The Observer:  You were drafted in the 6th round by the Columbus Blue Jackets out of high school. Do you think your time at BC will move you up in the selection process? Is there an NHL team that you dream of playing for?

Cameron Atkinson:  As long as I am playing well and having fun, I will hopefully move up in the selection process. I grew up right next to New York City so my all time favorite team is the Rangers, but I am very happy and honored to be a part of the Columbus Blue Jackets organization.

O:  You’re number 13. Since you’re leading the team in goals, I won’t say that 13 is unlucky for you. But you didn’t have any superstition in choosing that number?

CA:  Haha, to be honest, no. My favorite number is three, but BC retired that number so I chose the next number with a three in it.

O:  At what age did you start playing hockey?

CA:  I started skating at age two and haven’t looked back since.

O:  You guys are 14-2-0 at home, but 9-6-3 away. Would you say that playing in Kelley Rink gives you a big advantage?

CA:  Playing at the Kelley Rink is amazing. Playing in front of your home fans really makes that much more of a difference and advantage. It gives you that little extra confidence boost that results in more wins.

O:  Any pregame rituals?

CA:  Ha um, well I try to nap at least one to two hours.

O:  This season marks the 22nd time in program history that there are brothers on the team and the first time in the 87-year history of Boston College hockey that two sets of brothers – you and Tommy and Joe Whitney and Steven Whitney – are on the same team. What’s it like having your brother on the team?

CA:  I have been fortunate enough to play with my brother since I started skating. We are at such a close age that it was possible to happen. It is such an honor to be on such an elite team like Boston College together. We have both worked so hard to get to this point. He is always there to help me improve my game as well as I am to him. Having him there is also special because he always knows when I need that little extra pep talk to get me going.

O:  You had one of your two hat tricks this season in the first quarterfinal game against UMASS. If your wrap-around goal had not been waived off due to Joe Whitney’s crease violation only 36 seconds into the game, you would have become the first Eagle in history to score four goals in the Hockey East playoffs. Coach York said you played outstandingly. Was that just a really good night for you on the ice or were you getting a lot of quality shots on goal?

CA:  I did not know that until after the game that if I had four I would have been the first player in BC history to achieve that. I was a little upset, but there is still time. I was just in the right place at the right time and got some great shots off. It would not have been as easy if my linemate Joey Whitney did not put it in my wheel house. On the power play, Joe’s younger brother Steve also gave me a perfect pass, so all I had to do was rip it.

O:  Last season, you guys lost to Boston University in the Hockey East tournament semifinal. You also didn’t advance to the Championship game of the Beanpot. This year, you guys won the Beanpot and you also won the Hockey East tournament. What do you attribute this season’s success to?

CA:  I attribute this season’s success to the leadership we have on our team. Captain Matt Price has been one of the best leaders I have had in my career so far. To back him up, Matt Lombardi and Ben Smith give that extra to help to Price to go over the edge. That kind of leadership really helps the younger guys gain confidence and feel like they have been a part of this team forever.

O:  Speaking of that BU/BC rivalry, you guys lost to them at Fenway in January. But you denied them a repeat of last season where they won the Beanpot and the Hockey East tourney. Despite being defending champions, they failed to qualify for the NCAA tourney. Would you say your loss at Fenway Park has been avenged?

CA:  The BC/BU rivalry is so strong in college hockey. Whenever we play them, the temperature is at its highest and everyone is going to play their best game. It was a bummer we lost at Fenway because the venue and atmosphere was so surreal. That being said, even though we lost, that was just a regular season game. We are still playing and they aren’t.

O:  What has been your favorite championship title so far? Beanpot or Hockey East?

CA:  The Beanpot I would have to say just because it was my class’s first big trophy and it was so exciting to win that.

O:  You’ve played in all 40 games, and you are leading the team with 27 goals. You also have 23 assists, for a total of 50 points. You are tied for 2nd among national leaders with 27 goals in 40 games and 8th with a team-high 50 points in 40 games. What would you say is your biggest strength on the ice?

CA:  I would say my linemates as well as teammates make it so easy to play. We all push each other to be the best we can be in practice. I think my biggest strength is my speed as well as my shot. I am lucky that my linemates give me perfect passes and all I have to do is put it in the net.

O:  You have scored ten power-play goals, two shorthanded goals and two game- winning goals, as well as eleven multiple-point performances, including two hat tricks and five multiple-goal efforts. Are you at all surprised with your success this season or have you worked really hard to improve your game? What has allowed you to be the leading scorer that you are?

CA:  I am having fun, which is the most important thing. If you are not having fun then you may as well just not play this sport. I try to get on the ice before and after practice as much as possible to work on the little things to improve my game. Whether that is shooting more pucks, cycling the puck, or cut backs.

O:  You earned Hockey East player of the week in January (18th), and you earned All-Conference second-team honors. Do you pay any attention to awards like that?

CA:  It is exciting, but I do not pay much attention to that. It is an honor just because there are so many good players in this league.

O:  You have a total of 69 points in 76 career games. You went from 7 goals in your freshman season to 27 goals in your sophomore season. What would you say has helped you improve the most from last season?

CA:  I would just say my confidence this year compared to last. It was an adjustment time gong from high school to college, and now I am used to the pace and have a lot of confidence with the puck.

O:  In an exceptionally high-scoring game, you guys beat Yale 9-7. You guys led the entire game, but they made a strong effort in the third with the final three goals of the game. What would you say was the key to Sunday’s success?

CA:  Yale is a great team with a lot of high-offensive weapons. It was a back-and-forth game and was really exciting to play in. I think the key to our success was everyone played their role in that game. Everyone stepped up and played really well. It seemed like we were getting the right shots off and most were going in, which is always good. The leadership has been phenomenal from the beginning, which makes a huge difference. All the underclassmen were composed and calm. We played our game, and when we play our game it’s hard for teams to defeat us.

O:  In that game, you had a hat trick, your third in the last ten games, and a career-high four points. Your three goals and one assist led all BC scorers and you reached the 50-point plateau (27 goals, 23 assists). You also earned Northeast Regional Most Outstanding Player honors and made the All-Region Team. What does it mean to you that you can contribute so much to your team and really help lead them to victory? Does the Outstanding Player honor make your performance any more special to you?

CA:  It is great to contribute. There is not a better feeling. It was my teammates that really have helped me from the beginning. My linemates Joey Whitney and Brian Gibbons have been amazing. We play really well together. When we are on the same page, it’s hard for teams to stop our line. What is so great about our team is we roll four lines. Each line can contribute and score goals. The outstanding player honor is definetely an honor, but I would not of been able to accomplish that without my linemates and teammates.

O:  You’re in the Frozen Four. You need two more wins to win it all. Does the team believe it can win the NCAA Tourney?

CA:  The team is very excited. It’s my classes first appearance, as well as the freshmen. It is every hockey players goal and dream to make it to the national tournament and have a chance to win. We have two more games left, and it will be a battle from the start to finish but we are ready to go. As far as winning, the team believes we can succeed. We need to play our game and we will be fine.