Last year hurt, but this year hurts far worse. Expectations coming into the season had greatness written all over this team. The men's hockey team came into the 2006-2007 campaign ranked No. 1, having lost three influential players but returning the core of the squad that came so close to national glory last year. And the Eagles had received a major boost when NHL-ready power forward Brian Boyle turned down the Los Angeles Kings for another shot at a national title.
With last year's young team, fans were unsure what to expect from coach Jerry York's squad. This year, there was no question: The talent was there, and most importantly, they had tasted how bitter losing was in the national championship game. That bitter taste is unquestionably part of what drove this team throughout the entire season, especially during the magical 13-game winning streak they put together. Despite the disappointing end to the season, this team accomplished a great deal. Making it to the Frozen Four and the national championship game in consecutive seasons is an accomplishment in and of itself. Obviously, it would be sweeter to be coming home with a national title; nonetheless, this team has much to be proud of.
"It's a special place, Boston College," said Boyle after the loss. "I'm really disappointed tonight because it's given me a lot, and I really felt we'd have the opportunity to bring it back some hardware, a trophy for the team."
It was tough to put the good in perspective after the game.
"I'm just disappointed," said Boyle. "I can't really process it in my head right now. It felt different this year throughout the course of the game, throughout the course of the week. There was just a different atmosphere. We were pretty confident; I don't think we were too cocky or anything like that. We were just confident in our ability with the way we were playing. If we stuck to that, good things would happen, but that's not always the case."
The winning streak was the longest of York's illustrious and decorated career as a coach, and the Eagles were able to steamroll through the Hockey East Tournament to collect the division trophy, an honor they last collected in 2005.
But that's not the only hardware they had in mind: They wanted the national championship trophy. It seemed that the chips would fall right for the Eagles this season, six years removed from their last national title.
"That's what happens when you play sports," said York. "That's what you get involved with; there is going to be a winner and there is going to be a loser. You try as hard as you can, but there is no guarantee for this business. And I think our kids are mature enough to understand this."
The Eagles will again return an incredibly experienced and hungry team next year, a team like this year's that will be on a mission to erase the harsh memory of the final game. And for the program on the whole, it is its seventh trip to the Frozen Four since 1998, but the team has only been able to capture one national title. In fact, over the past 10 seasons, Boston College has been the most successful program in the NCAA Tournament, boasting a 49-15 record and a .766 winning percentage.
BC could potentially dress a full squad with players who have been in at least one championship game - and many who have played in two. The key for next season will lie in ensuring that the star underclassmen, especially Cory Schneider, do not spurn their final eligibility and sign in the NHL. Schneider, a first-round draft pick of the Vancouver Canucks, the most likely candidate to leave the Heights.
"I haven't really thought about it yet," said Schneider after the game. "I'm not really thinking about anything right now. So we'll see what happens."
Next year's squad will be captained by rising senior defenseman Mike Brennan, a stalwart on the blue line who has played in every game since he has been at the Heights. Brennan will be assisted by rising seniors Dan Bertram, Matt Greene, and Schneider. It doesn't make the loss any easier to take, but this team put together a remarkable run, especially considering that at one point this year, it was unsure whether they would actually make the tournament.
Getting another shot at the national title was definitely one of the Eagles' goals this season, but they still have some unfinished business, and, they will be hungrier than ever when next October rolls around and the 2007-2008 hockey season begins. n
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