Bill Arnold '07 Makes His NHL Debut With Calgary Flames
4/14/2014
Fessenden alum makes history, plays in first NHL game for the Calgary Flames.
Fresh off of his second appearance in the Frozen Four during his four seasons as a member of the Boston College Eagles, Bill Arnold '07 made his NHL debut last night for the Calgary Flames in the team's season finale versus the Vancouver Canucks. Arnold joined Boston College teammate and Hobey Baker Award Winner Johnny Gaudreau in playing their first professional games together for Calgary. The Flames did not make the playoffs this season, so Arnold fans will have to wait until next fall to get a real taste of his inclusion on the team.
Arnold played hockey for three years at Fessenden (in grades 7-9) and contributed to two undefeated seasons. He went on to play at Noble and Greenough and then came to Boston College after playing for the United States U-18 National Development team. Joining B.C. during the 2010-2011 season, Arnold scored 10 goals and 10 assists in his freshman season en route to being named to the All-Hockey East Rookie team. That helped translate to a breakout sophomore year when he scored 36 points, including 17 goals, during the national championship season of 2011-2012.
During the 2012 season, Arnold appeared with Team USA as part of the World Junior Championships in, ironically enough, Calgary. Of his 36 points, he registered 24 of them in Hockey East contests and scored with 6.4 seconds left in overtime to lift the Eagles over Boston University in the Beanpot Championship game.
Last year, Arnold recorded more of the same statistics, scoring 17 goals again while registering 35 points. He historically helped Jerry York to his record-tying 924th career victory by scoring twice in a 5-2 win over Boston University on the Conte Forum ice. He developed his game as one of the premier face-off men in the nation, winning more than half the draws he took, and he was named the winner of the Snooks Kelley Award as one of the players who best embodies Boston College hockey.
That led to a further breakout this year. Playing with Gaudreau and fellow NHL draft pick Kevin Hayes, Arnold scored 53 points as B.C. became the only team in the nation with three 50-point scorers. He registered 39 assists, helping Hayes and Gaudreau score a combined 63 goals.
Arnold will now head to Calgary with Gaudreau as a tandem that the Flames hope will revitalize the downtrodden franchise. As part of the rebuilding process, Calgary selected Arnold a year ahead of Gaudreau with the intention of pairing them together. See links below to several video interviews (before and after his first game with the Flames).
Fessenden is proud and excited for Arnold as he takes this next step in his career.
Watch pre-game interview with Bill Arnold '07
Watch post-game interview with Bill Arnold '07 | | |