A brutal hockey fight in Boston on Friday night was made all the more remarkable by the fact that it occurred in a college game and not an NHL contest.
Traditional power Boston University fell to Hockey East rival UMass Lowell, 4-3, at Agganis Arena, but it was the third-period melee between the Terriers’ Sacha Boisvert and the River Hawks’ Connor Eddy that helped the game to go viral.
‘This is an NHL-style brawl,’ the stunned announcer said in the viral clip as panicked officials tried desperately to separate the Canadian-born rivals.
Unlike the NHL, where fighting is tolerated and sometimes encouraged by coaches and players, the NCAA strictly forbids the practice. Those who do drop the gloves get a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct, resulting in an ejection and a potential suspension.
It’s not as rare as, say, the pee wee hockey fight that took place during an intermission of a minor-league hockey game last week, but Friday’s announcers were certainly stunned.
‘What, are you kidding me?’ one asked.
Officials rush in to break up the rare college hockey fight during Friday’s game in Boston
Eddy (in blue) was spun around by a vicious punch to the temple from BU’s Boisvert
‘Boisvert and Eddy, jabbing away at each other,’ the other added.
In the end, neither player was brought down to the ice and Boisvert got a standing ovation from the appreciate crowd as he made an upward motion with his arms on his way off the ice.
Boisvert, a 6ft3 forward from Quebec, still may have gotten the better of Eddy, a 6ft forward from British Columbia. Not only did Boisvert use his reach and size, but he also connected a brutal blow to Eddy’s temple, sending the UMass Lowell star spinning.
And Boisvert might need to rely on these fighting skills at the next level after being drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2024. Unlike some other NCAA athletes, hockey players can remain in school after being drafted.
Boston University’s Sacha Boisvert has already been drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks
The 19-year-old did get a brief taste of the NHL during a recent trip back home, where he watched the Blackhawks face off with the hometown Montreal Canadiens.
‘It was awesome,’ Boisvert told The Athletic. ‘Obviously, the Bell Centre is an unbelievable spot, and them playing against the Hawks makes it even better.’
Boisvert could decide to sign with Chicago after the NCAA finishes in March, giving the Blackhawks some fresh legs ahead of a potential playoff push.
To his credit, Eddy scored the tying goal in the second period as the Red Hawks pulled off the upset.
