Michigan State vs. Boston College: Enter Hockey

Boston College fans, rejoice. You no longer have Eagles football as the only (major) game in town, because Jerry York is here to help.

Tonight, in Grand Forks, ND, the #5 Boston College Eagles will take on the Michigan State Spartans in the opening game of the men’s hockey 2011-2012 season. The puck drops on BC’s season at 5pm ET on Fox College Sports (otherwise known as FCS, which on DirecTV could mean channel 617, 623, or 626 — right now, it looks like it will be 617).

There’s no question that the Eagles are going into this first game and into this new season with a lot of confidence, having been ranked in the Top 5 in the nation, but also with questions surrounding them. It’s important for BC fans to remember that this is somewhat of a new-look team. Gone are John Muse, Cam Atkinson, and Kevin Hayes, and in are John Gaudreau, Quinn Smith, and Destry Straight, amongst others. (If you’re watching the game tonight and you say “Who the hell is Number ___?,” keep this on-hand.) It may take some time to get used to this group, but with the talent they’ve got, and the talent which remains on this team from last year, one would have to think they’d materialize as a successful team quickly.

Since they’re participating in a tournament — the Ice Breaker, to be precise — depending on how they do tonight, they will face either Air Force or #3 North Dakota tomorrow. That should make for two fun games for BC hockey fans to begin the long road back to the Frozen Four.