Although the NHL has expanded across the country, hockey remains a regional sport in the United States, with its popularity concentrated in several pockets. Massachusetts is one of those pockets, having produced more NHL players than any state except Minnesota, and the Beanpot tournament is perhaps the greatest showcase of the state’s love for hockey.
Since 1952, the Beanpot has pitted the Boston area’s four most prominent college hockey teams — Boston College, Boston University, Harvard and Northeastern — against each other in a two-round tournament. In the semifinals on Feb. 3, No. 8 BU handily beat Harvard 7–1 while No. 1 BC routed Northeastern, 8–2, setting up a title game between two of the most storied programs in college hockey at TD Garden.
Before these two juggernauts faced off for the title, Harvard and Northeastern dueled in the consolation game. Though Northeastern certainly looked to be the better team, and ultimately outshot Harvard 26–19, they couldn’t stay out of the box, taking eight penalties. Harvard took advantage, scoring all four of their goals on the power play. Husky captain Jack Williams scored twice, but it wasn’t enough, as the Crimson hung on to win 4–3.
Both finalists feature stacked lineups, with many of the best American prospects taking the ice in the title game. BU lost Macklin Celebrini and Lane Hutson, key contributors last year, to the NHL, but first-year defenseman Cole Hutson (Lane’s younger brother) and first-year forward Cole Eiserman, a first-round draft pick in 2024, have been quick to fill their shoes. Both made big impacts at the recent World Junior Championships, helping Team USA win their second consecutive gold medal. Meanwhile, Celebrini and the elder Hutson visited the team in the locker room before the game to read the starting lineup.
Not to be outdone, BC has perhaps the best group of forwards in the country, headlined by sophomores Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault and first-year James Hagens. Both Leonard and Perreault were first-rounders in 2023, and Hagens figures to be a top-five pick in the upcoming draft. All three are averaging more than a point per game this year, and they formed the first forward line for Team USA at the World Juniors, where Leonard was named tournament MVP.
Even before the game began, TD Garden was buzzing thanks to the raucous student sections. The so-called “Green Line Rivalry” is arguably the best rivalry in college hockey, owing to both the proximity of the schools and their mutual success. The spirit of that rivalry was alive and well on Monday night, as both student sections packed the upper levels of the building, loudly and mercilessly taunting the opposing team and even the opposing fan base throughout the game.
The final felt like two separate games in one. BC dominated the first period, outshooting BU 16–9, and just six minutes into the game, Perreault scored off of a beautiful pass from Leonard. While BU showed some signs of life in the first, they were few. The Eagles pressed relentlessly in the Terriers’ zone for the remainder of the period, but despite their offensive assault, they were unable to light the lamp more than once, leaving the door open.
Unable to answer in the first period, BU hit the ground running in the second in what looked like a completely different game. The game then flew at a blistering pace with both teams ripping shots left and right. BU outshot BC 21–16 in the second and took the lead with two goals, the latter by Hutson. Eiserman scored on a breakaway late in the third to give BU some breathing room, and an empty-netter from sophomore defenseman Gavin McCarthy sealed the deal.
Though both teams put on offensive master classes, the true X factor was first-year goalie Mikhail Yegorov, who put up a show-stopping .971 save percentage for BU across the two games — the third-highest in tournament history. Hutson, who had three goals and two assists in the tournament, was named Beanpot MVP.
Unique to Boston, the Beanpot is an event that showcases the city’s great passion for hockey. The energy of the students in attendance fuels the atmosphere, despite teams playing for nothing beyond school pride and a small silver pot of beans — and what screams Boston more than that?
