2011–12 Boston College Eagles men's ice hockey season
The 2011–12 Boston College Eagles men's ice hockey team represented Boston College in the 2011–12 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season. The team was coached by Jerry York, '67, his eighteenth 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.
Boston College defeated Ferris State 4–1 in the 2012 Frozen Four Championship Game, earning the school's fifth national title and third title in five years. It was Jerry York's fourth title as head coach of the Eagles, having also won in 2001, 2008, and 2010. BC entered the NCAA Tournament as the number one overall seed, defeating Air Force and defending national champion Minnesota Duluth in the Northeast Regional in Worcester to advance to the Frozen Four at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa. The Eagles defeated Minnesota 6–1 in the semifinals before beating Ferris State in the national title game, with goaltender Parker Milner earning Most Outstanding Player honors.
Boston College also entered the 2011–2012 season as reigning Hockey East tournament champions, having defeated Merrimack 5–3 in the championship game, as well as defending Beanpot champions, beating Northeastern in the final 7–6 in overtime. The Eagles also won the 2010–11 Hockey East regular season championship, their first since 2004–05.
The Eagles defended their Beanpot title and won their third in a row by defeating Boston University 3–2 on a goal by sophomore forward Bill Arnold in the last seconds of the first overtime period. It was the Eagles seventeenth Beanpot title. The Eagles also defended their Hockey East Regular Season championship, clinching their record twelfth title in school history on March 3, 2012 by defeating Vermont 4–0 at Kelley Rink. BC won their third Hockey East Tournament championship in a row, the first three-peat in the history of the conference, and record eleventh title all-time, by defeating Maine 4–1 in the championship game in Boston.
Boston College also participated in two additional in-season tournaments, the Ice Breaker in Grand Forks, ND and the Great Lakes Invitational in Detroit, MI. BC won the 2011 Ice Breaker Tournament by defeating Michigan State 5–2 in the first round, and then beating North Dakota in the championship game, 6–2. In the first round of the 2011 Great Lakes Invitational, BC fell to Michigan 4–2 before defeating Michigan Tech 2–1 in the consolation game.
On November 3, 2011, it was announced that the Eagles will play Northeastern at Fenway Park on January 14, 2012 in Hockey East play. The contest was part of a double-header, with a game between MIAA-rivals Boston College High School and Catholic Memorial slated for earlier in the day. BC defeated Northeastern 2–1.
On February 17, 2012, head coach Jerry York won his 900th career game when the Eagles defeated Merrimack 4–2 at Kelley Rink. York is only the second college hockey coach to achieve 900 wins, with Ron Mason being the first. York ended the season with 913, which placed him second all-time in career victories after Ron Mason, who has 924.
Offseason
March 27, 2011: Junior forward Cam Atkinson signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets, forgoing his senior season.March 30, 2011: Junior forward Jimmy Hayes signed with the Chicago Blackhawks, also forgoing his senior season.
April 11, 2011: Sophomores Brian Dumoulin and Chris Kreider announced that they would return to Boston College for the 2011–12 season.
April 13, 2011: Sophomore defenseman Philip Samuelsson decided to forgo his final two seasons with Boston College to pursue a pro career in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization.
Also, sophomore forward Chris Kreider was selected to the United States national team that competed at the 2011 IIHF World Championship in Slovakia.
Recruiting
Boston College adds nine freshmen for the 2011–2012 season: two goaltenders in Brian Billet and Brad Barone, both alumni of the EJHL; two recruits from Canada in Mark Begert, a defenseman, and Destry Straight, a forward, who were teammates with the Coquitlam Express of the BCHL; forward Danny Linell, a Long Island native and 2011–12 recipient of the Hugh and Doris MacIsaac Family Scholarship Fund; forward Johnny Gaudreau, a fourth round pick of the Calgary Flames in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft who was previously committed to play at Northeastern; Hingham-native Cam Spiro, who was also an All-American lacrosse player at Tabor Academy; forward Michael Sit, a Minnesota native who joins the Eagles from powerhouse Edina; and forward Quinn Smith, who played for the Youngstown Phantoms in the USHL.| Player | Position | Nationality | Notes |
| Brian Billet | Goalie | Brunswick, ME; Three-time EJHL all-star. | |
| Brad Barone | Goalie | Medfield, MA; 2010–11 South Shore Kings team MVP. | |
| Mark Begert | Defense | West Vancouver, BC; BCHL academic all-star. | |
| Danny Linell | Forward | Great Neck, NY; Team MVP at Choate Rosemary Hall as a senior. | |
| Johnny Gaudreau | Forward | Carneys Point, NJ; Selected 104th overall by CAL in 2011 draft. | |
| Cam Spiro | Forward | Hingham, MA; Earned All-New England honors as a senior at Tabor. | |
| Destry Straight | Forward | West Vancouver, BC; 2010 Major Midget League all-star. | |
| Michael Sit | Forward | Edina, MN; Helped Edina claim the State Class AA title his junior year. | |
| Quinn Smith | Forward | Fairfield, CT; Was team MVP as a senior at Avon Old Farms. |
2011–2012 Roster
Departures from 2010–2011 Team
- Brian Gibbons, F – Graduation
- Joe Whitney, F – Graduation
- John Muse, G – Graduation
- Cam Atkinson, F – signed with Columbus Blue Jackets
- Jimmy Hayes, F – signed with Chicago Blackhawks
- Philip Samuelsson, D – signed with Pittsburgh Penguins
2011–12 Eagles
Standings
- On September 27, 2011, BC was picked to finish first in the preseason Hockey East coaches poll.
Schedule
2011–2012 Regular season
| Date | Rank | Opponent | Time | Score | Rink |
| Oct. 7 | #5 | vs. Michigan StateIce Breaker | 5:00 p.m. | Ralph Engelstad Arena | |
| Oct. 8 | #5 | vs. #3 North DakotaIce Breaker | 7:37 p.m. | Ralph Englestad Arena | |
| Oct. 14 | #1 | vs. #3 Denver | 7:30 p.m. | Kelley Rink | |
| Oct. 15 | #1 | at #15 New Hampshire* | 7:00 p.m. | Whittemore Center | |
| Oct. 21 | #2 | vs. Massachusetts* | 7:00 p.m. | Kelley Rink | |
| Oct. 22 | #2 | at Northeastern* | 7:00 p.m. | Matthews Arena | |
| Oct. 28 | #1 | at UMass Lowell* | 7:00 p.m. | Tsongas Center | |
| Oct. 29 | #1 | vs. UMass Lowell* | 7:00 p.m. | Kelley Rink | |
| Nov. 4 | #1 | vs. #20 Maine* | 7:00 p.m. | Kelley Rink | |
| Nov. 5 | #1 | at Massachusetts* | 7:00 p.m. | Mullins Center | |
| Nov. 11 | #2 | vs. Northeastern* | 7:00 p.m. | Kelley Rink | |
| Nov. 13 | #2 | vs. #16 Boston University* | 4:00 p.m. | Kelley Rink | |
| Nov. 18 | #3 | at #4 Notre Dame | 7:30 p.m. | Compton Family Center | |
| Nov. 26 | #5 | at #8 Yale | 4:00 p.m. | Ingalls Rink | |
| Dec. 2 | #2 | vs. #13 Boston University* | 7:30 p.m. | Kelley Rink | |
| Dec. 3 | #2 | at #13 Boston University* | 7:00 p.m. | Agganis Arena | |
| Dec. 6 | #3 | vs. #20 Providence* | 7:00 p.m. | Kelley Rink | |
| Dec. 9 | #3 | at #18 UMass Lowell* | 7:00 p.m. | Tsongas Center | |
| Dec. 29 | #3 | vs. #20 MichiganGLI | 7:30 p.m. | Joe Louis Arena | |
| Dec. 30 | #3 | vs. Michigan TechGLI | 4:00 p.m. | Joe Louis Arena | |
| Jan. 8 | #4 | vs. #7 Merrimack* | 1:00 p.m. | Kelley Rink | |
| Jan. 13 | #4 | at Massachusetts* | 7:00 p.m. | Mullins Center | |
| Jan. 14 | #4 | vs. Northeastern* | 6:00 p.m. | Fenway Park | |
| Jan. 20 | #3 | at Maine* | 7:00 p.m. | Alfond Arena | |
| Jan. 21 | #3 | at Maine* | 7:00 p.m. | Alfond Arena | |
| Jan. 27 | #7 | vs. New Hampshire* | 7:00 p.m. | Kelley Rink | |
| Jan. 28 | #7 | at New Hampshire* | 7:00 p.m. | Whittemore Center | |
| Feb. 6 | #5 | vs. NortheasternBeanpot | 8:00 p.m. | TD Garden | |
| Feb. 10 | #5 | at Vermont* | 7:00 p.m. | Gutterson Fieldhouse | |
| Feb. 13 | #3 | vs. #2 Boston UniversityBeanpot Champ. | 7:30 p.m. | TD Garden | |
| Feb. 17 | #3 | vs. #9 Merrimack* | 7:00 p.m. | Kelley Rink | |
| Feb. 18 | #3 | at #9 Merrimack* | 7:00 p.m. | Lawler Arena | |
| Feb. 24 | #2 | at Providence* | 7:00 p.m. | Schneider Arena | |
| Feb. 25 | #2 | vs. Providence* | 7:00 p.m. | Kelley Rink | |
| Mar. 2 | #1 | vs. Vermont* | 7:30 p.m. | Kelley Rink | |
| Mar. 3 | #1 | vs. Vermont* | 7:00 p.m. | Kelley Rink |
All times Eastern
Rankings from USCHO.com/CBS College Sports Poll
- = Hockey East Conference Play
GLI = 47th Annual Great Lakes Invitational Tournament in Detroit, MI
Beanpot = 60th Annual Beanpot Tournament in Boston, MA
- On October 8, Boston College won its third Ice Breaker title by defeating North Dakota 6–2 in Grand Forks, ND. Junior Chris Kreider was named tournament MVP and Parker Milner, Bill Arnold, Kreider, Tommy Cross and Patch Alber earned all-tournament honors.
- On December 5, freshman forward Johnny Gaudreau and sophomore forward Bill Arnold were named to the United States National Junior preliminary roster.
- On December 22, sophomore forward Bill Arnold was named to the United States National Junior team for the 2012 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Calgary and Edmonton.
- On February 13, BC won its seventeenth Beanpot title by defeating Boston University 3–2 in overtime of the championship game.
- On February 17, head coach Jerry York won his 900th career game when the Eagles defeated Merrimack 4–2 in Chestnut Hill. York is only the second coach in college hockey history to reach the 900-win plateau, with Ron Mason being the first.
- On March 3, the Eagles clinched their twelfth Hockey East Regular Season championship be defeating Vermont 4–0.
2012 Post-Season
- On March 17, the Eagles defeated the University of Maine by a score of 4–1 to win their 11th Hockey East Tournament Championship.
- On March 23, BC beat defending National Champion Minnesota-Duluth 4–0 to advance to the schools 23rd overall Frozen Four.
- The Boston College Eagles won the fifth national championship in school history by defeating Ferris State 4–1 on April 7.
Statistics
Skaters
Goaltenders
Awards and honors
Conference, National, and Tournament Awards
2011 Ice Breaker MVP- Chris Kreider, F
- Parker Milner, G
- Tommy Cross, D
- Patch Alber, D
- Chris Kreider, F
- Bill Arnold, F
- Parker Milner, G
- Parker Milner, G
- Brian Dumoulin, D
- Steven Whitney, F
- Paul Carey, F
*
2011–12 INCH All-Americans
*
2011–12 INCH Freshman All-Americans
*
2011–12 New England Men's Division I All-Stars
*
*
2011–12 Bob Monahan Award – Best Defenseman in New England
*
2012 Beanpot MVP
- Johnny Gaudreau, F
- Johnny Gaudreau, F
- Parker Milner, G
- Brian Dumoulin, D
- Johnny Gaudreau, F
- Parker Milner, G
- Johnny Gaudreau, F
- Bill Arnold, F –
- Parker Milner, G –
- Parker Milner –
- Johnny Gaudreau, F – , ,
*
*
*
*
*
*
Hockey East Player of the Week
- Bill Arnold, F –
- Chris Kreider, F –
- Parker Milner, G – ,
- Brian Billett, G –
- Parker Milner, G – , ,
- Patrick Wey, D –
- Brian Dumoulin, D –
- Johnny Gaudreau, F – , , , ,
*
2011–12 Hockey East Goaltending Champion
- , 1.85 GAA,.928 Save %
*
*
2011–12 Hockey East Second Team All-Stars
*
2011–12 Hockey East Honorable Mention All-Stars
*
2011–12 Hockey East All-Rookie Team
*
2011–12 Hockey East All-Academic Team
- Patrick Brown, F
- Brooks Dyroff, F
- Isaac Macleod, D
- Pat Mullane, F
- Michael Sit, F
- Patrick Wey, D
Team Awards
- Tommy Cross
- Barry Almeida, F
- Brian Dumoulin, D
- Parker Milner, G
- Tommy Cross, D
- Paul Carey, F
- Chris Venti, G
- Samson Lee, manager
- Chris Kreider, F
- Johnny Gaudreau, F
- Tommy Cross, D
- Edwin Shea, D