Event season in school hockey normally begins on the finish of February. However issues are completely different in Boston.
The faculty hockey powers that reside within the metropolis will battle in a really significant match beginning this Tuesday within the Girls’s Dunkin Beanpot. The semifinals pit Boston College towards Harvard (4:30 p.m. ET) whereas Northeastern takes on Boston School (7:30 p.m.) within the evening cap. Each video games will likely be held at Northeastern’s Matthews Enviornment.
After a historic Beanpot a yr in the past, the 4 faculties will look to prime it with loads on the road. Listed below are 5 storylines to know heading into the Beanpot:
Northeastern Making an attempt To three-Peat
The historical past of the Beanpot will be traced by the dynasties that occurred through the years and proper now the faculties reside by Northeastern’s reign. The Huskies have captured back-to-back Beanpot crowns and have received three out of the final 4 titles. Northeastern, which is led by Skylar Irving, certain aren’t shying away from the considered placing collectively a three-peat and making a press release on the Beanpot.
“It’s not a nasty expectation,” Irving mentioned. “Stress is a privilege. So, having received it the previous two years, now there’s this stress behind it. However that’s one thing that type of motivates us and drives us a bit bit extra.”
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The trophy case for the Huskies already is fairly full as they’ve essentially the most Beanpot titles than anybody else with 19. However a good 20 certain does sound higher.
BU Bounce Again From Heartbreak
The Terriers are on the other finish of the spectrum in comparison with Northeastern in terms of Beanpot {hardware}. BU has captured simply two titles, by far the fewest within the group. They got here narrowly near hoisting the trophy final yr in Tara Watchorn’s first season on the helm. The Terriers misplaced in time beyond regulation to the Huskies and BU is out for revenge if the 2 groups meet once more within the last.
“I keep in mind truly after the sport (final yr), Tara got here into the locker room and he or she was speaking about how she didn’t need us to lose this sense and the way we have to take what we felt proper now and switch it over into the season,” BU defenseman Julia Shaunessy mentioned. “Everybody type of has that feeling behind their head that that’s not one thing we need to really feel once more. And I feel it’s talked about and the sentiments round it and the teachings we realized are one thing we’ll all the time know, but it surely’s type of one thing that transferring ahead we by no means need to should really feel once more.”
Shaunessy added: “There’s all the time revenge once we’re enjoying Northeastern. Northeastern has all the time been a tough sport. It’s a lot enjoyable enjoying them. It’s nice hockey. So yeah, revenge can be the precise phrase.”
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BC Trying To Finish Title Drought
BC head coach Katie Crowley is aware of all about getting her arms on the Beanpot trophy. She’s received six in her 18 seasons behind the bench with the Eagles. However this iteration of the Eagles doesn’t know the sensation that Crowley has skilled. BC hasn’t received a Beanpot since 2018 and has watched the opposite three faculties have a good time a title within the meantime.
The Eagles look to poise to finish their title drought as they enter the match with one of the best report at 14-6-1. They usually’ll face a Northeastern squad they already beat, 3-0, earlier this season.
“It’s a aim of ours yearly to win the Beanpot, but it surely’s undoubtedly one thing that’s increased on our listing this yr,” Crowley mentioned. “To not have any of our lessons have been capable of elevate that trophy. This crew has actually put the work in and put the trouble in and I hope we’re capable of do it this yr.”
Harvard Embracing Underdog Function
Harvard is effectively conscious that it enters the Beanpot because the clear underdog. Northeastern, BC and BU have been all ranked within the prime 15 within the nation final week and the Huskies and Eagles seemingly will keep there whereas the Terriers may fall out after shedding to Vermont over the weekend. In the meantime, the Crimson have simply two wins all season.
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However these two wins have been each upsets towards ranked groups on the time in UConn and Yale. That may spark perception that Harvard can do it once more on an elevated stage. And knocking off BU within the Beanpot definitely can be an effective way for Harvard to get its first win since Nov. 1.
“That’s nice with us,” Harvard coach Laura Bellamy mentioned of taking over the underdog position. “I feel we’re simply targeted on ourselves, however typically, the enjoyable half concerning the Beanpot is it’s anybody’s to win yearly. … So, if we’re seen because the underdog, we perceive that and that excites us and we’ll be able to go it doesn’t matter what.”
Historical past May Be Made Once more
Whereas Matthews Enviornment will host the semifinal spherical — probably for the ultimate time — the championship bout and third-place sport will likely be held as soon as once more at TD Backyard. That’s important since final yr was the primary time the ladies’s Beanpot was held on the venue. It drew a report 10,633 followers for the occasion and the faculties definitely will look to prime that quantity this yr. The ultimate will happen on Jan. 21.
All girls’s Beanpot video games will likely be telecasted on NESN airwaves. The semifinal contest will be seen on NESN+ whereas the third-game place and last will be discovered on NESN.
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NESN Dunkin’ Beanpot protection is introduced by Dunkin’
