Nolan Joyce leads the team with 19 blocked shots, with Aram Minnetian and Will Skahan close behind at 18 apiece.
- Cloutier has been a difference-maker in net, posting a 10-3-1 record with a .918 save percentage and a 2.01 goals-against average.
That recent performance earned some well-deserved recognition: Letourneau was named Hockey East Player of the Week, while Gustafsson picked up Defender of the Week honors.
World Juniors Representation
Boston College will be well-represented at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship. Hagens and Stiga are back with Team USA after suiting up last year, and Radivojevic is set for his third straight appearance with Slovakia. Head Coach Greg Brown is also heading overseas, serving as an assistant for Team USA.
Scouting the Field
Western Michigan
The Broncos have been hot lately, winning five of their last six. They bounced back from a 4-1 loss to Minnesota Duluth with a gritty 3-2 overtime win the next night.
- Grant Slukynsky and William Whitelaw lead the way with 15 points each.
- Whitelaw is the top goal scorer with nine, while Slukynsky has dished out a team-high 12 assists.
- Goalie Hampton Slukynsky has started all 16 games, logging 353 saves. His .887 save percentage and 2.83 GAA suggest he’s had some ups and downs, but he’s been a workhorse in net.
This will be just the second all-time meeting between BC and Western Michigan. The Eagles won the first matchup last season at Kelley Rink, 4-2.
Wisconsin
The Badgers are rolling. Winners of five straight, they’ve taken down Ohio State, No. 1 Michigan State, and swept Notre Dame.
- Gavin Morrissey leads the team with 18 points and 15 assists.
- Christian Fitzgerald is their top goal scorer with 10.
- In net, Daniel Hauser has been steady, starting 13 games with a .915 save percentage and a 2.17 GAA.
Wisconsin also has a strong international presence, with Logan Hensler and Luke Osborn on the U.S. World Junior preliminary roster.
Quinn Finley will represent the U.S. Collegiate Selects at the Spengler Cup in Switzerland.
In terms of history, BC holds a slight edge in the all-time series at 16-13-0. The last meeting came in the 2019-20 season, a 5-3 Eagles win. And who could forget the 2010 national title game, when BC blanked the Badgers 5-0 on the biggest stage?
Lake Superior State
The Lakers are a bit of a wild card. They’ve gone 3-3-0 over their last six and come in at 6-11-1 overall.
- William Ahlrik leads the team with 16 points and 12 assists.
- Calem Mangone has a team-high eight goals.
- Defensemen Adam Barone and Ryan Beck have each chipped in 10 assists.
- Goaltender Rorke Applebee has started 13 games and carries a .921 save percentage with a 2.73 GAA.
BC and Lake Superior State haven’t faced off in over four decades-their last meeting came in 1983, a 6-4 win for the Eagles at the Minnesota-Duluth Holiday Classic.
Eagles Making NHL Noise
Boston College continues to be a pipeline to the NHL, especially between the pipes. Four former Eagles goalies-Thatcher Demko (Vancouver), Jacob Fowler (Montreal), Spencer Knight (Chicago), and Joseph Woll (Toronto)-each started games on December 16. No other NCAA program had more than one goalie start in the NHL this season.
Other recent highlights:
- Trevor Kuntar (Buffalo) and Jacob Fowler made their NHL debuts on December 11.
- Gabe Perreault (NY Rangers) netted his first NHL goal on December 18.
What’s Next
After the Holiday Face-Off, Boston College will return to Kelley Rink on January 9 to host Stonehill in an exhibition matchup. That game will be available on ESPN+ and WEEI 850 AM.
But first, all eyes are on Milwaukee. The Eagles are stepping into a loaded field with a chance to make a national statement. With their depth, special teams clicking, and Cloutier holding strong in net, BC is poised to make some noise as they gear up for the second half of the season.