What we learned from night one of the Beanpot
Boston College and Northeastern advanced to the final game on Feb. 11.
Former Harvard coach Cooney Weiland was among the first to forecast success for the Beanpot. But Weiland would have changed the format, and even the name of the event, according to Dec. 19, 1952, editions of the Boston Globe.
First, Weiland said, “We should make it an annual thing.’’ Then, “Maybe bring in some Canadian teams.’’ Further, Weiland “doesn’t like the name Bean Pot [it started out as two words] tourney . . . He suggests N.E. Invitation,’’ former Globe sports editor Ernie Roberts wrote a week before the first tourney was held at Boston Arena (now Matthews Arena).
One of Weiland’s proposals was adopted — the Beanpot has been held annually for 67 years.
Weiland’s ideas of expanding the field and turning the event into an invitational were non-starters, former TD Garden vice president and Beanpot guru Steve Nazro said Monday night.
“There was never a thought,’’ Nazro said of adding to the number of teams. “It was founded by the four athletic directors and they weren’t going to have anyone else come in. It wasn’t invitational — these are the four schools. Walter Brown [Boston Garden manager and Celtics founder] wanted the same schools.’’
Though the tournament is referred to as the Beanpot (one word), the Bean Pot (two words) endures.
“On the trophy it still is,’’ Nazro said. “In fact, when we had a replica made they asked us if we wanted to make it one word. We said no, it’s not a replica if you make it one word.’’
BU goalie Jake Oettinger has a lot to keep track of in the second period the Beanpot semifinal at TD Garden.
Power shortage
Harvard entered the first semifinal with the No. 1 power play in the nation (23 for 67, 34.3 percent), scoring on the man advantage in 14 of its 20 games, collecting two or more power-play goals five times.
For Boston College to prevail, 2-1, it all started with goalie Joe Woll, who made 27 saves
“I told Joe Woll to make a lot of saves,’’ said coach Jerry York. “Your goalie has to be your best PK, especially against that power play. And we got lucky, we got some bounces.’’
Limiting Harvard junior Adam Fox was a big concern for York. The defenseman entered with seven goals and 20 assists.
“We tried to key on Fox. He’s as good an offensive defenseman we’ve seen in a long long time,’’ said York. “He distributes the puck so well, a clear Hobey Baker candidate, so we tried to key on him, but he’s hard to.’’
Harvard had one last chance at the end of regulation, going on a power play with 1:57 remaining when Julius Mattila was whistled for tripping. The Crimson pulled goalie Michael Lackey with a little more than a minute remaining for an extra skater, but could not break through.
“The last thing I wanted at the end of the game protecting a one-goal lead was a late penalty, and sure enough we got one,’’ said York, “but we were able to hold on a little bit.’’
Northeastern’s Patrick Schule celebrates his goal with his bench during the first period at TD Garden.
More Fusco fame
Scott Fusco, the Harvard forward who won the Hobey Baker Award in 1986, was inducted into the Beanpot Hall of Fame.
The Burlington native is the Crimson’s all-time scoring leader with 240 points (107 goals, 133 assists).
Fusco was named a first-team All-American in 1985 and 1986 and is the only Harvard player to be named ECAC Hockey Player of the Year twice (1985 and ’86). His 81 points (34 goals, 47 assists) in 1984-85 is second in school history for points in a season.
Fusco was a member of Team USA during both the 1984 and 1988 Winter Olympics.
He is the 13th former member of the Crimson men’s program inducted in the 59-member Hall of Fame, joining his brother, Mark, who was also a Hobey Baker winner in 1983.
BC’s Connor Moore pressures Harvard’s Wyllum Deveaux during the second period at TD Garden.
Eye on NCAAs
The Crimson entered the game against BC having won five of their last six contests to improve to No. 12 in the PairWise rankings, which determine the 16-team field for the NCAA Tournament.
Northeastern, which had been as high as eighth in the PairWise, entered the night having dropped four of five games to fall to No. 13.
Boston University sat at No. 22, while Boston College was at No. 32.
Carpenter out
The Terriers were without senior captain Bobo Carpenter, who was injured against Merrimack on Jan. 21.
The North Reading native played the following Friday (Jan. 25) against Arizona State and eclipsed the 100-point mark for his career, becoming the 83d Terrier to reach the milestone.
He missed BU’s next two games entering the Beanpot.
Carpenter leads the Terriers with 10 goals, to go with eight assists.
