San Jose Sharks' Will Smith leads Boston University to Hockey East championship

Boston University forward Cutter Gauthier, 19, poses with Boston University forward Will Smith, 6, as BU faces BC in the semifinals of the Hockey East Championship on March 23 at the Garden. celebrates a goal with Boston University forward Gabe Perreault, 34. (Staff photo by Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)

SAN JOSE – The San Jose Sharks front office and scouting staff had to entertain what they saw from top prospect Boston College freshman Will Smith on Saturday night.

Smith, who was drafted fourth overall by the Sharks last season, had four goals and one assist as Boston University defeated rival Boston University 6-2 in the Hockey East Tournament championship game at TD Garden.

Smith scored power-play goals at 5:46 and 8:37 of the first period to give the Golden Eagles an early 2-0 lead. Smith then completed his hat trick with a goal at 6:46 of the third period, giving his team a 4-1 lead.

Smith also assisted on Cutter Gauthier's second-period goal and added an empty-netter with less than two minutes left in regulation time as Boston College won its 12th straight game and re-established itself as the top team in NCAA Division I. Confirmed and ended the night with 4 points.

Smith currently has an NCAA-leading 67 points in 37 games. According to NHL Draft and Prospect Analyst Chris Peters, the only player under the age of 19 to score more points in a season is center Jack Eichel. The Vegas Golden Knights center scored 71 points in 40 games as a freshman at Boston College in 2014-15 under then-coach David Quinn.

Smith was selected as one of 10 nominees for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as the top player in men's college hockey.

When the bracket for the 16-team NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Championship is announced Sunday afternoon, Boston College (31-5-1) is expected to be the No. 1 seed. The single-elimination regional tournament will be held at four venues from March 28th to 31st.