Twenty-four years.
The last time Harvard won the Beanpot, Bill Clinton was in office, Radiohead released “Creep,” and Jurassic Park had just been released. The last time a team other than the Boston College Eagles, or the Boston University Terriers won a Beanpot, Groundhog Day was in theaters.
Twenty-four years has passed since the last time Harvard Crimsons were Beanpot champions, but that all changed Monday night at the TD Garden, when they defeated the favored BU Terriers 6-3 before a packed crowd.
The game’s first period was dominated by multiple Harvard scoring chances, with the Crimsons outscoring BU 18-2. A slew of BU penalties culminated in a power play goal at 5:20 by Nathan Krusko, off of a Sean Malone slapshot.
However, the Terriers came back with a strong second period performance. Kiefer Bellows opened up the scoring for BU, tying up the game at 1:29 in the second period. Bellows, a speedy left winger, was drafted nineteenth overall in 2016 by the New York Islanders. Clayton Keller gave Boston their first lead of the game, blocking Harvard goaltender Merrick Madsen. With the game tied, Luke Esposito notched a goal tipped in off of Clay Anderson, giving Harvard back the lead. Krusko scored once again at the end of the second, giving the Crimsons a demanding lead going into the third period.
The Terriers’ penalty kill proved disastrous, yielding Harvard multiple scoring chances and opening up the game to Alexander Kerfoot’s power play goal scored on a 5 on 3 advantage early in the third. The goal was under review, but upheld, building on the Crimsons’ lead. Boston Bruins prospect Ted Donato, son of Harvard University coach, scored his sixteenth goal of the season, building the lead for the Crimsons. Clayton Keller pulled Boston within two, but it was an empty net goal by Harvard freshman Adam Fox which put the dagger in the Terriers’ hopes for winning the tournament.
Earlier in the day, BC faced off against Northeastern in the Beanpot consolation game. BC came out strong in the first, giving the Eagles a 1-0 lead off of a Sean Cotton wrist shot from the blue line. Despite a 5-on-3 advantage in the second, strong goal tending by Boston goaltender Joseph Woll stopped any power play scoring chances. However, the Huskies controlled the tempo for much of the second period, leading to a wrist shot goal by Northeastern’s Matt Philipe.
A foolish too many men on the ice penalty by Northeastern yielded several scoring chances for Boston College, but ultimately no goals. Philipe opened the scoring for Northeastern in the third. Colin White goal evened the score during the third period, drawing the teams into a close battle for the third place in the tournament. A controversial goaltender interference call led to the would-be go ahead goal for Boston College being revoked, keeping the game at a dead lock.
Chicago Blackhawks prospect Dylan Sikura notched the game winning goal for Northeastern with under a minute to go, deflating the electrified Boston College crowd. An empty net goal torpedoed any last-minute comeback efforts by Boston College, giving them their first fourth place finish in 23 years.