BC Hockey Preview of Champions: Jerry York, Breaking the Record
By Joe Micik
Douglas Jones-US PRESSWIRE
Greatness resides within Boston College’s hockey coach, and that is not news to anyone familiar with the sport. Even York’s new boss, Brad Bates, is well-acquainted with his commitment to excellence. At some point during the 2012-13 season, York will take up a new mantle: the winningest coach of all-time in Division I college hockey. It is not a matter of if, but when.
When is what we would all like to know. York has to win 11 more games to tie and 12 to pass Ron Mason with 925 victories. It will happen during the regular season for certain, but for the BC fans who might want to plan their game attendance around such things, can we find a possible date?
We can try.
October 13, 2012: Start of 2012-13 regular season.
November 30, 2012: [at Boston University] 12th game of regular season. Earliest possible date in which York can break the record.
The cone of possibility opens on November 30 at Agganis. From there, you have to estimate what sort of win percentage you think the Eagles will have. If BC opens the season 12-1, then be at Conte Forum on December 1 for the game against Boston University.
If BC opens with 12 wins out of 15, then the record could come at the Mariucci Classic on December 29 or 30 in Minneapolis against UAH or Minnesota. If you think it’ll happen during the midst of a more modest start, then home games against Yale on January 4, 2013 or New Hampshire on January 11 may be good bets.
If you assume that Boston College will get off to one of their customary “slow” starts, and you’re expecting a slower one than normal, it could take up to twenty regular-season games for York to reach 925. Game 20 is at Northeastern on January 19.
These are the assumptions it is probably safe to make, or facts we know for certain:
• York will blast through the record before the end of the regular season.
• “York 925” will come no earlier than November 30.
• “York 925” will almost certainly happen before the Beanpot, perhaps well before.
There is a very good chance it will happen either in Minneapolis during the Mariucci Classic or during the early January 2013 homestand against Yale and New Hampshire. It is possible that “York 925” happens in 2012, though there are only 16 regular-season games. BC would have to play .750 hockey or better to make that happen.
Last year, it took Boston College 17 games to reach 12 wins. If this season follows the exact same course, then get your tickets for Yale at Boston College on January 4. You just might see college hockey history.