After a 2-0 road shutout victory to begin its season and defense of a national championship, the No. 1 Boston College hockey team hit the road to Denver, Colo., this past weekend to take on No. 8 Denver in a two-game series.
The Eagles swept the weekend series over the Pioneers, earning a 6-2 win on Friday night followed by a 3-0 shutout on Saturday to improve its record to 3-0 on the season and continue its reign as the No. 1 nationally-ranked team.
Leading BC to success was forward Jimmy Hayes, who scored two goals over the weekend.
The Dorchester, Mass., native scored one goal on Friday night as part of a second-period offensive explosion in which the Eagles netted three consecutive goals in a three minute, 24 second time span en route to the 6-2 victory.
Hayes continued his scoring ways on Saturday night as he netted the first and eventual game-winning goal of the game in the first period to lead BC to the 3-0 win. For his efforts over the weekend, Hayes earned the Athletic Republic Player of the Week honors.
Hayes and the Eagles hope to continue their winning streak this Saturday as they travel to South Bend, Ind., to face Notre Dame.
Wildcats rally late
After splitting a weekend series at Miami (OH), No. 9 New Hampshire returned home to the Whittemore Center before a sellout crowd to host No. 3 Michigan in its home opener.
Senior Paul Thompson netted a goal with four minutes, 33 seconds remaining in regulation off the feeds of Phil DeSimone and Blake Kessel to tie things up at 3-3 to send the game into overtime, where it remained for the final score. The game-tying goal was Thompson’s second goal of the season.
It was a game of catch up for the Wildcats all game, as the Wolverines drew first blood in the first period and the scoring went back and forth from there, ending in the 3-3 draw.
Despite giving up three goals of which were scored on the power play, junior goaltender Matt Digirolamo performed solid between the pipes, stopping 27 of Michigan’s 30 shots and earned the Pure Hockey Defensive Player of the Week honors for his efforts.
UNH returns to the ice this Friday night when they head to Boston at Matthews Arena to play Northeastern in Hockey East action.
Warriors rout Huskies
In its home opener and in front of a sellout crowd at newly renovated Lawler Rink, Merrimack blew out Connecticut, 7-1, to pick up its first victory of the season.
Junior Elliott Sheen opened the scoring 12 minutes, 38 seconds into the first period with his first goal of the season, and the Huskies countered early in the second with their loan goal of the game.
The floodgates opened after that, as the Warriors scored six unanswered goals, including two goals from Stephane DeCosta in the 7-1 blowout.
Merrimack’s goal output marks the first time since 2003 that it recorded that many goals, of which came in a 7-1 win over UNH.
It was a game of firsts as well for the Warriors, as Rhett Bly put home his first career goal and Mike Collins and Brendan Ellis both recorded their first collegiate assists.
Goaltender Joe Cannata saved 17-of-18 shots in the game and recorded his 18th career victory in the win, while Sam Marotta relieved him late in the third period to make his collegiate debut.
Merrimack returns to action this Saturday as it heads to Vermont to play the winless Catamounts.
Stephen Hewitt can be reached at [email protected].
