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BC’s Johnny Gaudreau Records Hat Trick As U.S. Routs Czechs, Setting Up Showdown With Canada

It’s been a pretty productive few days for the Boston College hockey program.

Head coach Jerry York became college hockey’s all-time winningest coach over the weekend, and one of the team’s best players kept the good mojo going on Wednesday, albeit halfway across the world.

Johnny Gaudreau, who is representing the Eagles and Team USA at the World Junior Championship in Ufa, Russia, recorded a hat trick on Wednesday in a 7-0 win over the Czech Republic. The quarterfinals win helps the U.S. team advance to the semifinals, where they’ll meet Canada in what will be a highly anticipated semifinals matchup.

Gaudreau, who was a fourth-round pick of the Calgary Flames in the 2011 NHL entry draft, has found his scoring touch in a big way lately for the Americans. He now has five goals in his last two games.

That shouldn’t come as much surprise for Eagles fans, though. Gaudreau has potted 11 goals and added 12 assists in just 14 games for BC this season after posting 21-23-44 totals with the Eagles as a freshman last season.

Canada and Team USA met in the tournament’s preliminary round with the Canadians eking out a 2-1 victory behind a stellar effort from Bruins prospect Malcolm Subban in goal.

Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@johngaudreau03