Steve Santini Out Until January: How Will Boston College Hockey Fare?

On Tuesday, it was learned that Boston College Eagles hockey will be without sophomore defensive Steve Santini for two months.

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Santini suffered an injured wrist during the Eagles’ victory over the UMass Minutemen on Saturday and had surgery on the wrist yesterday.

Amongst other games on the upcoming schedule, #5 Boston College hockey will be without Steve Santini for key non-conference games against Minnesota, Michigan, and Michigan State, while also missing contests against New Hampshire (2), Boston University, and Providence.

This is a tough loss for Boston College, who do not face an easy schedule from here until the winter break in a month and a half. The relevant question to ask is is the Eagles have the personnel to cope.

Boston College fans know that Steve Santini has been featured in the top defensive pairings so far this season, and for good reason. Over his first year and change on the Heights, there have been some growing pains for the New Jersey Devils prospect, but he has come through for this team already on both ends of the ice. There is no doubt that the Eagles’ blue line will take a hit without him.

Yet, Boston College hockey was not built by Jerry York to be light on depth. The team’s captain, Michael Matheson, is still a major factor on defense, sophomore Ian McCoshen has done some good things already this season, junior Teddy Doherty has made more of an impact already this year than in the past, and 17-year old freshman Noah Hanifin looks like he could be the next premier defenseman at Boston College down the line.

This is a young team with or without Steve Santini on the blue line, but youth does not preclude talent. Boston College has it amongst their defensemen, which is what will ultimately get them through this period.

We must be careful not to overstate the loss of Santini, as this is no disaster for the Eagles, but the depth has taken a hit, and Boston College cannot afford more injuries to their defensive corps until the break.

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