CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. — Eight of the finest athletes in Boston College history have been selected for induction into the Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame for the fall of 2019.
The athletes being honored are: Ted Basset ’74 (tennis); Brian Gionta ’04 (hockey); Mathias Kiwanuka ’05 (football), Lou Papadellis ’81 (Men’s Soccer), Craig Smith ’06 (Men’s Basketball), Chris Snee ’04 (football), Kelli Stack ’11 (Women’s Ice Hockey) and veteran’s inductee Owen Murphy ’26 (deceased – baseball, football, track & basketball).
The honorees will be inducted in a ceremony on Friday, October 18 at Silvio O. Conte Forum on the campus of Boston College. They will also be recognized at halftime of the Eagles’ football game against NC State on Saturday, Oct. 19.
Here is a short biography of the new Hall of Famer:
Brian Gionta ’01 (Men’s Ice Hockey) – One of the greatest goal scorers in Boston College history, Gionta was a three-time Hobey Baker finalist (1999, 2000 & ’01). A native of Rochester, New York, Gionta graduated as the program’s all-time leader in goals (123) and hat tricks (nine).
He ranks second all-time in points (232) behind David Emma and sits eighth in assists (109). The forward led the team in points in the ’98-99 season (60) and in 2000-01 with 54 points. Gionta paced the team in goals scored in ’99-00 & ’00-01 with 33 each season. He was the team captain of the national championship team in 2000-01 and the assistant captain in 99-00. Gionta was a three-time First Team All-American (’99, ’00 & ’01).
He was the Hockey East Player of the Year in 2001 and the Rookie of the Year in 1998. A Walter Brown Award winner in 2001, Gionta was named BC’s Eagle of the Year in 2001 as a senior. Selected in the third round of the 1998 NHL Draft by the New Jersey Devils, Gionta won the 2003 Stanley Cup with the Devils. He played from 2001-18 and became only the 43rd American to skate in 1,000 career NHL games.
He also was a member of the U.S. Olympic team in 2006 and 2018, serving as team captain in PyeongChang, South Korea. Gionta is currently working in the NHL with the Buffalo Sabres.
