Jerry York is the winningest active coach in NCAA hockey, but he is still envious of the coaches at the University of Denver and University of Minnesota.
Both programs won back-to-back titles in the early 2000s and have been the only schools to repeat as national champions since Boston University did so in 1971 and 1972.
"Every year is unique," said York. "There's been a history where the national championship team has not fared very well the following season, which happened to us in 2008."
This year, York is focused on bucking the trend.
"We've sat down and talked about complacency as opposed to 'let's drive ourselves even more and bring another championship to BC.'"
Coach Jack Parker of the rival Boston University Terriers noted, "The target is definitely on their [BC's] back this season," but York doesn't think the team faces any more pressure in this season than in others.
"Our major obstacle is that it's hard to win this thing, there's a lot of good teams," York said. "We'll have to face the usual suspects –New Hampshire, Maine, BU — they are all difficult opponents. That's what makes it so hard."
BC might have an easier time reaching this year's Frozen Four in St. Paul, MN than they did after their championships in 2001 and 2008, because they return a bulk of their players.
"We dodged some bullets this summer when a lot of players decided to not turn pro and come back to school," said York. "They kinda got together as a pack. I feel good about that."
One of the more important players returning for BC will be senior goalie John Muse, who wants to have one more chance to win the national tournament.
"Muse has had an incredible career at BC," York gushed. "He's got high goals. He wants to achieve something that I don't think anyone else has done in the history of college hockey, and that's to win three championships in four years."
The Hockey East coaches selected BC as the favorite to win the conference in their preseason coaches' poll, and the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll also has the Eagles' ranked number one.
All signs are pointing to a repeat for Boston College, which would put the exclamation point on the careers of returning seniors Joe Whitney, Brian Gibbons, Muse, and especially head coach Jerry York.
