USA Takes Bronze at 2021 World Championship

The United States garnered the bronze medal at the 2021 IIHF World Championship in Riga, Latvia. After falling to eventual gold medalist Canada by a 4-2 count in the semifinals, the Americans defeated Germany by a 6-1 score on Sunday to finish in third place.

Cal Petersen (Notre Dame) of the NHL's Los Angeles Kings led all USA goaltenders in Riga with five wins and two shutouts during the Worlds, and also recorded a 1.29 goals-against average. Jake Oettinger (Boston University) was second with three victories and a 1.37 GAA for the Americans.

Trevor Moore (Denver) of the Kings was among Team USA's leaders in Latvia with five goals and nine points, while fellow forward Colin Blackwell (Harvard) of the New York Rangers notched four goals. Christian Wolanin (North Dakota) of the Kings paced all USA blueliners with five assists and six points, while Adam Clendening (Boston University) of Cleveland (AHL) registered two goals and three assists for five points. Brian Boyle (Boston College) took over as Team USA captain after original captain Justin Abdelkader (Michigan State) was injured earlier in the tournament,

The U.S. has now medaled in two of the last three Worlds, and four of the last eight, all bronze. The 2020 tournament was canceled by COVID-19, while the 2022 competition is slated to be held in Finland, which finished as runner-up to Canada this year after winning gold in 2019.

Carr Boosts Chicago to Double-OT AHL Win

Daniel Carr (Union) scored 6:01 into the second overtime to boost the Chicago Wolves to a 2-1 victory over the host San Diego Gulls on Friday night in American Hockey League playoff action.

T.J. Tynan (Notre Dame) assisted on Carr's game-winning goal, while Kevin Boyle (Massachusetts/UMass Lowell) had 42 saves for the Gulls in defeat. The best-of-seven Calder Cup Western Conference Final is now tied at two games apiece, with Game Five slated for 10 p.m. ET tonight in San Diego.

Carr, 27, led Union to the school's first-ever NCAA Division's men's hockey national title in 2014 as a senior, with a team-leading and career-high 28 assists and 50 points. In four seasons with the Dutchmen, he recorded 78 goals and 79 assists for 157 points in 159 career collegiate outings. In 100 career NHL games with Montreal and Vegas, the Sherwood Park, Alta. native has collected 15-20—35 points, and this year he earned AHL Most Valuable Player accolades with 30-41—71 points in just 52 regular-season contests with Chicago.

Boyle Backstops Gulls to AHL Western Semifinal Win

Kevin Boyle (Massachusetts/UMass Lowell) backstopped the San Diego Gulls one step closer to the 2019 Calder Cup Final with a 3-0 shutout of the Chicago Wolves on Saturday. in the AHL's Western Conference semifinal. The best-of-seven series is now tied at one game apiece.

Boyle made 29 saves at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill. for the win, while Kiefer Sherwood (Miami) set up two of the Gulls' three goals. Games 3, 4, and 5 of the series will be played in San Diego, from May 22-25.

Boyle skated two seasons at UMass (2011-12, 2012-13) before transferring to UMass Lowell in 2014 and sitting out one season due to NCAA rules. He fashioned an overall record of 16-17-6 in 41 outings with the Minutemen, before backstopping the River Hawks to the 2016 NCAA Tournament with a 24-10-5 mark and seven shutouts in 39 appearances. In 80 career college games, he finished
40-27-11 with a 2.34 goal-against average and eight shutouts.

Boyle, 26, from Manalapan, N.J., made his NHL debut with Anaheim earlier this season, playing in five games for the Ducks.

BC's Boyle Departs Devils for Nashville

So long, Brian Boyle (Boston College).

The 6-foot-7 Boyle, one of four BC players on the New Jersey Devils this season, was traded to the Nashville Predators on Wednesday. Boyle should maintain his Stanley Cup Playoff string with the Predators, which would reach nine years for him this spring. He helped the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning to back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances in 2014 and 2015. His departure, for a second-round selection in the 2019 NHL Draft,  leaves the Devils with BC alumni Steve Santini, Cory Schneider, and Miles Wood in the lineup.

With New Jersey, Boyle scored 26 goals and added 16 assists for 42 points in 116 regular-season contests beginning in late 2017, after he signed with New Jersey as a free agent. He had 13-10—23 points in 69 games a year ago in helping the Devils back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2012. In 740 regular-season games with New Jersey, Toronto, Tampa Bay, New York and Los Angeles since 2007-08, he has collected 119-92—211 points and 555 penalty minutes, along with 15-13—28 points and 92 PIM in 111 NHL postseason games. He also has 83 points in 114 career AHL games, all with the former Manchester Monarchs franchise.

Boyle, 34, was drafted 26th overall by Los Angeles in 2003 after a three-year prep career at St. Sebastian's in Massachusetts where he produced 149 points. A native of Hingham, Mass., Boyle played for BC from 2003 to 2007 as a center and defenseman. In 159 career outings with the Eagles, he notched 65-75—140 points, including 34 power-play goals, in leading BC to consecutive NCAA Championship game berths in 2006 and 2007. As senior, he led Hockey East in scoring with 37 points in 27 conference games, while pacing the Eagles with 53 points overall.

BC's Boyle Wins 2018 Masterton Trophy

Brian Boyle (Boston College) is the 2018 winner of the NHL's Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, as awarded in Las Vegas on Wednesday night.

The Masterton Trophy is awarded to the NHL player "who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey". It was named for the late Minnesota North Star forward who died after suffering a head injury in a game during the 1967-68 NHL campaign.

Boyle, 33, who joined the New Jersey Devils prior to the 2017-18 season, was sidelined until November as he underwent treatment for Acute Myeloid Leukemia. A 6-foot-7 native of Hingham, Mass., he signed with New Jersey as a free agent in the off-season after previously playing for Los Angeles, the New York Rangers, Tampa Bay and Toronto. He skated in both the 2014 and 2015 Stanley Cup finals, for New York and Tampa Bay, respectively.

In 69 regular-season games this past year, Boyle scored 13 goals and added 10 assists for 23 points. He also helped the Devils back into the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2012. In 693 career NHL regular-season outings, Boyle has recorded 106-86—192 points and 533 penalty minutes. He has also put up 15-13—28 points and 92 PIM in 111 Stanley Cup Playoff contests to date.

A two-time All-America selection in college, Boyle skated four seasons at BC (2003-2007) and notched 65-75—140 points in 159 appearances. He also helped the Eagles to five Hockey East regular-season or tournament titles, four NCAA Tournament berths, three NCAA Frozen Fours, and two NCAA title games.

BC's Boyle Stars Again as Devils Defeat Rangers

Brian Boyle is on a roll.

The Boston College product, who has been fighting cancer since the summer, now has seven points in his last three NHL outings following a 4-3 shootout win by his New Jersey Devils over the visiting New York Rangers on Thursday night in Newark.

Boyle, 33, who skated at BC from 2003 to 2007 and helped the Eagles to consecutive NCAA title game appearances his last two years, tied Thursday's game on a turnaround backhand shot with just over eight minutes remaining in regulation, his ninth goal of the campaign in just his 24th game. He then notched the decisive goal in the shootout, while former BC teammate Cory Schneider made 28 saves over three periods for the Devils and also stopped three of four tries in the extra session.

Boyle, from Hingham, Mass., posted back-to-back three-point games prior to the contest against the Rangers, who are one of his former NHL clubs. He notched three assists in a 5-3 win over Anaheim on Dec. 18, three days after he connected for a goal and an assist in a 5-2 victory over Dallas.

New Jersey, which hosts Chicago on Saturday, currently ranks third in the NHL's Eastern Conference with a 20-9-5 record after 34 games.

Boyle Scores First Goal for Devils

Brian Boyle is back.

The former Boston College forward scored his first career goal as a New Jersey Devil on Thursday night in a 3-2 overtime loss to the visiting Edmonton Oilers. Boyle tallied the game's first goal off a rebound, beating Cam Talbot (Alabama-Huntsville), while Brian Gibbons (Boston College) assisted on Boyle's score. Drew Stafford (North Dakota) also connected for the Devils, who got 29 saves from Corey Schneider (Boston College). Talbot finished with 32 stops for the Oilers.

Boyle, 32, who signed with New Jersey as a free agent in the off-season, has played five games for his new team after being diagnosed earlier this year with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. He now has 94 goals and 77 assists for 171 points in 629 NHL regular-season games with Los Angeles, the New York Rangers, Tampa Bay, Toronto and New Jersey.

Boyle collected 65-75—140 points in 159 appearances at BC (2003-2007), twice earning All-America honors while helping the Eagles to three NCAA Frozen Four appearances. A 6-foot-6 native of Hingham, Mass., he was selected 26th overall by Los Angeles in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

Penguins Force Game Seven

Bryan Rust (Notre Dame) and Chris Kunitz (Ferris State) combined on an insurance goal with just over two minutes remaining in regulation, and Nick Bonino (Boston University) tallied an empty-net goal to make it official as the Pittsburgh Penguins survived with a 5-2 win at Tampa Bay on Tuesday night in Game 6 of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference final of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Game 7 is set for Thursday night in Pittsburgh (NBCSN, 8 p.m. ET).

Phil Kessel (Minnesota) scored the first goal of the game on a first-period power play for the Penguins, who built a 3-0 advantage after 40 minutes. Brian Boyle (Boston College) scored both Tampa Bay goals in the third period to pull the Lightning to within 3-2, before Kunitz sent Rust in on a successful breakway with 2:08 left to send the now-tied series back to Pennsylvania for a deciding game.

In the Western Conference final, the San Jose Sharks can clinch their first-ever trip to the Stanley Cup Final with a victory in Game 6 tonight (NBCSN, 9 p.m. ET) over the visiting St. Louis Blues. The Sharks lead the series, three games to two. San Jose captain Joe Pavelski (Wisconsin) has three goals in the last two games for San Jose, and has tallied a league-leading 12 goals and 21 points in 17 playoff contests so far this spring.

Lightning Take Lead in Eastern Conference Final in OT

Dan Boyle (Miami) tied the game with 1:56 remaining in regulation, but the New York Rangers still went down to defeat, 6-5, in overtime on Wednesday night in Florida. The Tampa Bay Lightning now hold a two games-to-one lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Final.

It was New York's first OT setback in five NHL Stanley Cup Playoff games this spring, and it also marked the second straight contest that it allowed six goals, following a 6-2 defeat on Monday in Game 2 in Manhattan.

Boyle set up the Rangers' first goal of the evening as New York took a 2-0 lead, with Derek Stepan (Wisconsin), Chris Kreider (Boston College) and Ryan McDonagh (Wisconsin) all drawing assists. Tampa Bay struck back with four straight tallies spanning the first and second periods, the last by Alex Killorn (Harvard) to give him three goals in his last two outings.

The Rangers, who finished with two power-play goals in four chances, tied the contest as Stepan set up their third goal late in the second stanza, before McDonagh scored the tying marker early in the third session off an assist from Kevin Hayes (Boston College). The Lightning then regained the lead, 5-4, with less than six minutes left, setting the stage for Boyle's temporary heroics before Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov wristed home the game-winner 3:33 into sudden death.

Ben Bishop (Maine) finished with 23 saves for the Lightning, who outshot the Rangers, 40-28. Game 4 is Friday night at Amalie Arena in Tampa.

Kreider, Rangers Survive Again to Force Game 7

Chris Kreider (Boston College) scored the first two goals of the game, and Dan Boyle (Miami) notched the game-winner in the third period as the New York Rangers forced a deciding seventh game following a 4-3 victory over the Washington Capitals on Sunday night at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.

The Rangers, who trailed the Eastern Conference semifinal series, three games to one, just last week, won their second straight contest, as Kreider notched his second and third goals in the last two outings. He connected on a backhander following a rush down the right wing in the first minute of play Sunday, then added his second score by putting home a loose puck in front with 0.2 seconds left on the clock before the first intermission. Boyle scored on a slapshot from the slot to give the Rangers a 4-1 lead in the final frame, before the host Capitals tallied back-to-back goals to get within a score.

New York, which rebounded from a 3-1 deficit to top Pittsburgh in the second round last season, has played an NHL record 12 consecutive one-goal playoff games dating back to last year’s Stanley Cup Final, including all 10 contests so far this spring. It eliminated Pittsburgh in five games in this year's first round.

Game Seven will be played Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at Madison Square Garden. The victor will face the winner of the Tampa Bay-Montreal series for the Eastern Conference crown. Tampa Bay leads that Stanley Cup Playoff series, three games to two, with Game 6 slated for tomorrow night in Florida.

Martinez OT Goal Claims Cup for Kings

Alec Martinez (Miami) made it Los Angeles’ night one more time—and this time, it won the Kings the Stanley Cup.

Martinez put home a rebound at 14:43 of the second overtime period at the Staples Center to lift Los Angeles to a 3-2 win over the New York Rangers in Game 5 of the 2014 Stanley Cup Final. The goal also captured the Kings’ second NHL crown in three years, after they won their previous three series this spring in seven games apiece.

Martinez also got the game-winner in sudden death in the Western Conference final against the Chicago Blackhawks last month.  Friday’s victory marked the first time that an NHL team had clinched the Cup in overtime on its home ice since the New York Islanders did so back in 1980.

The Rangers, who trailed 1-0 after one period on Friday night after a score by eventual Conn Smythe Trophy winner Justin Williams, got goals from a pair of former Boston College forwards to take a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes. Chris Kreider tied the game on a power play off a cross-ice pass by Ryan McDonagh (Wisconsin), before Brian Boyle scored shorthanded in the final minute of the period after taking a center-ice feed from Carl Hagelin (Michigan) and racing in to wrist a shot past Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick (UMass).

Former Rangers forward Marian Gaborik tied the game in the third period on a power play, knocking in a rebound for his league-leading 14^th goal of the 2014 playoffs. The Kings ultimately outshot New York by a 51-30 margin on the evening, as the home side won for the fourth time in five games in the Final.

Both teams had chances in the extra sessions. McDonagh hit a post in the first overtime, while Kreider was stopped on a breakaway. Tyler Toffoli and Jeff Carter both hit posts for LA, before Martinez finished off a 3-on-2 rush in the second OT.  Other college players who will get a ring from the Kings this year besides Martinez and Quick are defensemen Matt Greene (North Dakota) and Willie Mitchell (Clarkson).

Henrik Lundqvist finished with 48 saves for the Rangers, who lost three games in overtime in this series, the first time they had made the Final since winning their last Cup in 1994. Quick finished with 28 stops in recording his 16^th win of the postseason, and his second career Cup with the Kings.

Quick, Kings Win Game 1 of Final

Carl Hagelin (Michigan) scored a shorthanded goal, and Brian Boyle (Boston College) and Ryan McDonagh (Wisconsin) both registered assists on the evening—but the New York Rangers fell to the host Los Angeles Kings, 3-2, in overtime in Game 1 of the 2014 Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday night at the Staples Center.

The Rangers, who won the Eastern Conference for the first time in 20 years, had a 2-0 lead in the first period, with Hagelin scoring the second goal as New York was killing a holding penalty to Mats Zuccarello. The Western Conference champion Kings, as they have all playoffs, however, rallied to tie the game by the middle of the second stanza.

Hagelin had another breakaway in the final minute of regulation, but was stopped by Kings netminder Jonathan Quick (UMass), who finished with 25 stops. Quick had also earlier made a glove save on Martin St. Louis (Vermont) on a shot from the left circle.

The contest ended less than five minutes into the extra session when Justin Williams beat Henrik Lundqvist (40 saves) to the short side from the slot, after New York couldn't clear the puck out of its zone. The two teams went a combined 0-for-7 on the power play. Hagelin and LA's Willie Mitchell (Clarkson) each had a game-high five shots on goal, as did the Kings' Slava Voynov.

Game 2 is slated for Saturday night at 7 p.m. ET in California, before the NHL's championship series shifts to Manhattan on Monday.

Moore, Boyle Send Rangers to Stanley Cup Final

Dominic Moore (Harvard) scored the only goal of the game, and the New York Rangers will now return to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since winning it all in 1994.

Brian Boyle (Boston College) fed Moore from behind the net at 18:07 of the second period on Thursday Night in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final, and the Rangers held on to beat the Montreal Canadians, 1-0, at Madison Square Garden. New York won the series, four games to two, after previously winning a pair of seven-game series against Philadelphia and Pittsburgh in the first two rounds.

The Rangers will be on the road next week at either Chicago or Los Angeles, with the Blackhawks and Kings playing their own Game 6 tonight in California. Los Angeles leads that series, three games to two. Montreal had been seeking its first return to the final since winning the Cup in 1993, the last time the NHL crown was claimed by a Canadian club.

Rangers Push Habs to Brink with 3-2 OT Win

Carl Hagelin (Michigan) scored for the second straight contest, and Martin St. Louis (Vermont) notched the game-winning goal just 6:02 into overtime to lift the New York Rangers to a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series on Sunday night at Madison Square Garden.

Hagelin, who scored on a first-period breakaway off a set-up from Brian Boyle (Boston College) and Ryan McDonagh (Wisconsin), also assisted on St. Louis' game-winner as the Rangers took a 3-1 lead in their Stanley Cup Playoff series with the Habs. Rene Bourque (Wisconsin) assisted on the Canadiens first goal of the game as Montreal twice fought back from one-goal deficits to again force sudden death.

Game 5, and New York's first chance to clinch the series and move on to the final, will be on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET at the Bell Centre in Montreal.

Canadiens to Meet Rangers in Eastern Final

What looked to be an all black-and-gold NHL Eastern Conference final a week ago has turned red, white and blue - or bleu, blanc et rouge, if you're north of the border.

One night after the New York Rangers completed their comeback from a 3-1 series deficit against the Pittsburgh Penguins with a 2-1 win in Steeltown, the Montreal Canadiens completed their own comeback from a 3-2 series deficit against the Boston Bruins with a 3-1 victory in Beantown.

Max Pacioretty (Michigan) notched the game-winning goal in the second period as the Habs took a 2-0 lead en route to their Game 7 triumph over the East's No. 1 seed. Torey Krug (Michigan State) assisted on Boston's lone goal as Montreal defeated the Bruins for the sixth time in nine all-time Game 7 meetings.

Brian Boyle (Boston College) scored the game-opening goal in the Rangers win on Tuesday night, assisted by Dominic Moore (Harvard). Martin St. Louis (Vermont) and Derek Stepan (Wisconsin) then set up Brad Richard's game- and series-winning goal in the second period to break a 1-1 tie. New York allowed Pittsburgh just three goals in the final three games.

The Rangers-Canadiens series will begin on Friday in Montreal. It has been 20 years since the Rangers made the Stanley Cup Final and won hockey's biggest prize, one year after the Habs did the same in 1993 when Montreal won 10 overtime contests that spring.

Out west, Jonathan Quick (Massachusetts) kept the Los Angeles Kings alive by making 21 saves in a 2-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks in Game 6 last night in Inglewood, Cal. Kyle Palmieri (Notre Dame) scored the Ducks' only goal, assisted by Nick Bonino (Boston University), after Anaheim fell behind, 2-0.

Game 7 will be contested in Anaheim on Friday night. The winner will face the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks, who ousted the Minnesota Wild in six games after a 2-1 overtime win in Minnesota on Tuesday.

Boston College's Boyle, Kreider Power Rangers Past Red Wings

New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist may have gotten the spotlight with his 300th career NHL win and 49th shutout following his 30-save performance in Sunday’s 3-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings. All three Ranger goals, however, were scored by former Boston College players Brian Boyle and Chris Kreider.

Boyle opened the scoring 5:14 into the matinee contest at Madison Square Garden with a turn-around wrist shot from the slot past Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard (Maine). The assists went to John Moore and Dominic Moore (Harvard).

Kreider made it 2-0 just 14 seconds into the third period when he tipped home a shot from the left point by Ryan McDonagh (Wisconsin). Derek Stepan (Wisconsin) set up the play with a back pass to McDonagh.

The Badger duo combined again with Kreider with 7:49 remaining in regulation. Kreider, who won NCAA titles in both 2010 and 2012 at B.C.,  took a cross-ice feed from Stepan and wristed the puck past Howard from the left side.

The Rangers, who won the season series with Detroit, three games to none,  are now 6-3-1 in their last 10 games overall. New York is also in second place in the NHL’s Metropolitan Division, one point ahead of the Philadelphia Flyers for the third and last playoff spot in the group.

Boston College Will Again Be Engraved on the Stanley Cup

With only four NHL teams still playing, and one of those on the brink of elimination, the odds are practically guaranteed that a former player from Boston College will get a Stanley Cup ring this spring.

Whoever wins will join a Stanley Cup-winning Boston College contingent that includes Doug Brown (Detroit, 1997, 1998), Brian Gionta (New Jersey, 2003), Bill Guerin (New Jersey 1995, Pittsburgh 2009), Brian Leetch (New York Rangers, 1994), Joe Mullen (Calgary 1989, Pittsburgh 1991, 1992), Brooks Orpik (Pittsburgh 2009), Ryan Shannon (Anaheim 2007) and Kevin Stevens (Pittsburgh 1991, 1992).

They include Rob Scuderi (BC' 01) of the Los Angeles Kings, who won his first Cup with Pittsburgh in 2009, and was a member of BC's NCAA title team in 2001.

Stephen Gionta (BC '06) scored his first career NHL goal for the New Jersey Devils in the regular season finale against Ottawa, and has added two more tallies plus two assists in the playoffs while providing energy and physical play on New Jersey's fourth line. Former BC teammate Peter Harrold (BC '06) has provided some offense from the Devils' blue line in the NHL postseason in the form of four assists.

Brian Boyle (BC '07) scored three goals for the New York Rangers in the first round against Ottawa, but has been slowed somewhat since suffering a concussion in the same series off of a Chris Neil hit. He still added an  assist in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals against New Jersey. last but definitely not least, Chris Kreider (BC '12) has been the rookie find of the playoffs, and stepped right into the Rangers' postseason lineup fresh off a second NCAA title in three years with the Eagles. Despite some rough spots, he has tallied five goals and two assists in his first 15 NHL playoff games, including a pair of game-winners, and a huge insurance goal in Game 3 versus the Devils.

The Phoenix Coyotes, down three games to one to LA in the Western Conference finals, have no BC players on their roster this season.

It's been said that the road to the Stanley Cup begins in Chestnut Hill, Mass. It appears that will "ring" true once more in 2012.

BC's Kreider Makes NHL Debut in Playoffs

The wait is finally over for Chris Kreider.

The 6'3'', 225-pound winger from Boxford, Mass., who just won his second national championship with Boston College only nine days ago, made his NHL debut tonight in the New York Rangers 1-0 playoff victory over the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place in Kanata, Ont.

Kreider skated 13 shifts in all, logging just over 11 minutes of ice time and recording one shot on goal and one hit while wearing jersey No. 20. Brian Boyle, a 2007 BC alumnus, scored the only goal of the game in the third period to give the Rangers a 2-1 first-round series lead.

Kreider is no stranger to skating alongside NHL players. He represented the U.S. at the 2010 and 2011 IIHF World Championships as the lone college player on the American squad.

Drafted 19th overall by the Rangers in 2009 out of Phillips Andover Academy, and long touted to join the Blueshirts' ranks, Kreider, 21, signed with New York shortly after BC beat Ferris State in the NCAA title game in Tampa, Florida on April 7.

He led the Eagles in scoring this past season with 24 goals and 22 assists for 46 points, all career high numbers for him. He tallied 50-43—93 points in 114 career college games over three seasons, and also collected 137 penalty minutes.

Kreider also helped BC to the 2008 NCAA title over Wisconsin at Ford Field in Detroit as a freshman, and had a goal in the championship game. He posted a goal and an assist in the Eagles' 6-1 triumph over Minnesota in this year's Frozen Four semifinals for the final points of his college career, and also scored both BC goals in a 2-0 regional semifinal victory over Air Force.

Now he'll be seeking to do the same in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Jerry York Wins No. 900

No. 3 Boston College registered a 4-2 win over No. 9 Merrimack on Friday night at Kelley Rink in a battle of two Hockey East rivals. The bigger story was that BC head coach Jerry York earned the 900th victory of his career with the win, making him just the second college hockey coach ever to attain that milestone.

Now in his 40th season of coaching, all in the collegiate ranks, York sports a record of 900-557-94 (.611) with Clarkson, Bowling Green and Boston College in a career that began back in 1972. A 1967 BC alumnus, he has gone 433-222-60 in 17 seasons and counting at his alma mater, whom he has led to national titles in 2001, 2008 and 2010 since taking over the program in 1994. He also won an NCAA crown with Bowling Green in 1984, and earned the Lester Patrick Trophy two years ago for service to American hockey.

“Holy smokes, 900 wins,” said Merrimack coach Mark Dennehy, a 1991 BC alumnus, at USCHO.com. “At the rate I’m going, I’ll be 275 years old by the time I get 900 wins.”

York is now just 24 wins away from tying all-time college coaching wins leader Ron Mason, who amassed a 924-380-83 mark (.696) with Lake Superior State, Bowling Green and Michigan State from 1966 until 2002. He also won an NCAA title with the Spartans in 1986.

York, a native of Watertown, Mass., has also sent numerous players on to the NHL in his coaching tenure. His current NHLers from BC include Brian Boyle (NY Rangers), Scott Clemmensen (Florida), Nathan Gerbe (Buffalo), Brian Gionta (Montreal), Brooks Orpik (Pittsburgh), Cory Schneider (Vancouver) and Rob Scuderi (Los Angeles).