Eamon Powell

Eamon Powell stands on the brink of his fifth and final season at Boston College. Last year’s heartbreaking defeat in the Frozen Four championship left Powell, and several returning teammates, with a singular focus of addressing their “unfinished business”. 

For Powell, the loss has had a silver lining – granting him another year to captain one of college hockey’s most storied programs and a final chance to chase down the elusive national championship win.

“My heart was still at BC,” Powell says, reflecting on why he chose to return for a fifth year. “Since I was 10, 12, it was always the place I wanted to be. When I finally got that offer, I committed right on the spot”.

Boston College was the number one team in the country during Powell’s freshman year. The high-flying Eagles, featuring players like Alex Newhook, Matt Boldy, and Spencer Knight, were projected by many to bring BC its first national championship since 2012. That year saw an unconventional path for the 16-4-1 Eagles to the NCAA Tournament, a 2020-21 season that was severely impacted by COVID-19. 

The Eagles fell to St. Cloud in the tournament, forced to return home one game short of a Frozen Four bid. That summer, a significant amount of talent left Chestnut Hill for the NHL and even more to cap and gown. 

“The two years after that weren’t necessarily up to the standard of what Boston College hockey stands for,” Powell remembers. During the 2021-22 season, the team went 15-18-5 (9-12-3 in conference play), landing in the middle of the pack in Hockey East - a sudden decline for the star-studded program. But these experiences, Powell believes, set the stage for their renewed success. 

“Going through that process and struggling, I think that’s why all the wins last year, and hopefully this year, mean so much.”

At the end of his junior year, Powell was elected by his teammates to lead the program as captain. When he decided to return for a graduate season, they selected him for the position again. As a leader, Powell takes on the added challenge of integrating young, highly-skilled players into the program as quickly and effectively as possible. Some of those players will matriculate to the professional ranks sooner rather than later, allowing for high rates of player turnover that can be difficult to navigate. But college hockey programs rely on steady four-year players as much as the young talent that comes in each year and Powell has learned the importance of never losing sight of the team-first mentality. 

“They’re only here for a year or two, but the freshman we’ve had have been unbelievable in terms of adapting to the culture of BC and the tradition of what Boston College hockey stands for,” Powell notes “They’re all in on the team and that’s the most important part.” 

Sixteen of Boston College’s 27 rostered players for the 2024-25 season are underclassmen, including six freshmen, and Powell sees the importance of supporting them on and off the ice. 

“The more you can do to make them feel comfortable and feel like home, be part of a team, and have that close culture, the better they’re going to perform on the ice.”

The transition from junior hockey to college introduces the added complication of competitive academics. Powell, who admits he struggled with the balance of courses and athletics during his first year, has learned what it takes to navigate this transition.

“BC’s a tough school. Managing the school work with the schedule of our hockey team was tough. The upperclassmen when I was younger did a great job at showing me the ropes.” 

Now, he aims to do the same for his teammates, ensuring they feel part of the “BC tradition” that defines the team on and off the ice. 

“They’re all talented hockey players, they know how to do that very well, that’s something that doesn’t have to be taught to them, it’s more the things around campus, the culture, the little things.”

Powell credits former captain Marc McLaughlin as a key influence in his leadership style, emphasizing a lead-by-example approach. 

“He was a big influence on many of our guys and me, showing us what it means to be an Eagle and how hard it is to win.”

In an increasingly competitive league like Hockey East, Powell explains, “It’s not enough to just throw on the jersey and think you’re going to go out there and win. Whoever comes into Conte Forum is going to give you a really great test,” he said.

That level of focus and preparation is especially relevant during 'Trophy Season,' a phrase coined by legendary Eagle, Jerry York. For Boston College, it signals when the team begins to stare down its ultimate goal.  

“You hit February, you hit Beanpot season, you’ve got four trophies to win,” he says, referring to the Beanpot, the Hockey East Regular Season title, the Lamoriello Trophy as Hockey East Tournament Champions, and the NCAA National Championship. “From there on out, it’s all playoff hockey.”

Last season, Powell and his teammates captured the Hockey East championship, a moment he remembers with pride.

“There’s no better feeling than to beat Boston University in the Garden to clinch that title.” 

But Powell’s final year isn’t just about the wins, it’s also about cementing a lasting legacy for himself. 

“I want to be remembered for how I carried myself,” he says, explaining that the impact he leaves on his teammates is as important to him as the trophies they chase together.

Powell’s drive to leave a legacy of integrity and strength reflects the influence of his coaches, York and Greg Brown. 

“Coach York taught us to be a great person and keep that standard up always,” Powell recalls. 

Reflecting on the two years he spent under York’s leadership, he describes it as “such a cool experience, to play for arguably the greatest coach in college hockey.”

York’s influence remains a constant in the BC program, and Powell feels privileged to help uphold his standards. Even after York’s retirement following the 2021-22 season, Powell notes that “all those things Coach York stood for stayed in place when he left.”

Under Brown, a former All-American and longtime assistant to York, Powell and his teammates are reminded daily of the importance of humility and a consistent effort.

“Coach Brown does a great job at keeping all the guys grounded,” Powell explains. “Last year, we were having a ton of success and a ton of noise around campus. When that happens, guys get a little high on themselves, but the biggest lesson Coach Brown preaches is to stay even-keeled, not too high, not too low.” 

For Coach Brown, true dedication means leaving no room for complacency - a lesson that resonated with Powell during last season’s record-breaking success.

“That last stretch, I think we won 15 straight before losing to Denver, but never getting complacent was key,” he says. “Every day, you show up, you’re going to have to put in the work to get the results you want.” 

Powell adds that Brown’s mentality helps players approach each game with fresh energy, treating every matchup as a new test. 

“Every game starts 0-0, and you’re going to have to prove to everyone watching that you’re the better hockey club.”

Melding aspects of both York’s and Brown’s leadership styles, Powell has become part of a tradition that will extend beyond his time in maroon and gold. By upholding the high standards set by his mentors, he’s determined to not only help BC hockey succeed on the ice but also to promote that culture of excellence that defines the program in all aspects. 

Powell’s drive to uphold BC's legacy of excellence reflects his deep commitment to the program, values he learned from his tight-knit hockey family. His older brother recently wrapped a four-year hockey career at Wesleyan, while his younger brother, Seamus, played at BC before transferring to league-rival Merrimack, setting the stage for the Powells to meet as competitors multiple times. 

“It’s going to be a lot of fun when we play Merrimack this year. Those games, we’ll probably have a ton of family at,” he laughs. 

For Powell, these moments are priceless, a testament to the sacrifices his parents made to support him and his brothers. 

“Those are the moments you cherish the most, where you’ve made it to such a high level from two parents who never even played hockey.”

When asked about his favorite memory from his time at BC, Powell briefly mentions winning Frozen Fenway in January of 2023 (in throwback uniforms reminiscent of Brown’s jersey at Boston College) and winning the Hockey East championship title in 2024. But the story he chooses to tell instead, with a smile on his face, is of his younger brother. During his junior year Seamus was a freshman at BC.When Seamus scored his first collegiate goal, it was Eamon who got the assist with their parents watching from the stands. “That’s something we’ll have for the rest of our lives.”

As Powell looks ahead to this season, he reflects on the special bonds formed with his teammates and the lessons learned throughout his journey so far. 

“We had such a special group last year, and I’ve loved my years at BC,” he says. “If we had won [the National Championship last year] or something panned out differently, I [might have been] in a different mindset,” he admits.

This fifth year isn’t just about team success; it's also a chance for development. 

“I’ve always been an undersized defenseman, and my whole career I’ve been rushing around - jumped right into college when I was 18, jumped right into juniors when I was 16. Taking an extra year, development-wise, is a smart move,” he explains. 

“It’s the best-case scenario all around. I get another year and another crack at it. Right now, I’m just happy where I’m at.”

He adds, “When I was younger, it was always Boston College. I always said if I ever got the chance to go there, I was going to.” 

Not only has Powell achieved that childhood dream of playing at BC, but he has exceeded it by becoming a two-time captain and leaving his own lasting impact on the program - more than his younger self could have ever hoped for. With childhood dreams accomplished, now all that’s left is to take care of unfinished business.