Boston College Hosts Maine in Crucial Hockey East Quarterfinal Clash
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – The No. 17/16 Boston College Eagles face off against the Maine Black Bears in a pivotal Hockey East quarterfinal matchup this Friday, March 13, at Kelley Rink. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. And the game will be broadcast on NESN and ESPN+, with audio coverage available on WEEI 850 AM.
Setting the Scene
Boston College enters the contest with an overall record of 19-14-1, having finished the Hockey East regular season at 13-11-0. Maine boasts an 18-13-3 overall record and a 12-11-1 mark in conference play. The Eagles are currently ranked No. 17 in the USCHO poll and No. 16 in the USA Hockey poll.
Eagles in the Hockey East Tournament
Boston College has a strong history in the Hockey East Tournament, with an all-time record of 79-38-2. They hold an 8-5 record against Maine in tournament play and a 46-22-1 record in the quarterfinal round.
Recent Setbacks for Boston College
The Eagles concluded their regular season with losses to UMass (2-1) and Northeastern (4-2). Despite the setbacks, James Hagens extended his point streak to a career-best 12 games, recording a point in both contests. Ryan Conmy contributed two assists against Northeastern, bringing his season total to 17.
Key Eagles Players
- James Hagens: Leads the Eagles in scoring with 42 points (21 goals, 21 assists).
- Dean Letourneau: Second in team scoring with 35 points (19 goals, 16 assists).
- Ryan Conmy: Second on the team in assists with 17.
- Louka Cloutier: Has an 18-12-1 record with a .909 save percentage and a 2.37 goals-against average.
Hockey East Awards
James Hagens was recognized with two Hockey East awards, earning the Service Credit Union Scoring Leader title and the Three Stars Award. Luka Radivojevic was named to the Pro Ambitions All-Rookie Team, and Will Vote received the Len Ceglarski Individual Sportsmanship Award.
A Glance at Maine
The Black Bears suffered a 5-3 loss to Vermont in their regular season finale. Brandon Holt leads Maine in scoring with 32 points (6 goals, 26 assists), even as Justin Poirier tops the team with 18 goals, closely followed by Josh Nadeau with 17. Mathis Rousseau has a 2.56 goals-against average and a .897 save percentage in 16 games as goaltender.
Series History
Boston College holds a 75-57-11 all-time record against Maine. The teams split their regular season series at Kelley Rink in November, with BC winning the first game 7-3 and Maine responding with a 3-0 victory the following night.
What’s Next
The winners of the Hockey East quarterfinals will advance to the semifinals, scheduled for next Friday, March 20, at TD Garden.