Notes: BU-Providence final is boost for Hockey East – Boston Herald

Hockey East will have a rooting interest at both ends of the ice when Boston University engages conference rival Providence College in tonight’s NCAA Frozen Four championship game at the Garden.

The Terriers vs. Friars represent the third time two Hockey East teams have squared off in the title game since the conference was formed prior to the 1984-85 campaign. BU defeated Maine 6-2 in the 1995 title game in Providence. Maine needed overtime to dispatch New Hampshire 3-2 in the 1999 championship in Anaheim, Calif.

“I think it’s a nice little story, but I think it is great for our league and I mean that sincerely,” said BU second-year coach David Quinn.

“We think we have as good a league if not the best league in college hockey. The building will be packed and there will be a lot of passionate Providence College fans and a lot of passionate Terrier fans. Two teams that know each other and I think it is going to be a great matchup.”

BU and Providence finished 1-2 in the regular season, but their respective runs quickly went in different directions. BU went on to win the Hockey East tournament title and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Northeast Regional. Providence was eliminated by New Hampshire in the Hockey East quarterfinals and was the final team to qualify for the NCAA field of 16 teams.

BU survived tough NCAA regional games against Yale and Minnesota-Duluth in Manchester, N.H., and outlasted North Dakota 5-3 in the Frozen Four semifinal on Thursday night. The Friars benefitted by playing the East Regionals in Providence where they eliminated Miami (Ohio) and Denver. PC defeated Nebraska-Omaha 4-1 in the Garden on Thursday.

“You don’t know when those opportunities are going to arise,” said Providence coach Nate Leaman. “You just put your head down and try to keep getting better.”

Ghoulish games

The Terriers and the Friars split a home-and-home series back on Halloween weekend, with each team winning on foreign ice. BU beat the Friars 4-1 in Providence on Oct. 31, while PC beat the Terriers 2-1 the following night at Agganis Arena.

“They took it to us the first night,” said PC senior left winger Shane Luke, “but the second night we rebounded and that’s been our philosophy all year.”

Garden party animal

BU freshman sensation Jack Eichel of North Chelmsford has enjoyed phenomenal success during his ice time at the Garden.

Eichel made his Garden debut in the Beanpot, picking up an assist in the two games. He maintained his winning play through the Hockey East tournament, scoring twice in the semifinal and adding two more goals and an assist in the final.

In Thursday’s national semifinal, he scored twice and added an assist — giving him six goals and three assists in his five career games on Causeway Street.