Keller, Burt Honored As Hockey East’s Best in February

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Two Boston College women's hockey players have been recognized as Hockey East's top performers in February. Junior defenseman Megan Keller was tabbed the Warrior Player of the Month and junior goaltender Katie Burt was recognized as the Goaltender of the Month.

This is Keller's first-ever monthly honor, and Burt's second in a row after claiming January Goaltender of the Month recognition.

Both key members of the Eagles' defense that's ranked fourth nationally, Keller and Burt backed BC to a league-best 1.62 goals allowed per game mark in February. That was more than a full goal better than the next closest Hockey East team (Boston University, 2.75). BC's defense also paced the conference with the league's lowest shots allowed mark, surrendering just 24.88 shots per game that got to Burt. BC went 5-2-1 and won the 2017 Beanpot title while the defensive unit was depleted by injury.

As a defenseman, Keller tied for the Hockey East scoring lead – and was tied for fourth nationally among all skaters – in February, notching five goals and adding nine assists for 14 points. Her +10 rating also led Hockey East. Keller recorded points in six of eight games last month and posted three games with three or more points, including a career-high five points against Vermont on Feb. 12. On Feb. 7, she anchored the BC defense that held Northeastern to just 20 shots on its home ice as the Eagles won the Beanpot, 2-1, at Matthews Arena.

In the Hockey East Quarterfinal series against Merrimack, Keller factored in four of the Eagles' five goals in the series, scoring two goals and adding two assists. BC also shut out the Warriors in both games, winning 4-0 and 1-0, to advance to the semifinals. Keller's goal in Game 2 was the game-winning strike.

Burt started all eight games in February and led Hockey East in goals against average (1.69), save percentage (.933) and shutouts (2). Her five wins in goal were second most in the league. Last month, she was called on to make 28 or more saves in a game three times, including a 33-save effort against Providence on Feb. 19 in the 3-1 win. On Feb. 24, her 28 saves in the 1-0 shutout of Merrimack matched her second-highest total in a shutout in her career.

Burt enters the Hockey East semifinals on Saturday among the national leaders in every goaltending category: sixth in goals against average (1.59), sixth in save percentage (.931), tied for fifth in shutouts (7) and seventh in winning percentage (.773 with a 23-5-5 record).

In the NCAA record book, Burt is eighth in career wins (88 wins) and tied for fifth in career shutouts (30) as a junior.

Earlier today, Keller was tabbed the Hockey East Best Defenseman for the second year in a row, winning by a unanimous vote by the league's head coaches. Earlier this week, Burt picked up her third Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week award – and fourth weekly award this season – after the back-to-back shutouts against Merrimack last weekend.

Sixth-ranked Boston College (25-5-5) returns to the ice on Saturday, March 4, at 1:30 p.m. The top-seeded Eagles will face fifth-seeded Vermont in the Hockey East semifinals at BU's Walter Brown Arena, before second seed Northeastern faces third-seeded Boston University at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are available at goterriers.com.

Keller, Burt Honored As Hockey East’s Best in February

Players Mentioned

Katie Burt

Megan Keller

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