If there’s one thing you don’t see very often in college hockey this season, it’s a box score without Jack Eichel’s name on it.
But alas, that was the case Saturday night when Eichel’s top-ranked Boston University Terriers took on the unranked defending national champions in the Union Dutchmen. The freshman phenom was a healthy scratch for BU (11-3-3), which settled for a 3-3 tie with Union (10-7-2).
The Terriers struck first, with freshman forward A.J. Greer putting the puck in the net just 5:47 into the opening period. However, Union struck back with a goal of their own less than a minute later. Each team netted one more before the end of the frame.
But the Terriers and Dutchmen were deadlocked after a goal-filled first. It would be another period and a half before Union’s Mike Vecchione put them ahead 14:24 into the third period.
Senior forward Evan Rodrigues kept BU alive with a goal just 1:20 later before a scoreless overtime period settled the draw.
BU’s next matchup is Friday, Jan. 9 against Wisconsin in Madison, where Eichel should be on the ice.
Around the League
UMass-Lowell 3, Merrimack 1: The No. 18 Warriors (11-6-2) struck first, but the No. 9 River Hawks (14-3-3) scored three unanswered goals for the win in the Mariucci Classic Championship game at Minnesota. Sophomore defenseman Dylan Zink scored twice for UMass-Lowell.
Maine 3, Canisius 1: The scoring was sparse, but the Black Bears (6-13-1) pulled out a 3-1 win over the Golden Griffins (6-8-5) to complete a weekend sweep. Maine sophomore forward Blaine Byron opened the scoring late in the first period, and the Black Bears didn’t let go of the lead from there. Freshman forward Nolan Vesey scored Maine’s third goal — and the final one of the game — 6:10 into the second period.
Northeastern 4, St. Lawrence 2: For every goal the Saints (8-9-2) scored, the Huskies (6-10-2) answered twice. Junior forward Kevin Roy scored two goals for Northeastern in its 4-2 win over St. Lawrence. The Huskies went 2-for-5 on the power play and kept the Saints scoreless with the man advantage.
Providence 5, Colorado College 4 (OT): There was no shortage of goals in the matchup between the No. 16 Friars (12-6-1) and the Tigers (3-12-1), but Providence netted one when it mattered the most. Junior forward Mark Jankowski scored the game-winner 4:28 into overtime as Providence took the 5-4 win. Noel Acciari scored twice for the Friars.
Yale 3, Vermont 1: The No. 10 Catamounts (14-5-1) got off to a fast start, but they couldn’t finish out their matchup with the Bulldogs (8-3-2). Freshman forward Rob Darrar got Vermont on the board just 2:56 into the contest, but Yale controlled the game from there to earn the 3-1 win.
Boston College 3, Dartmouth 2: The No. 15 Eagles (11-7-1) faltered in the middle period, but they rallied in the third for the 3-2 win over the Big Green (6-5-2). BC’s Adam Gilmour opened the scoring early in the second period, but Dartmouth notched two to get ahead entering the third. Goals from Chris Calnan and Teddy Doherty gave the Eagles the 3-2 win.
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@TerrierHockey
