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Boston College hockey coach Jerry York heads into the winter break tied with Ron Mason as the winningest coach in Division I college hockey history with 924 wins. York will almost certainly take sole possession of the NCAA record when the Eagles face Division I independent Alabama Huntsville (3-14-1) in the opening round of the Mariucci Classic.
The following night the top-ranked Eagles will take on the 4th ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers in the second game of the Mariucci Classic. The second round games were predetermined to ensure a BC-Minnesota matchup regardless of the opening round results -- Air Force and UAH play at 4 PM and BC and the Gophers play at 7 PM. The BC-Minnesota "final" will be televised on FSN+.
York will likely break the record in a non-televised game in front of a sparse Mariucci Arena crowd on Saturday afternoon.
The Star Tribune's Roman Augustoviz has a better idea. Why not switch the order of opponents in the Mariucci Classic. For history's sake.
The U pre-arranged this schedule. They can adjust it again.
I know contracts have been signed, travel arrangements have been made, etc., etc. ... But I doubt any of the three teams from out of state are arriving Saturday. They come in a day early.
So this scheduling shift, if all four teams agree, could be done, it seems to me or am I being naive. Someone at the U should at least pose the question.
Bet it would create some extra buzz if the switch were made.
If all four programs and FSN can get on board with this, I see no reason why this shouldn't be done immediately. Give York and the Eagles a crack at history in a televised Saturday night contest between two top four programs; not in a non-televised afternoon game between the top ranked team in the country and the 58th ranked team in the country (out of 59).
And should BC fall to the Gophers on Saturday night, at least the Mariucci Classic schedule makers gave York a shot at #York925 in a matchup of top ranked teams on national TV. This would certainly create some buzz and excitement around the matchup and help promote the sport.