Wikipedia

1947–48 Boston College Eagles men's ice hockey season

The 1947–48 Boston College Eagles men's ice hockey season was the 26th season of play for the program but first under the oversight of the NCAA. The Eagles represent Boston College and were coached by John "Snooks" Kelley, in his 12th season.

1947–48 Boston College Eagles
men's ice hockey season
NEIHL Tournament, Champion
NCAA Tournament, Semifinal
Conference2nd NEIHL
Home iceBoston Arena
Record
Overall14–5–0
Conference9–1–0
Home5–0–0
Road1–2–0
Neutral8–3–0
Coaches and captains
Head coachJohn "Snooks" Kelley
Captain(s)John Corcoran
Bob Mason
Boston College Eagles men's ice hockey seasons
« 1946–47 1948–49 »

Season

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With the NCAA instituting a college hockey tournament for the first time, BC had high hopes of being one of the two eastern teams invited to participate. Unfortunately, the Eagles had to contend with the absence of several key players early in the season. Star center Warren Lewis came down with an illness before the first game was played and was out of the lineup for their opening game against cross-town rival Harvard. His scoring touch was missed as BC fell to the Crimson 3–4.[1] After two less-than-comfortable wins over Fort Devens State and MIT, the team lost their top two defensemen when Butch Songin and John Gallagher were injured in a car accident just before Christmas.[2] However, by that time Warren Lewis had recovered and was back in the lineup. Filling in for the missing players were new additions Frank Shellenback and Ed Clasby but they could not make up for the missing defensive prowess.

Over the succeeding five weeks, BC posted a mediocre 3–3 record and surrendered an average of 5 goals per game. It was only though the exploits of Mason, Lewis and Corcoran that allowed BC to remain in contention for the national tournament. Their biggest game during that stretch was against perennial powerhouse Dartmouth when they handed the Indians their first loss of the season. Songin returned just in time for the match against the green and was vital in keeping the high-powered Indians away from Bernie Burke and the BC cage.[3] The reprieve was short-lived, however, as Songin missed several of the following games.

The three-game losing skid had BC in a precarious position, however, Ed Songin returned healthy in time for the game against New Hampshire, rejoining the team along with Gallagher. The result was an overwhelming victory over the Wildcats which began a streak of dominating play that would last until the end of the regular season.[4] After slicing through the Georgetown Hoyas, BC shutout Fort Devens State in the rematch with both Burke and backup Norm Dailey getting a turn in the crease.[5]

BC ended the regular season with revenge wins over Harvard and Boston University in overwhelming fashion. In doing so they finished second in the NEIHL and appeared in the conference's first postseason tournament. They met Bowdoin in the Semifinal and eviscerated the Polar Bears 10–1 with a total team effort. In the championship game BC faced off against Northeastern, who had upset the top-seeded Terriers. The Eagles relied heavily on Burke to keep them in the game and their BC netminder faced a withering array of shots. He was up to the task and BC entered the third down just a goal. After the Huskies increased their lead to 2, BC rallied to score four consecutive goals in just over 6 minutes of game time to capture the championship.[6]

The title, along with their stellar overall record, enabled BC to earn the second eastern bid for the inaugural NCAA tournament. They travelled to Colorado Springs and faced a powerful Michigan squad. The two teams proved to be the equal of one another as BC got three separate 1-goal leads only to see Michigan tie the score each time. The Wolverines earned their first lead of the match in the third period and jealously held on to the advantage as time ticked away. With under a minute to play, and Burke sitting on the bench in favor of a sixth skater, Jim Fitzgerald tied the game and sent the match into overtime. The NCAA rules at the time followed the original college hockey format that allowed for all 20 minutes of an overtime period to be played regardless of how many goals were scored. This meant that when Wally Gacek scored just 18 seconds into the extra period, BC still had a chance to win the game. Unfortunately, the Wolverines played a stingy defensive game for the rest of the contest and the Eagles were unable to tie the game. Instead, Gacek added a second marker with 30 seconds left in the 4th period, leaving the final score 4–6 in favor of Michigan. Because the NCAA changed the rules afterwards to mirror the more modern sudden-death rules, this was the only game in NCAA tournament history where more than one overtime goal was scored.[7][8]

Roster

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No. S/P/C Player Class Pos Height Weight DoB Hometown Previous team
  Bernard M. Burke Jr. Sophomore G 1925-05-27 Newton, Massachusetts
  Edward M. Clasby Sophomore F Natick, Massachusetts
  John E. Corcoran (C) Senior F Newton, Massachusetts
  Norman F. Dailey Sophomore G Lexington, Massachusetts
  Walter F. DeLorey Sophomore F 1924-10-09 Watertown, Massachusetts
  William H. Dowd Senior F Stoneham, Massachusetts
  Walter A. Falvey Jr. Freshman Belmont, Massachusetts
  James W. Fitzgerald Junior F Cambridge, Massachusetts
  John E. Gallagher Sophomore D Brighton, Massachusetts
Vincent Harding D
  E. Paul Kelley Junior F Dorchester, Massachusetts
  Jerome M. Leonard Junior F Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts
  G. Warren Lewis Sophomore F Arlington, Massachusetts
  John G. Mahler Jr. Freshman F Belmont, Massachusetts
  Robert T. Mason (C) Senior F Wollaston, Massachusetts
  Joseph P. McCusker Sophomore D Waltham, Massachusetts
  John J. McIntyre Sophomore F 1925-01-10 Medford, Massachusetts
  John P. McMahon Junior F Lynn, Massachusetts
  Frank V. Shellenback Jr. Freshman D 1927-06-24 Newton, Massachusetts
  Edward F. Songin Sophomore D 6' 2" (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1924-05-11 Walpole, Massachusetts
  William J. Talbot Sophomore F Belmont, Massachusetts
  Giles E. Threadgold Freshman F Auburndale, Massachusetts

Note: Boston College did not use numbers on their jerseys at this time.
Note: Clasby, Dowd, Falvey and Shellenback are listed as being members of the team for at least part of the season, however, it's unclear whether any of the four played in any games.
[9]

Standings

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1947–48 NCAA Independent ice hockey standings
Intercollegiate Overall
GP W L T Pct. GF GA GP W L T GF GA
Army 16 11 4 1 .719 78 39 16 11 4 1 78 39
Bemidji State 5 0 5 0 .000 13 36 10 2 8 0 37 63
Boston College 19 14 5 0 .737 126 60 19 14 5 0 126 60
Boston University 24 20 4 0 .833 179 86 24 20 4 0 179 86
Bowdoin 9 4 5 0 .444 45 68 11 6 5 0 56 73
Brown 14 5 9 0 .357 61 91 14 5 9 0 61 91
California 10 2 8 0 .200 45 62 17 5 12 0 87 89
Clarkson 12 5 6 1 .458 67 39 17 10 6 1 96 54
Colby 8 2 6 0 .250 28 41 8 2 6 0 28 41
Colgate 10 7 3 0 .700 54 34 13 10 3 0 83 45
Colorado College 14 9 5 0 .643 84 73 27 19 8 0 207 120
Cornell 4 0 4 0 .000 3 43 4 0 4 0 3 43
Dartmouth 23 21 2 0 .913 156 76 24 21 3 0 156 81
Fort Devens State 13 3 10 0 .231 33 74 – – – – – –
Georgetown 3 2 1 0 .667 12 11 7 5 2 0 37 21
Hamilton – – – – – – – 14 7 7 0 – –
Harvard 22 9 13 0 .409 131 131 23 9 14 0 135 140
Lehigh 8 0 8 0 .000 8 95 10 0 10 0 12 108
Massachusetts 2 0 2 0 .000 1 23 3 0 3 0 3 30
Michigan 18 16 2 0 .889 105 53 23 20 2 1 141 63
Michigan Tech 19 7 12 0 .368 87 96 20 8 12 0 91 97
Middlebury 14 8 5 1 .607 111 68 16 10 5 1 127 74
Minnesota 16 9 7 0 .563 78 73 21 9 12 0 100 105
Minnesota–Duluth 6 3 3 0 .500 21 24 9 6 3 0 36 28
MIT 19 8 11 0 .421 93 114 19 8 11 0 93 114
New Hampshire 13 4 9 0 .308 58 67 13 4 9 0 58 67
North Dakota 10 6 4 0 .600 51 46 16 11 5 0 103 68
North Dakota Agricultural 5 3 2 0 .600 27 28 6 4 2 0 37 29
Northeastern 19 10 9 0 .526 135 119 19 10 9 0 135 119
Norwich 9 3 6 0 .333 38 58 13 6 7 0 56 70
Princeton 18 8 10 0 .444 65 72 21 10 11 0 79 79
St. Cloud State 12 10 2 0 .833 55 35 16 12 4 0 73 55
St. Lawrence 9 6 3 0 .667 65 27 13 8 4 1 95 50
Suffolk – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Tufts 4 3 1 0 .750 17 15 4 3 1 0 17 15
Union 9 1 8 0 .111 7 86 9 1 8 0 7 86
Williams 11 3 6 2 .364 37 47 13 4 7 2 – –
Yale 16 5 10 1 .344 60 69 20 8 11 1 89 85
1947–48 New England Intercollegiate Hockey League standings
Conference Overall
GP W L T PTS GF GA GP W L T GF GA
Boston University † 13 12 1 0 .923 86 40 24 20 4 0 179 86
Boston College * 10 9 1 0 .900 77 29 19 14 5 0 126 60
Northeastern 14 8 6 0 .571 108 79 19 10 9 0 135 119
Bowdoin 6 3 3 0 .500 32 38 11 6 5 0 56 73
MIT 14 5 9 0 .357 62 87 19 8 11 0 93 114
Middlebury 6 2 4 0 .333 27 48 16 10 5 1 127 74
New Hampshire 10 3 7 0 .300 42 56 13 4 9 0 58 67
Norwich 7 2 5 0 .286 25 50 13 6 7 0 56 70
Fort Devens State 11 3 8 0 .273 30 55 – – – – – –
Colby 5 1 4 0 .200 17 27 8 2 6 0 28 41
† indicates conference champion
* indicates conference tournament champion

Schedule and results

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Date Opponent Site Result Record
Regular Season
December 3 vs. Harvard* Boston Arena • Boston, Massachusetts L 3–4  0–1–0
December 15 Fort Devens State Boston Arena • Boston, Massachusetts W 4–2  1–1–0 (1–0–0)
December 22 vs. MIT Boston Arena • Boston, Massachusetts W 6–4  2–1–0 (2–0–0)
January 5 vs. Northeastern Boston Arena • Boston, Massachusetts W 7–6  3–1–0 (3–0–0)
January 12 Dartmouth* Boston Arena • Boston, Massachusetts W 4–3  4–1–0
January 27 vs. Northeastern Boston Arena • Boston, Massachusetts W 8–5  5–1–0 (4–0–0)
January 29 at Dartmouth* Davis Rink • Hanover, New Hampshire L 4–6  5–2–0
February 3 vs. Boston University Boston Arena • Boston, Massachusetts L 3–5  5–3–0 (4–1–0)
February 10 at Princeton* Hobey Baker Memorial Rink • Princeton, New Jersey L 4–5  5–4–0
February 16 New Hampshire Boston Arena • Boston, Massachusetts W 9–2  6–4–0 (5–1–0)
February 20 vs. Georgetown* Crystal Ice Palace • Norwalk, Connecticut W 8–1  7–4–0
February 23 at Fort Devens State Skating Club of Boston Rink • Allston, Massachusetts W 7–0  8–4–0 (6–1–0)
February 25 vs. Harvard* Boston Arena • Boston, Massachusetts W 6–1  9–4–0
February 27 vs. MIT Boston Arena • Boston, Massachusetts W 9–2  10–4–0 (7–1–0)
March 1 Middlebury Boston Arena • Boston, Massachusetts W 15–1  11–4–0 (8–1–0)
March 3 vs. Boston University Boston Arena • Boston, Massachusetts W 9–2  12–4–0 (9–1–0)
NEIHL Tournament
March 8 Bowdoin* Boston Arena • Boston, Massachusetts (NEIHL Semifinal) W 10–1  13–4–0
March 9 vs. Northeastern* Boston Arena • Boston, Massachusetts (NEIHL Championship) W 6–4  14–4–0
NCAA Tournament
March 19 vs. Michigan* Broadmoor Ice Palace • Colorado Springs, Colorado (NCAA Semifinal) L 4–6 OT 14–5–0
*Non-conference game.

Note: The NCAA had not yet instituted sudden death overtime, allowing more than one goal to be scored during the full extra period.
[10]

Scoring statistics

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Name Position Games Goals Assists Points PIM
Bob Mason C - 21 19 40 -
John McIntyre C/RW - 15 18 33 -
Warren Lewis C/LW - 16 16 32 -
Joe McCusker D - 13 12 25 -
Jim Fitzgerald F - 9 16 25 -
John Corcoran LW/RW - 11 12 23 -
Giles Threadgold RW - 10 11 21 -
Butch Songin D - 9 7 16 -
Paul Kelley F - 8 5 13 -
John Gallagher D - 5 6 11 -
John Mahler LW - 2 4 6 -
Walt DeLorey F - 3 0 3 -
Bill Talbot F - 0 2 2 -
John McMahon D - 1 0 1 -
Jerry Leonard F - 0 1 1 -
Vern Harding D - 0 1 1 -
Bernie Burke G - 0 0 0 -
Norm Dailey G - 0 0 0 -
Total 123 130 253 -

Note: 3 goals are unaccounted for. Additionally, the assist total is likely incomplete.
[11]

Goaltending statistics

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Name Games Minutes Wins Losses Ties Goals Against Saves Shut Outs SV % GAA
Bernie Burke 19 56 0
Norm Dailey 6 4 0
Total 19 1160 14 5 0 60 1 3.10

Note: Burke and Dailey shared the shutout on February 23.

Awards and honors

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Player Award Ref
Butch Songin AHCA First Team All-American [12]
Bernie Burke AHCA Second Team All-American [12]
Bernie Burke NCAA All-Tournament First Team [13]
Butch Songin NCAA All-Tournament Second Team [13]

References

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  1. ^ "Eagles Lose to Harvard in Ice Opener, 4-3". The Heights. December 15, 1947. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  2. ^ "Kelleymen Chalk Up 2 More Wins Furing Vacation". The Heights. January 9, 1948. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  3. ^ "Eagle Pucksters Hand Dartmouth Second Loss in 3 Years at Arena". The Heights. January 15, 1948. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  4. ^ "Eagles Out on Top Again as They Down Wildcats 9-2; Lewis Star of the Night-Songin Back on Ice". The Heights. February 20, 1948. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  5. ^ "Ealges Shutout Devens to Clinch Playoff Spot". The Heights. February 27, 1948. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  6. ^ "Ealges Clinch New England Intercollegiate Title in Playoffs". The Heights. March 12, 1948. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  7. ^ "Sextet Tops Eagles 6-4". The Michigan Daily. March 20, 1948. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
  8. ^ "Boston College Sextet Bows to Michigan, 6-4 Wolverines to Play Dartmouth In Finals Tonight". Battle Creek Enquirer. March 20, 1948. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
  9. ^ "Sub Turri 1948". Boston College. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  10. ^ "Boston College men's Hockey 2017-18 Record Book" (PDF). Boston College Eagles. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  11. ^ "Boston College 1947-48 roster and statistics". EliteProspects. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  12. ^ a b "Men's Ice Hockey Award Winners" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved June 18, 2013.
  13. ^ a b "NCAA Division I Awards". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
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