Although BC’s athletic director, Gene D, has been busy with our new basketball coach, Steve Donahue, I sat down with him on Friday to discuss the men’s hockey team.

The Observer: BC has dominated Miami of Ohio. Four out of the last five years, they have bounced them from the NCAA tournament. Even though Miami was ranked #1, BC went in and decisively won 7-1. Were you at all surprised?

Gene DeFilippo: I was a little bit surprised at the fact that we won 7-1. Not at all surprised that we won the game. I was surprised by the goal differential. Miami is a terrific hockey team. Our guys really played well. I was so proud of them.

O: The last time BC met Wisconsin in a final was in 2006 when they lost 1-2. Think they have a better chance this time?

GD: I always think that we’re going to win every game. The Wisconsin team that beat us several years ago was a terrific hockey team. And they’re good again this year. But I have a great feeling that we’re going to beat them.

O: The team’s leading scorer is Cam Atkinson, who is only a sophomore. There is a lot of young talent on the team. Because of that, do you see York’s team being a dominant hockey force for the next couple of years?

GD: The saying around here with hockey is  ”We don’t rebuild. We reload.” We have been to nine frozen fours in the past 13 years. As long as Jerry York is here as our coach, we’ll be going to a lot more frozen fours in the near future.

I have to agree. Jerry York is an amazing college hockey coach and he’s coaching a very talented team. On Thursday, they went in and made #1 Miami look like they didn’t belong in the tournament. The victory doesn’t have to be that decisive on Saturday as long as they skate their way to a win.

Speaking of sophomore Cam Atkinson, when I spoke with him after the decisive 7-1 victory on Thursday night. I told him I had high hopes for the team on Saturday. This is what he said:  ”We’re gonna take it home.” That’s what I like to hear. The players need to be confident in their capabilities. They need to take to the ice on Ford Field believing that they can win.

I think that if the team can continue to play the way its been playing, the Boston College men’s hockey team has a good chance at being the 2010 National Champs. Let’s hope they carry Thursday’s momentum into tomorrow. The game is at 7 p.m. on ESPN!

GO EAGLES!