Union, Boston College aren't strangers

by Ryan Fay

Tonight's opening round East Regional game between Union and Boston College (9 PM, ESPNU/WatchESPN) will mark the first meeting between the two schools.

But that doesn't mean players on both teams aren't already familiar with one another.

Wayne Simpson played prep hockey with Boston College's Steven Whitney for three years at Lawrence Academy in Groton, Massachusetts. Simpson and Whitney served as two of the team's three captains during their senior year.

Whitney has gone on to post impressive numbers for Boston College. His 26 goals rank second in the country this season behind St. Lawrence's Greg Carey, who netted 28. Whitney's 45 points are second-best in Hockey East, and he eclipsed the 100 career point plateau earlier this year. Entering play this weekend, the senior has 128 points in 159 contests for BC.

Whitney (Hockey East)

"He's a great player," Simpson said of Whitney. "He's been playing real well and that doesn't surprise me. He has a very good shot and if he finds ice just one time it could kill us. We have to be extra aware of him. It's going to be important to shut him down this weekend."

Doing that will be easier said than done.

"It's tough," Simpson admitted. "We just have to know when Whitney is out there. We have to be physical, make it hard for him to earn his ice, and wear him down."

The only player in Hockey East with more points than Whitney this year is teammate Johnny Gaudreau, who has 50. There are two Union connections to Gaudreau.

Defenseman Charlie Vasaturo, who is out for the year with a knee injury, goes way back with Gaudreau as the two are from neighboring parts of New Jersey. Shayne Gostisbehere played with Gaudreau during the recent World Junior Championships in Russia, where Team USA captured a gold medal.

Gaudreau, also known as "Johnny Hockey", was a major reason why. He led the field with seven goals, including a hat trick, and tied for the team lead in points with nine.

"Gaudreau is an excellent player and he's very shifty," Gostisbehere said. "Even as small as he is -- 5-foot-8, 150 pounds -- it doesn't matter. He's a great player. He has great hands and eyes. He's a playmaker out there."

The best example of that playmaking ability came in last year's national championship game victory over Ferris State. With the Eagles leading 2-1 in the third period, Gaudreau picked up a loose puck at his own blue line and after escaping from Ferris State's Kyle Bonis, he weaved around Bulldogs defenseman Brett Wysopal and roofed a backhander past goalie Taylor Nelson. Whitney added an empty netter to ice the 4-1 win.

Gostisbehere said Gaudreau, a Hobey Baker finalist this season, can be contained if Union does a couple things.

"Just don't look at the puck and keep him in front of you if you can," he advised. "He gets lost very easily and the next thing you know he's putting the puck in the back of your net."

That's one thing the Dutchmen won't want to see.