Terriers Move to Top of Polls; Eichel Honored
November 24, 2014 | Men's Ice Hockey
BOSTON - For the first time in over four years, the Boston University men's ice hockey team holds the top spot in both national polls.
BU earned a pair of wins over the weekend to improve to 8-1-1 overall and 6-1-1 in Hockey East play. For his efforts in the two victories, freshman Jack Eichel was named the Warrior Hockey Player of the Week by Hockey East.
The last time the Terriers were at the top of both the USCHO.com and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine polls was Nov. 8, 2010. BU was also ranked No. 1 by USCHO in its Feb. 6, 2012 poll.
BU occupied the final spot in this year's USCHO's preseason top-20 poll at the end of September and has ascended to the top over the past eight weeks. The Terriers are currently on a nation-best five-game unbeaten streak (4-0-1).
Eichel scored the overtime winner in Friday's 3-2 comeback victory at home against Maine. He added an assist against the Black Bears before recording two more helpers in Saturday's 5-2 road win against Connecticut.
The freshman leads the nation in points per game (1.90), assists per game (1.20) and plus-minus (+15). He is tied with RIT's Matt Garbowsky in points with 19 and is tops amongst all Hockey East players in assists with 12.
This is his first player of the week honor by the league after twice being tabbed the Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week.
The Terriers are in the middle of a stretch of five games in 10 days and will take on three ECAC Hockey teams this week, beginning with a home contest against No. 18 Harvard on Tuesday (Nov. 25) at 7 p.m. It will be the 150th meeting between the crosstown rivals.
