Boston College Men's Hockey Struggles with Inconsistency in 2026 Season

The Eagles have failed to string together consistent performances, putting their NCAA Tournament hopes in jeopardy.

Mar. 2, 2026 at 9:39pm

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The Boston College men's hockey team has endured an inconsistent second half of the 2025-26 season, going 8-6 since the start of the new year. Despite showing flashes of championship-level potential, the Eagles have struggled to put together extended winning streaks, leading to their current ranking of No. 13 in the NPI, which determines the 16-team NCAA Tournament field. Lopsided scores, lineup changes, and the reliance on a freshman goaltender have all contributed to BC's inconsistency.

Why it matters

Boston College's inconsistent play in the latter half of the season has put their NCAA Tournament hopes in jeopardy, as they are currently ranked outside the top 10 in the NPI. The Eagles' inability to string together consistent performances has been a major factor in their struggles, and it raises questions about the team's chemistry and ability to handle the pressure of the postseason.

The details

The Eagles dropped both games in a home-and-home series against rival Boston University, bringing their record to 19-12-1 and 13-9-0 in Hockey East play. BC has shown flashes of championship-level potential, but has failed to maintain those performances for more than a four-game stretch. Lopsided scores, both in wins and losses, have been a common theme, with the Eagles suffering a 6-1 loss to unranked Vermont and then defeating BU 6-2 in the Beanpot. Head coach Greg Brown has also been forced to experiment with the lineup due to injuries, which has hindered the team's ability to develop chemistry. Additionally, the reliance on a freshman goaltender, Louka Cloutier, has been a challenge, as he has shown both promise and inexperience at the collegiate level.

  • The Eagles defeated UConn, which was ranked higher than them at the time, 2-1 in overtime and 5-2 before that to pick up the series sweep.
  • Prior to that pair of triumphs, BC split a weekend series against Merrimack with a 4-2 win and a 4-2 loss.
  • Earlier, the Eagles won the Beanpot with a 6-2 win over BU, but that victory came right after getting trounced by unranked Vermont, 6-1.
  • This past weekend, the Eagles dropped both contests against Boston University by a combined score of 8-2.

The players

Greg Brown

The head coach of the Boston College men's hockey team.

Oscar Hemming

A member of the Boston College men's hockey team.

Andre Gasseau

A member of the Boston College men's hockey team.

James Hagens

A member of the Boston College men's hockey team.

Louka Cloutier

The freshman goaltender for the Boston College men's hockey team.

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What they’re saying

“Can't give up two shorthanded goals and be successful in Hockey East, or any level, really. So that was a big thing. Our power play had been strong for a while now, but can't go two against and one for [on the power play] and win a game.”

— Greg Brown, Head Coach (si.com)

What’s next

The Eagles will need to defeat their final two regular-season opponents, UMass and Northeastern, to have a chance at an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. However, even if they win those games, they are not guaranteed a spot, as they are currently ranked No. 13 in the NPI, which determines the 16-team field.

The takeaway

Boston College's inconsistent play in the latter half of the season has put their NCAA Tournament hopes in jeopardy, highlighting the challenges the team has faced in developing chemistry and overcoming the inexperience of their freshman goaltender. The Eagles will need to find a way to string together consistent performances in their final games if they hope to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament.