Last Season: 14–22–3 (10–11–3 in HE, seventh place); lost in HE finals
Head Coach: Jerry Yorke (26th season)
Coaches’ Poll Projected Finish: First
Losses
- G Joseph Woll
- D Michael Kim
- F Christopher Brown
- F JD Dudek
- F Oliver Wahlstrom
Additions
- G Spencer Knight
- F Matt Boldy
- F Alex Newhook
- F Mike Hardman
- D Mitch Andres
- D Marshall Warren
- D Drew Helleson
By Christian Skroce
The last few years of college hockey have not been kind to Jerry Yorke’s Eagles, and 2018–19 was yet another disappointing year. While the team ended its historic non-conference losing streak, Boston College’s woes continued into their conference schedule as the team finished seventh in Hockey East, its worst regular season finish since 2008. The team also failed to win the Beanpot, losing to Northeastern in the final.
Despite the poor regular season, the Eagles picked up the pace in the Hockey East Tournament by eliminating Providence and UMass Amherst before ultimately falling to Northeastern in the title game. Once again, Jerry Yorke and BC failed to come away with any hardware. In fact, even with the waves of talent coming through the Conte Forum over the past decade, Boston College has failed to win the Hockey East Tournament or a national championship since 2012.
After an encouraging Hockey East Tournament run, BC came to terms with several offseason losses. Two senior captains — Michael Kim and Christopher Brown — graduated, while the team’s other captain, forward Casey Fitzgerald, signed an entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres. The offense took yet another hit when freshman forward Oliver Wahlstrom — the 11th pick in the 2018 NHL Draft — ended his college career and signed with the New York Islanders. The final loss came on the back end, as junior goalkeeper Joseph Woll decided to forgo his senior season and sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The talented goalie was a mainstay for the Eagles these last few years, posting an impressive 45–8 record with a 2.51 goals against average.
Despite the lackluster recent results and losses for BC, hope has arrived this season. The Eagles’ incoming freshmen class should terrify every team in the country. Three commits were chosen in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft, a feat practically unheard of in college hockey.
Headlining the monumental freshmen class is forward Matthew Boldy, the 12th pick. Boldy is an intelligent playmaker whose stick skills will immediately bolster BC’s already impressive attack. Taken just four picks after Boldy was fellow freshman Alex Newhook, who averaged a remarkable 1.9 points per game in the BCHL last season. The two first-round picks will join upperclassmen David Cotton on the front lines; Cotton is a talented skater returning for his senior year after a fantastic 23-goal junior campaign.
Spencer Knight, the 13th pick and BC’s replacement for goalie Joseph Woll, is the first goalie taken in the first round since Jack Campbell in 2010. At 6’3” and 198 pounds, Knight fills the entire goal and — as his 2.36 GAA in 33 games for the US Under 18 team proves — is one of the best goalie prospects in years. While the transition into Hockey East can be difficult for young goalies, hockey fans should remember that former Northeastern goalie Cayden Primeau made it look easy for two years. Knight might be even better.
Bottom Line: This BC team won’t be short of talent, especially in their offensive unit. The combination of young superstars Boldy and Newhook and the veteran talent of Cotton and Logan Hutsko should prove deadly. Senior defenseman Ben Finkelstein and junior Michael Karrow lead a solid Eagles defense backed by Spencer Knight between the pipes. This team is young, but its star potential should scare every team in the country. With a difficult out-of-conference slate, the young Eagles will be battle-tested and well-prepared for a deep Hockey East Tournament run and a return to the NCAA Tournament.