2020–21 Boston College Eagles men's ice hockey season explained

The 2020–21 Boston College Eagles men's ice hockey team represented Boston College in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season. The team was coached by Jerry York, '67, his twenty-seventh season behind the bench at Boston College. The Eagles played their home games at Kelley Rink on the campus of Boston College, competing in Hockey East.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no out-of-conference games were scheduled for the regular season, nor any traditional mid-season tournaments. As a result, the Eagles did not compete in any tournaments, including the annual Beanpot championship, which would have been in its 69th year of competition.

The Eagles finished the season 17–6–1, and 16–4–1 in conference play, good for 1st place in Hockey East, however, no regular season title was officially awarded due to disparate scheduling among the conference. They advanced to the semifinals of the Hockey East tournament where they lost 5–6 in double overtime to the UMass Lowell River Hawks. Boston College returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016, as the top seed of the Northeast Regional hosted in Albany, New York. Their first round meeting with Notre Dame was ruled a no-contest as the Fighting Irish were forced to withdraw from the tournament due to COVID-19 protocols, and the Eagles advanced to the Regional final via forfeit. There, they were defeated by the St. Cloud State Huskies by a score of 1–4.

Previous season recap

The Eagles entered the 2020–21 season following a strong 2019–20 effort. With a 24–8–2 record, going 17–6–1 in conference play, the Eagles finished first in Hockey East and captured their 20th regular season title; rebounding from a 7th-place finish in the previous year. However, that would be the only post-season trophy possible to earn, as both the Hockey East and NCAA tournaments were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic before any games were played. The Eagles were a likely NCAA tournament qualifier which would have ended a three-year drought from the nationals. Additionally, they failed to secure any mid-season tournament title, their only tournament result being their third-place Beanpot finish.

Departures

Thirteen Eagles departed from the program from the 2019–20 roster:

Graduation:

Luke McInnis, Senior – D
Ben Finkelstein, Senior – D
Connor Moore, Senior – D
Jesper Mattila, Senior – D
Zach Walker, Senior – F
David Cotton, Senior – F
Mike Merulla, Senior – F
Julius Mattila, Senior – F
Graham McPhee, Senior – F
Ron Greco, Senior – F
Ryan Edquist, Senior – G

Signed Professionally:

Aapeli Räsänen, Junior – F (Kalevan Pallo of the Finish Elite League) ^[1]

Not Retained:

Adin Farhat, Junior – G

Mid-Season Departures:

Stephen Davies, Freshman – D (Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL, did not dress for any games and signed during the winter break)^[2]
Logan Hutsko, Senior – F (Florida Panthers, signed after season-ending injury in February 2021)^[3]

Recruiting

Boston College added eleven freshmen for the 2020–21 season: six forwards, four defensemen, and a goalie.^[4] ^[5] Additionally, sophomore forward Liam Izyk transferred into the program from the Alabama–Huntsville Chargers.^[6]

Stephen Davis	Defenseman	Hingham, MA Played for the Madison Capitols of the USHL.
	Defenseman	Hingham, MA Played for the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL.
Eamon Powell	Defenseman	Marcellus, NY Drafted 116th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2020 Draft, played for the USNTDP of the USHL.
Jack Agnew	Defenseman	Oakville, ON Played for the Chilliwack Chiefs of the BCHL.
	Forward	Brooklyn, NY Drafted 172nd overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2019 Draft, Played for the Chilliwack Chiefs of the BCHL.
Gentry Shamburger	Forward	Atlanta, GA Played for Avon Old Farms in the New England prep league, the Founders League.
Trevor Kuntar	Forward	Buffalo, NY Drafted 89th overall by the Boston Bruins in the 2020 Draft, played for the Youngstown Phantoms in the USHL.
Danny Weight	Forward	Lattingtown, NY Played for the Penticton Vees of the BCHL.
Harrison Roy	Forward	Lakeville, MA Played for the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL.
Colby Ambrosio	Forward	Welland, ON Drafted 118th overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2020 Draft, Played for the Tri-City Storm of the USHL.
Liam Izyk	Forward	Blackie, AB Sophomore transfer from the Alabama–Huntsville Chargers, playing in the WHCA.
Henry Wilder	Goalie	Needham, MA Played for the Hotchkiss School in the New England prep league, the Founders League.

Additionally, some mid-season roster additions occurred during the winter break:

Junior defenseman Jack St. Ivany transferred from Yale and was immediately eligible to play.^[7]
Senior goaltender Adin Farhat was officially recalled from the club team, as he not retained on the roster at the beginning of the season.^[8]

2020–2021 roster

2020–21 Eagles

As of January 9, 2021.^[9]

Coaching staff

Name	Position	Seasons at Boston College	Alma Mater
		27th	Boston College (1967)
Mike Ayers	Associate Head Coach	8th	University of New Hampshire (2004)
	Associate Head Coach	3rd	Boston College (1999)
	Assistant Coach	1st	Boston College (2001)

Schedule

† Notre Dame was forced to withdraw from the regional semifinal match on March 27, as the team received multiple positive COVID tests on March 25.^[11] The game was ruled a no-contest and the Eagles automatically advanced to the regional final.

Rankings

See main article: article and 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey rankings.

Poll	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	Final
USCHO.com	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	3	1	1	1	1	1	1	2	1	1	2	—	6
USA Today	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	3	1	1	1	2	2	2	2	1	1	3	7	6

Statistics

^[12] ^[13]

Skaters

1		G	SR	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	E	0
2		D	SR	24	1	2	3	18	0	0	0	+10	33
3		D	JR	18	1	5	6	6	0	0	0	–1	34
4		D	SO	22	4	11	15	8	1	0	1	+23	50
5		D	SO	23	3	8	11	27	0	0	1	+13	47
6		D	FR	18	0	2	2	6	0	0	0	+3	0
7		D	FR	24	2	12	14	6	1	0	0	+12	25
8		D	FR	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	–1	1
9		F	SR	11	4	7	11	10	0	0	0	+11	37
10		D	SO	24	0	1	1	9	0	0	0	+2	10
11		F	JR	24	6	13	19	12	0	0	1	+14	60
12		F	SO	22	11	20	31	4	2	3	2	+15	71
13		F	FR	24	8	11	19	18	0	1	1	+12	49
14		F	FR	12	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	–1	0
15		F	FR	23	6	4	10	33	1	0	1	+2	53
17		F	FR	19	1	1	2	0	0	0	1	–1	14
18		F	SO	12	7	9	16	8	4	0	1	–1	48
19		F	SO	24	10	9	19	14	1	0	1	+5	59
21		F	SO	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	–1	2
22		D	JR	23	5	3	8	0	0	0	1	+2	39
24		F	JR	24	3	9	12	16	0	0	1	+8	41
25		F	JR	24	10	14	24	6	2	3	5	+16	49
26		F	FR	23	2	1	3	19	0	0	0	–2	24
27		F	FR	24	7	8	15	6	1	1	0	+9	62
30		G	SO	21	0	1	1	2	0	0	0	+36	0
31		G	FR	3	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	–2	0
32		G	SO	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	E	0
	Bench							8
	Team			24	91	152	243	242	13	8	17	+33	808

Goaltenders

1		SR	0	0	0:00	0	0	0	0	0.00	0	0	1.00	0
30		SO	21	21	1296:27	16	4	1	47	2.18	691	644	0.932	3
31		FR	3	3	187:43	1	2	0	10	3.20	110	100	0.909	0
32		SO	0	0	0:00	0	0	0	0	0.00	0	0	1.00	0
	Empty Net			8	8:01				1		1
	Team		24	24	1492:11	17	6	1	58	2.33	802	744	0.928	3

Awards and honors

Hobey Baker Award

Spencer Knight, G – Top 10 Finalist
Matt Boldy, F – Top 10 Finalist

Mike Richter Award

Spencer Knight, G – Top 3 Finalist

CCM/AHCA All-Americans

Spencer Knight, G – First Team East
Matt Boldy, F – First Team East
Drew Helleson, D – Second Team East

Hockey East Awards

Spencer Knight, G – Goaltender of the Year, Player of the Year
Marc McLaughlin, F – Best Defensive Forward, Three Stars Award (Shared with Jonny Evans, Connecticut and Aidan McDonough, Northeastern)
Drew Helleson, D – Best Defensive Defenseman
Nikita Nesterenko, F – Co-Rookie of the Year (Shared with Josh Lopina, Massachusetts)
Jerry York, Coach – Coach of the Year

Hockey East All-Stars

Spencer Knight, G – First Team
Matt Boldy, F – First Team
Drew Helleson, D – First Team
Marc McLaughlin, F – Third Team
Eamon Powell, D – All-Rookie Team
Nikita Nesterenko, F – All-Rookie Team

Hockey East Goaltender of the Month

Spencer Knight, G – Month of December

Hockey East Player of the Week

Matt Boldy, F
Week of November 30, 2020
Week of December 7, 2020
Week of February 15, 2021 (Shared with Aidan McDonough, Northeastern)
Week of March 8, 2021 (Shared with Jáchym Kondelík, Connecticut)
Spencer Knight, G – Week of December 7, 2020
Marc McLaughlin, F – Week of February 22, 2021

Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week

Drew Helleson, D – Week of November 30, 2020

Hockey East Rookie of the Week

Colby Ambrosio, F – Week of November 30, 2020
Nikita Nesterenko, F – Week of January 18, 2021, Week of March 15, 2021
Henry Wilder, G – Week of December 14, 2020

Players drafted into the NHL

2021 NHL Entry Draft

3	94	Aidan Hreschuk^†	Carolina Hurricanes
7	213	Andre Gasseau^†	Boston Bruins

† incoming freshman^[14]

External links

Notes and References

Web site: Bailin. Arthur. 2020-04-09. Aapeli Räsänen and Jesper Mattila Sign With Kalevan Pallo. 2020-11-11. BC Interruption. en.
Web site: American Stephen Davis joining the Moose – Halifax Mooseheads. 2021-01-09. en-CA.
Web site: 2021-02-10. Logan Hutsko Reportedly Signs Professional Contract Following Injury. 2021-02-12. BC Interruption. en.
Web site: Eagles Announce Recruiting Class for 2020-21 Season. 2020-11-12. Boston College Athletics. en.
Web site: Eagles Add Forward Trevor Kuntar to Incoming Class. 2020-11-12. Boston College Athletics. en.
Web site: Bailin. Arthur. 2020-05-26. Liam Izyk, Former Player at Alabama-Huntsville, Transfers to Boston College. 2020-11-12. BC Interruption. en.
Web site: Harve. Maithri. 2020-12-23. Defenseman Jack St. Ivany Transfers to Boston College. 2021-01-09. BC Interruption. en.
Web site: Healy. Emma. 2021-01-08. Eagles Return From World Juniors Ahead of UNH Series. 2021-01-09. The Heights. en-US.
Web site: Boston College Athletics. 2020–21 Men's Hockey Roster. January 9, 2021.
Web site: Boston College 2020-21 Team Schedule - Hockey East Association. 2020-11-12. hockeyeastonline.com. en.
Web site: Nate. Weitzer. March 25, 2021. BC advances in NCAA men’s hockey tournament as Notre Dame has to forfeit Saturday’s game. 2021-03-25. BostonGlobe.com. en-US.
Web site: Boston College Athletics. 2020–21 Men's Hockey Statistics. November 12, 2020.
Web site: Boston College 2020-21 Team Statistics - Hockey East Association. 2021-02-14. hockeyeastonline.com. en.
News: NCAA player rankings, selections in 2021 NHL Draft . USCHO.com . July 24, 2021.