BY: JOSH BROWN
Head Coach– Jerry York (42nd Season, 21st at Boston College)
Last Season-28-8-4 (HE: 16-2-2)
Losses: F Johnny Gaudreau, F Kevin Hayes, F Patrick Brown, F Bill Arnold, D Isaac MacLeod
Newcomers: F Alex Tuch, F Zach Sanford, D Noah Hanifan
92 goals. That is the productions the Eagles lose with the departures of Kevin Hayes, Bill Arnold, Patrick Brown, and most notably Johnny Gaudreau. The Eagles, who pride themselves on rebuilding and reloading, will certainly have a tough test in front of themselves this season to recover from the losses of the core of their team from the past couple seasons.
How do the Eagles replace such production? They will hope to have huge breakout seasons by Bruins draft pick Ryan Fitzgerald and Austin Cangelosi who scored 13 and 10 goals respectively for Boston College last year among many others.
The goal tending tandem of freshman Thatcher Demko and junior Brian Billett returns for the 2014-2015 season. Both goalies posted practically equal numbers last season, but Demko got most of the big reps, such as in the Beanpot and in the NCAA tournament. Expect him to be the starter for Boston College, but Billett should definitely be expected to get some time in net.
Although the Eagles may not finish a-top Hockey East in every statistical season as they did a year ago, one can never count out a Jerry York Boston College team, and until proven otherwise, should be considered favorites in Hockey East.
Other players to watch for Boston College are defense man Michael Matheson, who did a very solid job last year patrolling the blue lines as well as forward Adam Gilmour who proved himself to be a budding star in the making for the Eagles last season.
Bottom line: Although the Eagles have what many would consider a “rebuilding” season, the Eagles still have plenty of talent to stay in the top three in Hockey East. Even if they struggle out the gate, they are a team that’s still going to be there at the end of the season, with a chance to win a couple of trophies at the Garden.