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Weekly Hockey Primer: Eagles Host Merrimack Tonight

Recap

Last week, the Eagles took care of the Vermont Catamounts 3-2 in a rare treat for non-New Englanders - a Friday night game I was able to watch as it was broadcast nationally on ESPNU. Two things stood out for me watching the game. Our freshmen are talented! Those kids can fly. Congratulations are in order to Paul Carey who notched his first collegiate goal in the second period on the power play, assisted by fellow frosh Tommy Cross. The other thing I noticed was the Eagles were able to get our special teams play going. BC was 2 of 7 on the man advantage (our best percentage on the man advantage this season) while Vermont was 1 of 3. The win was the Eagles first win in Hockey East play.


National Polls and Hockey East

The win over Vermont was good enough for the Eagles to climb back to the #2 spot in the latest USCHO.com/CBS College Sports poll. BC earned 7 first place votes in the poll. Other Hockey East teams in the poll this week:

  • Our green-line rivals Boston University up to #3
  • New Hampshire down to #6
  • Northeastern continues its climb up the polls to #9 up 5 spots from #14
  • Vermont down to #14.

The College Hockey blog is high on Minnesota this week and has the Eagles ranked #3.

Here is the Herald’s take on whether the Eagles can repeat as National Champions.

Is Boston University back? Here’s a good article from the Herald on the return of the Terriers.


Fan Polls

Here is the latest short-term fan poll on Hockey East Online. The poll asks readers and fans to vote on the Top Goaltender in Hockey East history. Representing Boston College is David Littman (1985-1989, before our Eagle cheering days), Scott Clemmensen (1997-2001) and Cory Schneider (2004-2007). I am a bit torn between voting for Clemmensen and Schneider, but I’ve got to go with Clemmensen. Clemmensen got us over the hump and helped us win our school’s second National Championship in 2001, and while Schneider came oh so close in 2006 and 2007, I gave my vote for Clem.


Rule Changes Imminent?, or 'On the desirability of shootouts in college hockey'

Hat tip to Goon’s World (a North Dakota Fighting Sioux blog) for bringing this article to our attention. INCH ran an article on a few WCHA coaches reactions to the addition of a shootout to break college hockey ties. The CCHA has implemented shootouts to break ties this year, and Hockey East commissioner Joe Bertagna thinks that it’s only a matter of time before shootouts are the norm in all men’s hockey conferences.

Are shootouts a good idea? I remain skeptical on the prospect of shootouts to break Hockey East regular season ties.


This Week ... err ... Tonight!

The Eagles host the Merrimack Warriors tonight and travel to Merrimack Friday night for a home-and-home Hockey East series. The Eagles own a 50-17-3 advantage in the all-time series and haven’t lost to Merrimack in 17 games (14-0-3), a streak dating back to 2003.

For more information on this year's Merrimack team, try a primo Merrimack hockey blog: Warrior Rink Rat