Boston College Loses Two Players to Transfer Portal

Sophomore defenseman Will Skahan and freshman forward Gavin Cornforth have entered the NCAA hockey transfer portal.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 6:43pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a hockey game, with the players and ice reduced to sharp, overlapping geometric forms in shades of blue, white, and silver, conveying the abstract and disruptive nature of roster changes in college sports.The departure of two key players from the Boston College hockey roster exposes the volatility of the modern transfer portal era.Boston Today

The NCAA men's hockey transfer portal opened on Monday, and Boston College has already seen a pair of losses from its 2025-26 roster. Sophomore defenseman Will Skahan and freshman forward Gavin Cornforth have both entered the portal, with Cornforth already committing to transfer to UMass.

Why it matters

The departures of Skahan and Cornforth represent a setback for Boston College's hockey program, which is looking to build on a solid 2025-26 season. Losing players to the transfer portal is becoming increasingly common in college sports, and BC will need to work quickly to fill these roster spots.

The details

Skahan, a 6-foot-5 defenseman, played in 31 games for BC last season after making 30 appearances as a rookie. He tallied just eight points over the two years, including one goal in 2025-26. Cornforth, a 5-foot-9 forward, appeared in 18 games for the Eagles as a rookie, recording three assists. However, he found more success in the QMJHL, where he had 12 goals and 18 assists in 29 games.

  • The NCAA men's hockey transfer portal opened on Monday, April 13, 2026.
  • Gavin Cornforth left the Boston College program on December 30, 2025.

The players

Will Skahan

A sophomore defenseman from Woodbury, Minnesota who was selected 65th overall by the Utah Mammoth in the 2024 NHL Draft. He played two seasons with the USNTDP before joining Boston College.

Gavin Cornforth

A freshman forward from Boston, Massachusetts who spent three years in the USHL with the Dubuque Fighting Saints before joining Boston College. He has now committed to transfer to UMass.

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What they’re saying

“Heard that Gavin Conforth is headed to UMass out of the transfer portal after spending three years in the USHL, followed by stops in Moncton (QMJHL) and Boston College.”

— Jonny Lazarus, Daily Faceoff

The takeaway

The departures of Skahan and Cornforth are a setback for Boston College, but the program will need to quickly find replacements from the transfer portal or incoming recruits to maintain their competitiveness in Hockey East.