Comm Ave Clash: Boston College vs. Boston University
The storied rivalry between Boston College and Boston University reignites this weekend in the Battle of Comm Ave. With the season series on the line, the two teams will face off in a thrilling two-game set.
Friday night’s showdown takes place at Agganis Arena, followed by Saturday’s clash at Kelley Rink. Both games are set for a 7:00 p.m. puck drop, available on ESPN+ and WEEI 850 AM, with Saturday’s game also airing live on NESN.
Setting the Stage
Boston College enters the weekend with an impressive 19-10-1 overall record and a 13-7-0 mark in Hockey East. They’re sitting pretty at No. 10 in the USCHO poll and No. 11 in the USA Hockey poll. The Eagles have already bested the Terriers twice this season, including a commanding 6-2 victory in the Beanpot Championship, marking the 300th Battle of Comm Ave.
Recent Success Against UConn
The Eagles are flying high after sweeping No. 10/11 UConn last weekend.
They kicked things off with a 5-2 win at Kelley Rink, followed by a nail-biting 2-1 overtime victory at PeoplesBank Arena. James Hagens was the star on Friday, notching his second hat trick of the season.
Andre Gasseau and Dean Letourneau each tallied three assists, while Landan Resendes and Teddy Stiga found the back of the net in the third period. On Saturday, Letourneau’s power-play goal and Lukas Gustafsson’s overtime heroics sealed the win.
Goalie Louka Cloutier was a rock, making 21 saves in each game.
Eagles’ Key Players
James Hagens leads the Eagles with 38 points, including 20 goals and 18 assists. Dean Letourneau is close behind with 33 points, scoring 18 goals and adding 15 assists.
A group of players, including Luka Radivojevic and Jake Sondreal, are tied for third in assists with 14 each. Will Vote has been a dual threat with 10 goals and 11 assists.
Defensively, Nolan Joyce tops the team with 34 blocks, while Cloutier shines in goal with an 18-8-1 record, a .913 save percentage, and a 2.26 goals against average.
Spotlight on Boston University
The Terriers, with a 14-15-2 record, split their last series against New Hampshire. After a 4-1 loss, they rebounded with a 5-3 win at home.
Cole Hutson leads BU in points (27) and assists (18), while Cole Eiserman has netted a team-high 13 goals, five of which came on the power play. Jack Harvey has also reached double digits in goals.
On defense, Aiden Celebrini and Gavin McCarthy are blocking machines, with 55 and 54 blocks, respectively. Goalie Mikhail Yegorov has been a mainstay, posting a .900 save percentage.
Rivalry History
The all-time series between BC and BU is a close one, with the Eagles trailing slightly at 138-141-21. In their latest encounter at the Beanpot Championship, BC emerged victorious with a 6-2 win.
Standouts included Gasseau and Vote, each scoring twice, while Conmy added four assists. Their previous league meeting saw BC take a 4-1 win, with Gasseau, Hagens, and Letourneau each contributing a goal and an assist.
Golden Moments
On the international stage, BC alums Matt Boldy and Noah Hanifin played pivotal roles in the U.S. securing its first Olympic gold medal since 1980. Boldy opened the scoring in the gold medal game, while Bill Guerin, as general manager, orchestrated the team’s success.
As the regular season winds down, the Eagles will face UMass on Thursday and conclude against Northeastern on Saturday. The stage is set for an electrifying end to the season.