HOCKEY EAST HEADLINES

Boston College claimed the 19th Hockey East regular season crown in program history. Jacob Fowler posted a 27-save shutout of Merrimack in a 6-0 win, finishing the year with the best goals against average (1.58) and save percentage (.945) in league play. His 1.58 GAA is the best mark in league history for any goaltender who played more than 13 games.

Ryan Leonard scored his 25th goal of the Hockey East season in the win, becoming just the second player to hit that mark since Brian Gionta did so in 2000-01 (Cutter Gauthier, 2023-24).

The Opening Round begins with three games on Wednesday. #6 Massachusetts (19-12-5/10-9-5 HE) and #11 Vermont (11-20-3/6-16-2 HE) who was undefeated against the Minutemen, going 2-0-1 with a shootout victory in November.

#8 Merrimack (13-20-1/9-14-1HE) hosts #9 Northeastern (12-19-3/7-14-3 HE) at 7:00 p.m. on NESN+ in a rematch of the 2024 Opening Round, a 4-0 Northeastern win at Matthews Arena.

#7 UMass Lowell (15-15-4/8-13-3 HE) draws #10 New Hampshire (13-15-6/5-14-5 HE) after the Wildcats swept the River Hawks in the final weekend of the regular season to earn the 10th seed. It is the second straight year the teams will play each other three times in a row including an Opening Round contest.

#4 UConn (20-10-4/12-8-4 HE) repeats its highest-ever finish and will face off with #5 Providence (21-9-5/11-8-5 HE) on Friday, March 14 at 7:00 p.m. on NESN in the quarterfinals.

HOCKEY EAST PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Quinn Huston - Boston University

Quinn Huston (Jr., F; North Barrington, Ill.) led the nation this week with seven points on two goals and five assists as he helped the Terriers win twice and secure home ice in the quarterfinals. Hutson collected a career-best four assists in an 8-2 win over No. 6 Providence on Thursday before notching two goals and one assist in a 6-1 win at Vermont on Saturday. Hutson, the national leader in points per game (1.44) has now set new career highs in goals (20), assists (26) and points (46).

PRO AMBITIONS CO-ROOKIES OF THE WEEK

Cole Eiserman and Cole Hutson - Boston University

Cole Eiserman (Fr., F; Newburyport, Mass.) notched his second hat trick of the season in an 8-2 win over No. 6 Providence on Thursday and then tallied one goal and also had a primary assist in a 6-1 win at Vermont on Saturday. Nobody in the nation scored more goals than Eiserman did in the past week. He is the fourth Terrier rookie in the last 20 years to notch 20 goals.

Cole Hutson (Fr., D; North Barrington, Ill.) led the NCAA with four assists in two wins and also added two goals for six points, just one behind his brother, Quinn, for the weekly lead. Hutson notched three points (1g, 2a) in both BU wins this week and now leads all NCAA rookies in points (39) and assists (27). He also leads all defensemen in points per game (1.18).

HOCKEY EAST DEFENDER OF THE WEEK

Joaquim Lemay - Northeastern

Joaquim Lemay (Jr., D; Sainte-Pierre-les-Becquets, Que.) dished out two assists in a split weekend for Northeastern. He finished the weekend with three shots and six blocks, including a career-high five against Merrimack in a 2-1 win. He has tallied six points in his last six games (2g, 4a). He added three shots on net and an even-rating against Providence.

STOP IT GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK

Rico DiMatteo - New Hampshire

Rico DiMatteo (Sr., G; Brasher Falls, N.Y.) ent 2-0-0 against No. 17 UMass Lowell on the week as he made 45 saves and allowed three goals. He posted a 1.50 goals against average and a .938 save percentage. On Friday, he made 14 saves as UNH defeated the River Hawks, 4-1, while on Saturday he recorded 31 saves as the ‘Cats won 4-2. His two wins were his first two as a UNH Wildcat.

HOCKEY EAST TOP PERFORMERS

Ryan Leonard, BC (So., F; Amherst, Mass.) Pushed his point streak to a national-best 15 games with a goal and an assist in a 6-1 win over Merrimack, helping BC claim the Hockey East regular season crown for the second straight season. The goal was his 25th of the Hockey East season and he is just the second player to reach that mark in Hockey East play since Brian Gionta in 2000-01 (Cutter Gauthier, 2023-24).

Gabe Perreault, BC (So., F; Hinsdale, Ill.) Scored twice, including once on the power-play, in the Eagles’ 6-0 victory over Merrimack.

Teddy Stiga, BC (Fr., F; Sudbury, Mass.) Found the back of the net twice in BC’s 6-0 win over Merrimack in the regular season finale.

Eamon Powell, BC (Sr., D; Marcellus, N.Y.) Tied his season-high of three assists in a 6-0 victory over Merrimack on Saturday.

Jacob Fowler, BC (So., G; Melbourne, Fla.) Posted a 27-save shut out of Merrimack, his seventh perfect game of the season and 10th of his career. He finished the 2024-25 regular season with the best goals against average (1.58) and save percentage (.945) in league play. His 1.58 GAA is the best mark in league history for any goaltender who played more than 13 games.

Mikhail Yegorov, BU (Fr., G; St. Petersburg, Russia) Made 34 saves and allowed just one goal in an 8-2 win over No. 6 Providence on Thursday before stopping 21 of the 22 shots he faced in a 6-1 win at No. 6 Vermont on Saturday. He led all Hockey East netminders with at least two starts this week in GAA (1.05) and save percentage (.965).

Lee Parks, UML (Fr., F; Ottawa, Ont.) Finished a weekend series against New Hampshire with two points on a goal and an assist, giving him a point in three consecutive games.

Chris Delaney, UML (Fr., F; Hopkinton, Mass.) Picker up a helper in each of two games against UNH this past weekend. He now has an assist in three consecutive games.

Robert Cronin, UNH (Sr., F; Plymouth, Mass.) Scored three goals for three points as the Wildcats swept No. 17 UMass Lowell. He netted the game winner in the 4-1 win on Friday on the road, while he recorded two goals against UMass Lowell in the 4-2 win on Saturday including the game winner. Cronin leads the team with 16 goals.

Colton Huard, UNH (Sr., D; Foothill Ranch, Calif.) Posted two assists for two points as UNH went 2-0-0 against No. 17 UMass Lowell. He tied for the team-lead with a plus-two rating and was a member of a defense that only allowed three goals over the two games. He posted an assist on the first goal in the 4-1 win on Friday, while he also recorded an assist on the first goal in the 4-2 win on Saturday.

Dylan Hryckowian, NU (So., F; Île Bizard, Que.) Recorded a three-point weekend from two goals and one assist. He struck for two power-play goals, including one game-winner and one game-tying goal. He added five shots and one block and has now tallied six points (2g, 4a) in four consecutive Hockey East games.

Logan Sawyer, PC (Fr., F; Orangeville, Ont.) Scored a goal in each of Providence’s game this week and added an assist to cap off a two-point night in the 3-2 win at Northeastern on Saturday. Sawyer also led all players the past week with 12 shots on goal.