Jan. 21, 2013

AMHERST, Mass. - After knocking off #2 Boston College on the road over the weekend, the UMass hockey team and junior Branden Gracel have earned weekly awards from Hockey East, it was announced on Monday. Gracel was tabbed Athletic Republic Co-Player of the Week and the Minutemen were named the Hockey East Team of the Week, both for the second time this season.

In Friday's 5-2 victory over the Eagles, Gracel totaled three points on two goals and an assist and was named the game's No. 1 star. The three points and two goals both matched career single-game bests for the junior, who has now equaled his career high for points in a season (21), as well.

The Minutemen's win over #2 BC was their third over a top-10 team this season and was the program's first against the Eagles at Conte Forum since Nov. 17, 2007. In the victory, which snapped Boston College's 18-game home unbeaten streak that dated back to Dec. 2, 2011, UMass' special teams excelled, going 6-for-6 on the penalty kill while also tallying a short-handed goal and a power-play goal.