BC Bulletin

BC Men's Hockey Duo of Hagens and Stiga Will be a Problem for Hockey East: The Rundown

The two former USNTDP forwards arrived together as freshmen in 2024 and produced right away for the Eagles.
Graham Dietz|
Feb 28, 2025; Chestnut Hill, MA, USA; Boston College forward Teddy Stiga (4) skates against the University of New Hampshire Wildcats during the first period at Conte Forum. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Feb 28, 2025; Chestnut Hill, MA, USA; Boston College forward Teddy Stiga (4) skates against the University of New Hampshire Wildcats during the first period at Conte Forum. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | Eric Canha-Imagn Images

On Wednesday night, the night before the eve of Boston College men’s hockey’s season opener against Quinnipiac, sophomore forwards Teddy Stiga and James Hagens took to Instagram to post a joint hype video teasing the duo’s budding connection as they approach their second year on the Heights.

While Hagens rotated in with former BC men’s hockey forwards Ryan Leonard (Washington Capitals) and Gabe Perreault (New York Rangers)—who spent the last two seasons in Chestnut Hill, Mass., and cemented their legacies in the highest ranks of program history—the chemistry he developed, and showcased, with Stiga was evident.

The two United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP) products came in as freshmen together for the 2024-25 season, in which the Eagles fell in the 2025 NCAA Tournament New Hampshire Regional Final to Denver but reached as high as No. 1 in the USCHO NCAA Division I hockey rankings during the regular season.

Just like BC’s former first line of Leonard, Perreault, and Will Smith (San Jose Sharks), who collectively arrived two seasons ago and immediately jumped into the mix as one of the most dominant lines in college hockey as only rookies, Stiga and Hagens formed a bond that boasts the potential of high offensive production for the Eagles this year.

In 2024-25, Hagens (5-10, 186) ranked third on the team in points with 37 (11 goals, 26 assists) in 37 games as the No. 1 center between Perreault and Leonard, primarily.

At the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, the Hauppauge, N.Y., native and 2025 Boston Bruins’ first-round pick tied for the United States lead with five goals in seven games to help his country capture the gold medal.

Hagens was the fourth-youngest player in college hockey last season and ranked fourth among NCAA Division I freshmen in points, earning Hockey East All-Rookie Team honors.

Stiga (5-11, 178) was also selected to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team and earned Hockey East Rookie of the Week twice last season, including the Hockey East Rookie of the Month Award for January. 

The Nashville Predators 2024 second-round pick, from Sudbury, Mass., skated in 36 games, posting 30 points on 14 goals and 16 assists.

What made the tandem of Hagens and Stiga so lethal was their ability to locate each other on the ice before their opponent saw the play unfolding, just like Smith, Leonard, and Perreault would do a season prior. Hagens almost always knew where Stiga would be before he was there, and vice versa.

There were a number of times when the two connected for points on the board while on the ice together, and the video, titled “Year Two,” is a testament to that.

They have a chance to be one of, if not the best college hockey forward duos this season in the NCAA with a year of experience under their belt in which they both impressed and adjusted to the pace of college hockey just fine.

Here is The Rundown for October 2, 2025.

Thursday's Schedule:

Women's Soccer (4-3-5, 0-2-2 ACC): at North Carolina, 7 p.m. EST. | Preview

Wednesday's Results:

No games were played on Wednesday, Oct. 1.

Countdown to Boston College men's hockey season opener:

1 day. Puck drop is imminent.

Did You Notice?

  • The Boston College women's basketball program added a stud to its 2026 recruiting class in Air Academy (Colo.) point guard Kinley Asp on Tuesday.
  • Former Boston College football offensive lineman Ozzy Trapilo (Chicago Bears) impressed in his NFL debut against the Raiders.
  • Three former Boston College baseball players made the 2025 Major League Baseball (MLB) playoffs, Sal Frelick (Milwaukee Brewers), Emmett Sheehan (Los Angeles Dodgers), and Michael King (San Diego Padres).

Boston College Eagles Quote of the Day:

“Favorite moment was a combo of winning the Big East tournament my sophomore year and then splitting the conference with UConn my senior year after a terrible, terrible start.”

- Troy Bell

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Graham Dietz
GRAHAM DIETZ

Graham Dietz is a 2025 graduate of Boston College and subsequently joined Boston College On SI. He previously served as an editor for The Heights, the independent student newspaper, from fall 2021, including as Sports Editor from 2022-23. Graham works for The Boston Globe as a sports correspondent, covering high school football, girls' basketball, and baseball. He was also a beat writer for the Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod Baseball League in the summer of 2023.

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