Frozen Four | 4/1/2010 12:43:00 PM

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ROCHESTER, NY - Three-time NCAA National Champion Boston College will make its 29th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and 22nd trip to the Frozen Four. The Eagles, ranked third in the both the latest USA Today/USA Hockey Division I polls USCHO.com Division I poll, are the No. 4 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Eagles won the NCAA Northeast Region and enter this weekend with a sparkling 27-10-3 record. The Eagles finished second in Hockey East with a 16-8-3 mark in conference play.

The top-seeded Eagles defeated No. 4 Alaska-Fairbanks, 3-1 in the NCAA Northeast Regional semifinal in Worcester, Mass., on March 27, and rolled to a 9-7 win over No. 3 Yale in the championship on March 28. Cam Atkinson was named the NCAA Northeast Regional Most Outstanding Player.

Currently, 14,500 students are enrolled at Boston College, which was founded in 1863. Boston College's colors are maroon and gold. The hockey program was founded in 1917. Boston College has an all-time record of 1,333-734-110 and won national titles in 1949, 2001, and 2008. They are a program rich in history and tradition.

Boston College defeated RIT, 6-0 in the championship game of the Dodge Holiday Classic at the University of Minnesota on Dec. 30, 2007. It was the lone meeting between the two schools.

Boston College's roster is littered with NHL draft picks, including Chris Kreider, who was selected by the New York Rangers in the first round with the 19th overall pick in 2009. Kreider was also a 2010 World Junior Championship Gold Medalist for the United States. In all, 11 Eagles are NHL draft picks, including five more second round picks.

Atkinson, a sophomore, leads the Eagles and is tied for eighth nationally in scoring, with 50 points on 27 goals and 23 assists. Brian Gibbons leads the Eagles with 30 assists and is second with 46 points. The Eagles are the third highest scoring team in the nation this season, averaging 3.98 goals per game. In goal, junior John Muse has a sparkling 17-8-2 record, with a 2.54 goals against average, and .907 save percentage.

Boston College Head Coach Jerry York is in his 16th season at the helm of the Eagles and boasts a 381-204-58 record. The Badgers have captured two NCAA national championships under his tutelage (2001, 2008). He has led the Eagles to twelve 20-win seasons. York has re-established Boston College as one of college hockey's elite programs. Ironically enough, York coached current RIT Head Coach Wayne Wilson, and Associate Head Coach Brian Hills at Bowling Green. Wilson was York's captain in 1984, when the duo combined to win the NCAA Championship. York has 848 career coaching wins in 38 seasons.

Sixteen former Eagles currently play in the NHL, including Rochester natives Brian Gionta of the Montreal Canadiens, and Marty Reasoner of the Atlanta Thrashers. In addition, 2010 United States Olympic Silver Medalists Brooks Orpik of the Pittsburgh Penguins also played for Boston College. Overall, 47 Eagles have played in the NHL, with nine winning Stanley Cup Championships. Former Eagles standouts that played in the NHL include 2009 Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee Brian Leetch.

Since the beginning of Boston College hockey in 1917, 52 individuals have been recognized as All-Americans.