Boston University senior captain Patrick Curry succinctly summed up the Beanpot hopes and dreams of Terriers Nation when he spoke at Monday’s annual luncheon to tub-thump the 68th edition of the fabled mid-winter classic that legendary Boston College coach John “Snooks” Kelley once hailed as a “social and athletic must.”
Curry, who has appeared in six Beanpot contests over his career, scoring a goal and an assist, remarked to the gathering in the Legends Room at TD Garden, “When Monday rolls around we’re not going to worry about classes.”
That is clear indication of the sense of urgency to the Terriers’ approach for this year’s tournament. BU owns the longest tournament drought, dating to 2015, when the Matt Grzelcyk-Jack Eichel-led Terriers won the title with a 4-3 overtime triumph over Northeastern. Charlestown native and current Bruins blueliner Grzelcyk skated off with MVP laurels.
A cursory glance at tournament history bolster the confidence that the BU players and ardent fan base have in its belief of ownership of the coveted silver chalice. BU has won nearly half (30) of the 67 prior events. The Terriers have appeared in the title game a staggering 53 times, adding 23 runner-up finishes to its championship haul of hardware.
BU’s overall record in the tournament is 90-44. A total of 16 of those losses have come at the hands of Monday night’s opponent Boston College (15-7-0), which has captured the second-most ‘Pot crowns with 20. BU holds a 28-16 edge over the Eagles in the Beanpot meetings and 135-126-19. The two foes met earlier this season (on Jan. 18) before a packed house at Kelley Rink with No. 4-ranked BC taking a drama-filled 4-3 victory when a shot by BC senior center Julius Mattila, glanced off the side of a BU defender down to block the shot and changed direction before landing in the net with 5:40 to play.
“It was a great environment. Our team played well. They played well. It ended up with a bounce off our defensemen for the winning goal,” said BU coach Albie O’Connell, who is the only current Division 1 men’s head coach to have won a conference regular season title, a conference tournament championship, and reached an NCAA title game as both a player and coach.
Still, the 5-year Beanpot drought sticks in the collective craw of the Terriers.
“We’ve been getting healthy. We were dinged up a little bit in the first half but it’s just important for us to keep getting better. Our best weekend of the year was last week (against Umass Lowell),” said O’Connell, who has been able to balance his lines with the return from injury of speedy forward Logan Cockerill. “It was a lot less pressure (on you) as a player. You just competed. Now, I’m trying to get these guys in the right mindset to play good hockey.”
BU senior captain Patrick Curry, whose 100% effort is evident each time he climbs over the boards, has attempted to hone his leadership skills and help prepare the youthful Terriers for the task at hand.
“It’s great to see the new guys coming in with a lot of pressure and cool to see them make an impact,” Curry said. “It’s going to take a collective effort with everyone sacrificing for the good of the team. We have to stay disciplined.”
Curry said the players hear and understand the pleas and hopes of their fellow students and the embrace the urging of the scarlet-and-white-clad BU players from the past.
“Obviously, the guys who came before you like to tell you about it. The biggest thing I tell the team is just to stay in the moment. Always around the Beanpot there are going to be distractions and you just have to stay even-keel,” Curry said.
BU senior right wing Patrick Harper, a Nashville Predators draft choice, originally heard about the fabled mid-winter classic at age 11 while growing up in New Canaan, Connecticut. Harper, the Terriers’ newest member of the career 100-point club (38-67-105 in 117 game), later heard stories about the tournament from his teammates while playing prep school hockey at Avon Old Farms.
“It would be cool (to bring it back to campus) but we’re going to approach like we would any other game. I think that we’re skating and playing well, right now. So, we’re trending in the right direction,” said Harper, a 21-year-old advertising major. “Honestly, I think with the college hockey season being so long that every team is trying to find its own identity. Everyone is trying to play to their own strengths. But, the Beanpot is just a more recognized event.”
