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This past winter, Boston College hockey sent six skaters—current and former—to the 2018 Olympic Games. Brian Gionta was the only men’s hockey alumnus to book a ticket to Pyeongchang. Women’s hockey, on the other hand, accounted for more than a fifth of the Team U.S.A. roster: Emily Pfalzer, BC ’15, Haley Skarupa, BC ’16, Megan Keller, BC ’19, Kali Flanagan, BC ’19, and Cayla Barnes, BC ’22 all made the cut. The five Eagles represented the largest contingent BC had sent to the Olympics in school history. They all played in each of Team U.S.A.’s five tournament games, and the Eagles’ four defenseman—Pfalzer, Keller, Flanagan, and Barnes—logged major minutes in the gold medal game, particularly during the 4-on-4 overtime period.
Keller led the group with two points over the course of the Games, recording a pair of assists. Team U.S.A.’s thrilling shootout victory upped the program’s medal count to eight. What’s even more impressive, however, is that the five Eagles are the first BC athletes to win gold since 1956. Three of them—Keller, Flanagan, and Barnes—are back on the Heights this fall, ready to share a similar championship experience at the collegiate level.
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It’s not often that two of the most exciting young players in college hockey reside on the same campus, but fans of the Eagles have that luxury.
Watts is coming off of a remarkable freshman campaign that was easily one of the best in Division I women’s hockey history for a first-year, wracking up 42 goals and 40 assists for an incredible 82-point season. The remarkable run that easily earned her the Patty Kazmaier Award for the best NCAA women’s hockey player, period. She led the nation in scoring wire-to-wire, became the first player in Hockey East history to win both Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors, and set numerous other records.
Hutsko, meanwhile, coming off back-to-back season-ending injuries, had a breakout season, pacing the BC offense with 12 goals and 19 assists en route to Hockey East Rookie of the Year honors. His freshman campaign with the Eagles didn’t go unnoticed, either. A former U.S. National Team Developmental Program player, Hutsko’s 31 points were good for the eighth-most by a freshman in the country. His strong effort was rewarded by the Florida Panthers taking him in the third round—89th overall—of the NHL Entry Draft.
Welcome to the 2018-19 Boston College hockey season, one in which hopes are high on campus—and in the national polls.
Last season, Boston College women’s hockey fell in the NCAA Quarterfinals, while men’s hockey unceremoniously bowed out in the Hockey East semifinals. This year, men’s hockey returns 105 of the 108 goals it scored last year and welcomes one of the best recruiting classes in the country. At the same time, women’s hockey boasts the reigning Patty Kazmaier Award winner in Daryl Watts and a trio of Olympic gold medalists, who are (re)joining the team after the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. As a result, both teams face increased expectations, but undoubtedly have the talent to reach them.