Hockey East Championship Weekend Preview
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TD Garden hosts the 32nd Annual Hockey East Championship Tournament

No. 1 Boston College vs. No. 6 Northeastern - Fri. 3/18 at TD Garden

- No. 1 Boston College (15-2-5 HEA), the 2015-16 Hockey East regular season co-champion, advances to the TD Garden for the first time since 2013 in its 22nd appearance in the semifinals.

- After claiming its fourth regular season title in six years (2010-11, '11-12, '13-14, '15-16), Boston College looks to win the Lamoriello Trophy for the first time since 2012. The Eagles have won a league-best 11 tournament titles, nine of which have come under current head coach Jerry York, and are 16-5 in semifinal tilts all-time.

- No. 6 Northeastern (10-8-4 HEA) enters the Hockey East semifinals as one of the hottest teams in the NCAA, carrying an 18-1-2 record in its last 21 contests and riding an 11-game win streak.

- Overall, Boston College boasts a 6-1-0 record against Northeastern in the postseason, including a 2-0 mark in the semifinals (1987, 2011).

- On March 16, Boston College goaltender Thatcher Demko (San Diego, Calif.) was selected as a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award and Mike Richter Award.

- Eagles blueliner Casey Fitzgerald (North Reading, Mass.) and forward Colin White (Hanover, Mass.) were named to the 2015-16 Pro Ambitions All-Rookie Team, while junior Steve Santini (Mahopac, N.Y.) was chosen as Old Time Hockey Best Defensive Defenseman. BC's Ian McCoshen (Faribault, Minn.) was the runner-up for the defensive accolade.

- Northeastern was honored with the Charlie Holt Team Sportsmanship Award, given to the Hockey East squad that compiles the fewest penalty minutes in league play.


No. 2 Providence vs. No. 4 UMass Lowell - Fri. 3/18 at TD Garden

- No. 2 Providence (16-3-3 HEA) skates in to the semifinals seeking its first Hockey East championship since 1996. The Friars finished the regular season as conference co-champions, earning a share of the crown for the first time in program history.

- Providence last appeared at TD Garden in the Hockey East semifinals in 2014, and has moved onto the final weekend four times in the last five seasons, but has not competed in the championship contest since 2001.

- No. 4 UMass Lowell (12-6-4 HEA) returns to the TD Garden for the fourth consecutive season. The River Hawks have appeared in the championship contest in each of the last three years, capturing two tournament titles, in 2013 and 2014.

- Historically, the Friars and River Hawks have played each other nine times previously in the postseason, with UMass Lowell owning a 5-3-1 record including a victory in the only se mifinal meeting in 2013.

- River Hawks senior netminder Kevin Boyle (Manalapan, N.J.) collected multiple honors from March 16 as he was named Stop It Goaltending Champion as the statistical leader in Hockey East play and the Army ROTC Three Stars Award winner. Boyle was also named a finalist for the Mike Richter Award.

- UMass Lowell's Joe Gambardella (Staten Island, N.Y.) was honored with the Len Ceglarski Sportmanship Award.

- Providence received individual acknowledgment for the 2015-16 season as well as senior defenseman Tom Parisi (Commack N.Y.) earned runner-up recognition for the Old Time Hockey Best Defensive Defenseman and junior netminder Nick Ellis (Millersville, Md.) was the runner-up for the Army ROTC Three Stars Award.