Light the Lamp #6 - The Grand Old Duke of York

Light the Lamp #6 – The Grand Old Duke of York

By: Scott Geyman

After a brief hiatus over the winter break, Light the Lamp is back in full throttle for the second semester. Much has happened in the past several weeks in Boston College hockey, so let’s get you up to speed.

Jerry York Achieves Win 1,000

Oh, the Grand Old Duke of York,

He had ten thousand men;

He marched them up to the top of the hill,

And he marched them down again.

This nursery rhyme encapsulates the historic conquests of Jerry York over the past 44 seasons, except for the fact that the NCAA only permits eighteen of those “ten thousand men” to receive scholarships each year. Securing his 1,000th career victory over the University of Massachusetts last Friday with an 8-0 rout of the Minutemen, York reassured fellow coaches that he has no intention of backing down to competition despite his age. At 70 years old and signed through the 2019-20 season, York would love nothing more than to bring another national championship back to Conte Forum, where he has accumulated four (2001, 2008, 2010, and 2012) throughout his years at Boston College. Three universities (Clarkson University, Bowling Green State University, Boston College), eight Beanpot championships, and five national championships (1984 at BGSU) under his belt, the winningest coach in NCAA history may welcome his last recruiting class to play all four years under his reign this upcoming season if he chooses to hang up his skates upon the expiration of his contract.

Swooping into South Bend

With a comfortable 3-1 lead nearly halfway through the third period on a chilly December evening in Chestnut Hill, the Eagles were all set to cruise into winter break on a high note. Then the Irish struck. And struck again. And again. In a game that was controlled by Boston College, Notre Dame picked up the slack and turned things in the opposite direction for the last ten minutes, firing a total of seventeen shots on goal in the third period and coming out on top 4-3. Whether it was luck or sheer domination, the Eagles have tightened up some loose ends since and head into South Bend tonight, looking to take back a game that was theirs and establish a balance in the Holy War on Ice.

Beans, Beans, The Magical Fruit

YorkBeanpot

Coach York smiles as the Eagles hoist up the Beanpot trophy.

The more you eat, the more you…shoot? We’ll see if this adage comes true when Boston College faces off against Harvard on Monday in the opening round of the Beanpot, a tournament the Eagles have had tremendous success in the past several years. Winners of five of the past six championships, the Maroon and Gold will surely step on the ice with chips on their shoulders after losing a heartbreaker in the first round last year to Hockey East foe Northeastern. This year’s tournament will be no cakewalk; both Harvard and Boston University are currently ranked within the top ten (Harvard at #7 and BU at #9), and Northeastern cannot be shrugged off lightly. Despite their rocky start, the Huskies have won six straight and are looking to prove their worth in the tournament. The winners of Boston College vs. Harvard and Boston University vs. Northeastern will meet in the championship game at TD Garden on February 8 immediately after the consolation matchup.

You can listen to all of the action between Boston College and Harvard on Monday night on WZBC 90.3 FM or stream the broadcast online. Puck drop is at 5pm, and coverage will begin shortly before. Be sure to follow us on Twitter at @WZBCSports to follow along. Here’s to the Eagles coming out strong in search of the coveted fibery goodness!