BC Hockey Preview of Champions: Johnny Gaudreau, #13

Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

John Gaudreau has only been on the Boston College hockey team for one full season, and he has already made a name for himself.

That’s not an easy thing to do when you play for a national champion like he does, but Gaudreau took full advantage of his freshman year and shined in the biggest spots.

This young New Jerseyan, who has always been the source of jokes based upon his 13-year-old boyish appearance, isn’t a kid on the ice. Gaudreau started proving that at Gloucester Catholic High School in 2007. In his junior year at Gloucester, he managed a 48-point season before moving on to the next stage in his hockey career. He traded in New Jersey for Iowa for his senior year, attending Dubuque Senior High School while joining the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL for his senior year. Gaudreau had a sensational year with Dubuque, putting together a 72-point season where, not surprisingly, his team won the whole thing. Also not shockingly, Gaudreau was the league Rookie of the Year.

Gaudreau was originally committed to Northeastern, but eventually made the right choice. It’s a good thing he did, too: as part of the 2011-12 national champion Boston College Eagles, he was second on the team with 44 points (Chris Kreider, 45) and led the team with 27 points during the 19-game win streak which culminated in a title.

For a freshman, he had a lot of big moments during the course of the year, but the one most Boston College fans will remember with the greatest clarity was his goal during the national championship game against Ferris State. With almost three minutes to go and the Eagles clinging to a 2-1 lead, Gaudreau scored a high-quality goal to put the game away. Oh, by the way, here it is:

He ended up with five points during BC’s four-game NCAA Tournament run, tying Steven Whitney for the team lead.

Since we’re rattling off superlatives about him, Gaudreau was also the 2012 Beanpot MVP and the 2012 Hockey East Tournament MVP. Not bad for a guy in his first year.

Expect great things from Gaudreau, the 104th pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft to Calgary. The sky is the limit for him, who will someday play in the NHL, assuming the lockout ends in our lifetimes.