Led by Jack Eichel, Boston University Wins Hockey East

Jack Eichel scored twice once again to lead Boston University to a Hockey East title after they defeated the UMass Lowell Riverhawks 5-3 at the TD Garden in Boston. UMass Lowell had been the two time defending conference champions before the Terriers knocked them off on Saturday night.

This was the second straight game where Eichel scored twice after Boston University defeated the New Hampshire Wild Cats to advance to the conference championship game.

BU went up 2-0 to start the game with goals from Matt Grzelcyk, a Boston Bruins prospect, and another one from Dylan Zink. Lowell scored to make it 2-1 before a goal from Carson Hohmann made it 3-1.

This is Boston University’s first Hockey East title since the 2009 season. The Terriers have ensured themselves a one seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament and will begin tournament play next week in either Providence, Rhode Island or Manchester, New Hampshire. UMass Lowell will miss the playoffs for the first time in the last four years.

Grzelcyk has become a dangerous player for the Terriers. Even though he had just ten goals on the season, he has scored three times in big games (Hockey East championship and the Beanpot tournament at the TD Garden). Along with Eichel, the Terriers offense is something to fear.

Boston University will be at a regional game as the top seed in either New Hampshire or Rhode Island. One of the teams they end up playing could be Providence, Bowling Green, Yale, Harvard, or Minnesota.

Jack Eichel finished with 66 points on the season which is the most out of any NCAA freshman since 1991-1993 when Paul Kariya did it with the Maine Black Bears. It’s the most ever from any freshman with Boston University.

The soon-to-be early first round NHL pick has starred in the spotlight with two goals in each of the tournament games he played in.

Minnesota clinched the Big Ten title last night as well and that eliminated Michigan while Providence was able to eek into the tournament. Harvard also has officially advanced thanks to a conference championship win over the Colgate Red Raiders.

Yale also advanced thanks to the win for Harvard, so it’s likely Yale and Providence could end up as the last two seeds in the NCAA tournament and play one of the top seeds- either Boston University, North Dakota, or Minnesota State, most likely. The tournament bracket will be officially announced on Sunday afternoon.