AMHERST, Mass. – After knocking off #2 Boston College on the road over the weekend, the UMass hockey team and junior Branden Gracel (Calgary, Alberta/Fort McMurray (AJHL) have earned weekly awards from Hockey East, it was announced on Monday. Gracel was tabbed Athletic Republic Co-Player of the Week and the Minutemen were named the Hockey East Team of the Week, both for the second time this season.
In Friday's 5-2 victory over the Eagles, Gracel totaled three points on two goals and an assist and was named the game's No. 1 star. The three points and two goals both matched career single-game bests for the junior, who has now equaled his career high for points in a season (21), as well.
The Minutemen's win over #2 BC was their third over a top-10 team this season and was the program's first against the Eagles at Conte Forum since Nov. 17, 2007. In the victory, which snapped Boston College's 18-game home unbeaten streak that dated back to Dec. 2, 2011, UMass' special teams excelled, going 6-for-6 on the penalty kill while also tallying a short-handed goal and a power-play goal.