PC - BU Set to Drop Puck on All New England Frozen Final
Saturday, April 11, 2015
The Providence College Friars hockey team takes on the Boston University Terriers in the National Championship game tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the TD Garden in Boston.
Providence is coming off a 4-1 win over Omaha in the semi finals while the Terriers are coming off a solid performance against North Dakota, winning 5-3.
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One storyline heading into this game is that the Boston University head coach David quinine is a Rhode Island native, having grown up in Cranston.
"Well, it is special because I belong to Wannamoisett Country Club down in East Providence, Rhode Island. A lot of members there that are Friar graduates. I've been engaged in a lot of fun text exchanges since last night [Thursday night]," said Quinn in his Friday press conference.
David Quinn was a freshman at Boston University the last time the Friars made it to the National Championship Game back in 1985.
"I remember that '85 team was my freshmen year at BU, and they beat us in the semifinals. And I know Chris Terreri was the backbone of that team. They had a lot of good players. It was the first year that Lou Lamoriello wasn't coaching Providence anymore. I think Steve Stirling was coaching at the time, and they had a really good team. And they had a magical run. I think Terreri had 70‑plus saves in the Hockey East Finals and then did the same thing to BC in the National Tournament," Quinn recalled.
Quinn was named the 11th head coach in Terrier history, following Jack Parker, in 2013.
PC vs BU this Season
The Friars and Terriers played twice this season with each team winning on the other's home ice. The games took place on back to back nights, the first in Providence when PC lost 4-1 and the next in Boston when the Friars earned a 2-1 victory.
"They took it to us that first night. But the second night we rebounded and that's been our philosophy all year.
It's going to happen all year like it's been down, Friday nights we haven't come out the way we wanted but Saturday night we've been able to rebound. I think that was one of those times.
But going into this game, we've just gotta play our game," said Friars forward Shane Luke.
Five things to watch for in the National Championship game.
BU's Big Three
Jack Eichel, Ahti Oksanen and Danny O' Regan combined for 72 goals this season for the Terriers.
Eichel leads with 26 while Oksanen and O'Regan follow up with 24 and 22 respectively.
Providence will look to limit their chances by playing solid defense and staying out of the penalty box.
Jack Eichel
BU forward Jack Eichel is arguably the best forward in the country and likely a top pick in this summer's NHL draft. Eichel had two goals and one assist in the Terriers semi final game against North Dakota on Thursday night.
Eichel leads the country with 70 points, 26 goals and 44 assists and a plus-minus rating for +51.
Eichel was named the Hockey East Player of the Year and the Rookie of the year and followed that up with a Hockey East Tournament MVP award.
Jack Eichel appears to be the real deal and it will be interesting to watch him play in the biggest game of his young career.
Jon Gillies
Providence junior goaltender Jon Gillies could very well be playing his final collegiate game in tonight's National Championship. Gillies is a draft pick of the Calgary Flames.
Gillies is a big reason that Providence College hockey has had a resurgence over the last couple of years.
Gillies comes into the national championship game with an goals against average of 1.98.
BU comes in with a high powered offense and one of the best, if not the best, forward in the country in Jack Eichel, so Gillies will need to be solid once again.
Noel Acciari
Like in 1985 when Providence was led by RI native Chris Terreri, this season, Providence is led by RI native Noel Acciari from Johnston.
Acciari leads the Friars with 15 goals and 16 assists this season including a goal in the semi final game against Omaha to give Providence a 1-0 lead.
Acciari has had the hot hand for the Friars and if Providence is going to win national title, he will be a big reason why.
BU's Transition game
"They have a great transition game. Grzelcyk and Fortunato do a great job getting up in the offense. I think they've got a very good power play.
And obviously I think they have the premier forward in the country," said PC head coach Nate Leaman.
The Friars will need to contain their transition game by being solid in the neutral zone and not giving up odd man rushes.
For the most part the PC defense has been pretty solid throughout the tournament and the will need that to continue.
An All New England Frozen Final
The Providence College Friars will look to win their first ever national championship in hockey while the Terriers look to claim their first title since 2009 and their first one in the Dave Quinn era.
The puck drops on PC - BU tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the TD Garden in Boston.
The game can be seen on ESPN.
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