No. 1 with a bullet: BC beats Northeastern for fifth straight Beanpot

Thanks to USCHO

Boston,  MA -- Patrick Brown  scored twice, including the game  winner late in the third period, and Thatcher Demko stopped 29 shots, as Boston  College topped  Northeastern, 4-1,  in the  final of  the 62nd  annual Beanpot from TD Garden.

Johnny  Gaudreau extended his  point streak to 24 games with a goal and assist for the Eagles, who celebrated their selection as the new No. 1 program in the country by claiming their fifth consecutive tourney title.

Kevin  Hayes  took home the tournament  MVP thanks to scoring in each contest, while  the  freshman Demko earned the  Eberly Award for best goaltender with a .966 save percentage.

BC also extended its unbeaten streak to 15 games (14-0-1), and crept one off the record of six straight championships, set by Boston University under Jack Parker from 1995-2000.

"No question. Once you have 'em, you want more," said BC head coach Jerry York when  asked if  his club  is using  Monday's victory  as a  motivator for  the remainder of the season.

With the win, York tied Snooks Kelley, who also racked up eight Beanpot titles as head coach on the Heights.

John  Stevens provided  the  lone  offense for  the  Huskies,  winless in  the February  tournament since  1988. Senior Clay Witt played well until the final minutes, eventually making 37 saves in a bitter defeat.

"I like the way our team played," Northeastern head coach Jim Madigan said. "We battled for the whole game, and through two periods I liked where we were. If you can be 1-1, or up a goal or down a goal going into the third period, you've got a chance to win."

Brown finally snuck one home with 5 1/2 minutes left in regulation and BC held a 2-1 edge. He was on the ice in front of the opposing net and facing the point when he managed to redirect a left-point offering by Isaac MacLeod between the pads of Witt.

"I was thinking deflection the whole way, but I was lucky enough to get a piece of it and it went in," Brown admitted of the trick shot that turned the tide.

Gaudreau potted an easy empty-net score to lock up the victory, then Brown broke in alone once Witt was back in his net and scored with 49.5 seconds remaining.

Northeastern saw the game's first goal wiped out near the 6 1/2-minute mark of the first period due to the net being dislodged seconds before Ryan Belonger flipped it over Demko. The Huskies were given a power play, but failed to convert and BC jumped on top shortly thereafter.

Gaudreau was able to carry the puck from the right wing behind Witt and dished back into the slot for a waiting Hayes, who slid it home at 8:40.

Witt kept it a one-goal margin in the waning seconds of the frame, when he stayed square in his crease and stopped a Hayes breakaway.

Both teams flew at each other in a spirited second period, forcing both goaltenders to make acrobatic saves. The underdogs finally drew even when Stevens followed up a Kevin Roy rebound with 1:24 remaining.

Demko's glove stop on Torin Snydeman, who chased down a dump-in through the BC zone, kept things even inside the first minute of the third. Though the freshman netminder slid back into his net before the whistle blew, a review to determine whether the puck crossed the goal line was inconclusive.

Catch the highlights below:


Earlier Monday, Luke  Esposito posted  two  goals and  one assist, as Harvard knocked off Boston University by a 6-2 count in the Beanpot consolation game.

Kyle  Criscuolo  added a score and  two helpers for the Crimson, slotted third for the fourth consecutive year. Jimmy  Vesey  contributed a goal and  one assist, while Steve Michalek stopped 25-of-27 shots.

Evan  Rodrigues  and Ahti  Oksanen  provided  offense  for the  Terriers,  who finished fourth for the second straight season and haven't won since 2009.

Sean  Maguire  allowed four goals  on 35 shots  in defeat. Anthony Moccia also surrendered a score in relief.

BC and Northeastern to play Beanpot final once more

Boston, MA -- The 62nd annual Beanpot final will feature two schools who are no strangers to the championship contest in recent times.

Ryan Fitzgerald, Kevin Hayes and Johnny Gaudreau lit the lamp as Boston College topped bitter rival Boston University, 3-1, in the late semifinal from TD Garden.

‘‘We’re playing really well together right now,’’ said Gaudreau, who leads the nation with 53 points. ‘‘It’s fun to see because we’re such good friends off the ice.’’

Thatcher Demko made 27 saves for the Eagles, who are seeking their fifth consecutive championship and will face the program it bested for the 2011 and 2013 titles.

In the process, BC extended its unbeaten streak to 13 games (12-0-1).

Robbie Baillargeon provided the Terriers' lone offense, while Matt O'Connor halted 29 pucks in defeat. BU, which has claimed 29 Beanpot crowns, hasn't won since 2009.

Earlier on Monday, Clay Witt stopped all 27 shots he faced and Kevin Szmatula added a goal and two assists, as Northeastern beat Harvard, 6-0.

‘‘You need goaltending,’’ Northeastern head coach Jim Madigan said in reference to Witt, who posted his fourth shutout of the season. ‘‘We obviously feel confident with our goaltending.’’

Braden Pimm, Kevin Roy, Colton Saucerman and Dalen Hedges each posted a score and a helper for the Huskies, who are once again on the cusp of their first tourney win since 1988.

Raphael Girard gave up five goals on 21 shots in just over two periods for the Crimson, who haven't won it all since 1993. Steve Michalek finished up by stopping all 11 shots he faced.

Boston College beat Northeastern by a 6-3 count last year, and both teams hooked up for a 7-6 overtime thriller three years ago ultimately won by current Florida Panthers forward Jimmy Hayes. Also featured in that contest was current Dallas Stars defenseman Jamie Oleksiak. 

Only BC and BU have won Beanpot titles since 1995, and both schools have combined for 47 total championships. The Eagles are bidding to become the first school to win five in a row since the Terriers took home six straight from 1995-2000. 

Eager Quinn gets the nod as new BU head coach

Thanks to USCHO.com

by Bob Herpen
Phanatic Hockey Editor 

The end of the Jack Parker era on the eastern end of Commonwealth Avenue lasted less than 72 hours.

On Tuesday morning, three days after Boston University dropped a 1-0 decision to UMass-Lowell in the Hockey East Final in Boston, the Terriers inaugurated a new era, introducing 46-year-old David Quinn to succeed Parker behind the BU bench.

"I want to thank David Quinn for providing us with every reason to make this choice in naming him the 11th head coach of Boston University men's ice hockey," said Mike Lynch, director of athletics. "He's got diversity of experiences, a great track record of success, and he's committed to the core values of our athletic program -- excellence in athletics, academics and commitment to community. There are high expectations for this job...and David bring all his experience to achieve them."

Quinn, a native of Cranston, Rhode Island, played for Parker from 1984-87. From there, the former first-round draft choice (No. 13 overall by the Minnesota North Stars in 1984) was an assistant coach at Northeastern for a year, then held the same position for the University of Nebraska-Omaha from 1999-2002 and came home to serve under Parker as an associate coach from 2004-09, the last time the Terriers won the NCAA title.

He also served three seasons as head coach with the Lake Erie Monsters in the American Hockey League through last Spring.

"BU is a premier college hockey program, but for me it was the premier job," Quinn stated. "I've been very fortunate in my coaching career and in hockey in general. I had the great opportunity to come back for five years and work with Jack as an assistant coach culminating in a national title.  When this job opened up, I couldn't tell you how excited I was, thinking about the opportunity to come back. One thing that struck me after four years in professional hockey was how much I missed the college experience. If it was just about winning and losing, I'd have stayed in pro hockey."

There is one catch, however. Quinn is still an assistant coach with the Colorado Avalanche, whose season is very much still in full swing. Reports from several Boston-area sources indicated Quinn will finish out the NHL season before jumping in full force to assume his new duties with his alma mater.

"I want to thank Coach Parker for 40 years of sustained excellence," Lynch stated. "He contributed mightily to our athletics brand as well as to the development of the university. Today marks a new beginning, drawing on that past and the rock-solid foundation that was cast by Coach Parker, we're aiming to bring new heights to Boston University."

Parker exited with 897 career victories, which stands as an all-time record for one man guiding one program in NCAA hockey history.

But now it's a different man, one who is no less eager to get started and preserve the legacy Parker created.

"I wish tomorrow was October 1st for our very first practice," was how the new coach ended his remarks.

Capping a legendary career, Parker calls it quits when season is through

by Bob Herpen
Phanatic Hockey Editor 

After a career which spanned nearly five decades within the confines of the Boston University campus, Jack Parker wrapped up the point of Monday's press conference in roughly 15 seconds.

"It's time. I've been coaching the team for 40 years. I've been a coach for 44 years, I was a player before that, so 48 of the last 49 years I've been reporting for duty and that's enough," deadpanned the man who turned 68 years old today.

Currently sitting on 894 career wins -- most all-time for one man at one school in NCAA hockey annals -- and looking for more heading into the Terriers' Hockey East Quarterfinal series against Merrimack which begins on Friday at Agganis Arena, Parker didn't lose any of the edge which defines his distinct humor when discussing the path which led him to today's announcement.

"I always talk about BU being a family. I have two daughters and 226 sons and the team I have now are my youngest sons. And I'm not having any more children. I didn't want this to turn into a 'farewell tour' where I was celebrated at every other rink in the league. I wanted the team to know that we were going to go through this together."

And when it's all over, Parker won't be riding off into the sunset to enjoy retirement. His particular brand and success has led his boss to want to keep him close by when the whistle blows for the final time. 

"Jack has had an outstanding career at Boston University...he's been a mentor and coach to so many over the years," said Boston University president Robert A. Brown. "I'm also very pleased to announced Jack will stay on as a special advisor to me."

When all is said and done, Parker will have to add at least another five years to his tenure on Commonwealth Avenue, as his contract with the school has been extended through 2017-18. That should be plenty of time for things to sink in and to transfer from one phase of life to the next.

"It won't hit me because we have games to play and there are things I still need to do in order to coach," Parker added. "Maybe it'll hit me when the season's over. It feels weird because I'm doing this now and I'm still the head coach."

Despite a nice round number like 40 years, or the fact that Parker's two years removed from the age of 70, and the fact that a man who has meant so much towards advertising the BU experience was given the chance to go out on his own terms, it's not all a bed of roses. There are those who might point to the revelations of a "culture of sexual entitlement" stemming from an internal review of the program following the arrest of two players involved in alleged sexual assaults late last season and the resulting negative press as more than enough reason to step aside.

It's a charge Parker calmly, yet flatly denied, while heaping praise on others for weathering the storm.

"It was a trying time for us and our program. People ask it it will tarnish my reputation...the people I'm most concerned about are the people who support BU hockey, and the people in the press who know me well and our program well. I give a ton of credit to our players and to my assistants for keeping things focused and on track."

Boston University snagged third place in Hockey East this season, finishing 15-10-2 in the league and 18-15-2 overall, while dealing with the sudden departure of sophomore forward Yasin Cisse to opportunities in Canada as well as freshman forward Wes Myron.

The latter caused Parker to quip early in February to the BU student paper, the Daily Free Press, "I don’t remember too many guys quitting because they didn’t like their ice time my first half of my career. My second half of my career has always been a little bit of that. The reason for that is guys who have expectations of playing pro hockey … If they can’t make it here, maybe they’re not going to play pro hockey, you know?”

That gap in perception is something Parker alluded to when asked to assess what changed around him during his four decades guiding the program.

"I think the coaching is much better than ever. The attention to detail is much better. The kids are different, it's a much different type than I handled in the 70s and 80s as opposed to now. The game hasn't changed that much and the hockey people haven't changed that much. It's a great thing to be part of."

All told, Parker will walk away with the chance to become only the third man to post more than 900 wins, after Ron Mason and rival head coach Jerry York of Boston College. He leaves behind a massive legacy which includes 57 former players to have suited up in the NHL, 24 trips to the NCAA Tournament, a record 21 Beanpot titles, along with eight in-season Hockey East championships and seven playoff conference titles.

There's also the matter of three national titles: 1978 (against BC), 1995 (Maine) and 2009 (Miami-Ohio).

We also won't have to worry about him worrying about what to do in retirement.

"I did not consult with anyone except my twin brother, who has been retired since 1990...and it's his birthday too obviously...he's been haunting me for years to retire. Nobody knows (what to do) until they retire, then they find something to do. Now I know I have something to do. I'll have some people to hang around with which is nice, too."

According to College Hockey News on Sunday, there are five men on the short list to take the reins next season: current Colorado Avalanche and former standout Joe Sacco, John Hynes, former player and current assistant Mike Bavis, former Bruins head coach Mike Sullivan and David Quinn.

Parker made it a point to note that, while he will be involved in the search for his successor, he will not have final say and will not be in the new leader's ear when he feels it necessary: "The new coach won't need me to look over his shoulder and cast a shadow over the building. I'll be around only to take my grandchildren to the games. It'll be a relief to the whole family. My role will not be to be between periods asking why you're not playing this guy."

As for how he'd like to be remembered and if there was any words of wisdom to pass along to his players, recruits and those surrounding the program as it moves forward, Parker was typically brief.

"Care about people you're around. I hopefully cared about them and they cared about me, that's the most important thing."

Before Parker's arrival, Harry Cleverly (1945-62) held the record for longest head coaching tenure in Terriers' history. Now Parker passes into history, in the rare position of still being able to make it before the end arrives.

"It's been a great run. I've had a great time doing it."

BU head coach Parker to announce retirement on Monday

Multiple sources have confirmed that Boston University has called for a 3 PM press conference on Monday, where it is expected that long-time men's ice hockey head coach Jack Parker will announce his retirement effective the end of this season.

The Terriers finished the regular season with a 5-0 defeat of Northeastern, and snagged third place in Hockey East with a 15-10-2 record and 18-15-2 mark overall. BU will kick off the quarterfinals at Agganis Arena against Merrimack on Friday, the start of a best-of-three series.

Parker helped the Commonwealth Avenue program to national titles in 1978, 1995 and 2009.

The 67-year-old Boston-area native suited up for BU from 1965-68 and has been at the helm since 1973.

As of the conclusion of the 2012-13 season, Parker holds an 876-456-113 record all-time, which includes an incredible 24 NCAA Tournament appearances and 21 Beanpot championships during his tenure, along with eight in-season Hockey East championships and seven playoff conference titles.

His 894 wins is the most in NCAA history with a single school and Parker ranks third all-time on the wins list behind Ron Mason and rival head coach Jerry York of Boston College.

College Hockey News is reporting five possible replacement candidates: current Colorado Avalanche and former standout Joe Sacco, John Hynes, former player and current assistant Mike Bavis, former Bruins head coach Mike Sullivan and David Quinn.

Stay with The Phanatic for the full story tomorrow.

BC and Northeastern win, head for Beanpot final

Boston, MA -- Quinn Smith tallied twice and Boston College advanced  to its  fourth consecutive  Beanpot final  with a  4-1 victory over Harvard at TD Garden on Monday night.

"It was really neat to score two goals in this game," said the sophomore Smith. "You always want to help your team and we have a lot of kids on this team that can score goals, and tonight was just my night.”

Michael  Matheson and Steven Whitney also lit the lamp for the Eagles, who are the three-time defending champions and face Northeastern one week from now looking for an unprecedented fourth straight championship.

Parker Milner stopped 19-of-20 shots for the win, as BC's seniors improved to 7-0 in Beanpot competition.

"The best of our three periods was the second period," said BC head coach Jerry York. "We feel excited to play for the trophy next week."

Danny  Biega notched the lone score for the Crimson, who were bidding to reach their first Beanpot title game since 2008.

Raphael Girard played well in defeat, making 42 saves.

BC  and Northeastern  battled in  the  final two  years ago,  with the  Eagles winning by a 7-6 count in overtime.

Girard  did his part  to keep Harvard in a one-goal game until the late stages of  the second  period, when Smith and  Matheson scored in a 51-second span to provide a 3-0 edge for BC.

In  the earlier  semifinal, freshman  Kevin Roy  earned his  first career  hat trick,   leading  Northeastern   to  a  surprising  3-2  victory  over  Boston University.

With his outburst, Roy now leads all Division-I rookies in goals (15) and points (30).

“I think it is different every year, so you can’t look back at the history and try and predict what is going to happen that specific year. I think we proved history wrong because we won today," Roy said.

Garrett  Vermeersch  added two  assists for  the Huskies,  who advanced to the second Monday of this tournament for the third time in the last five seasons.

Chris  Rawlings  made 32  saves for  Northeastern, which  hasn't won out since the last of its four titles in 1988.

"It doesn't matter what you did before or what you can do, it's about now..it's all about who wants it more on Monday night," said Rawlings about the potential for ending a 25-year drought.

Danny  O'Regan and  Sahir Gill tallied for the Terriers, who haven't triumphed in  the tourney  since 2009, and were coming  off a 3-2 overtime loss to BC in last year's championship.

Matt O'Connor allowed three goals on 26 shots in defeat.

College Hockey Round-up: Beanpot time again

by Bob Herpen 
Phanatic Hockey Editor

Ordinarily, the Monday after the Super Bowl is a powering-down for a significant portion of the sporting public.

But for hard-core hockey fans and alumni/alumnae of the four Boston-area Division I universities, things are just heating up.

It's the traditional first Monday of the Beanpot, whose 61st annual edition kicks off later this evening at Boston's TD Garden with a pair of contests: Boston University pairs up with Northeastern in the early game, slated for 5 p.m. (et) and Boston College squares off with Harvard at 8 p.m.

Three schools (BC, BU and Northeastern) located within the boundaries of the City of Boston are the pride of Hockey East and Harvard (out of Cambridge) holds it down for ECAC Hockey.

Though the tournament, which has come to be called the "BU Invitiational" for the Terriers' stretch of dominance for the last two decades, it is BC which holds the crown as three-time defending champions and winners in four of the last five years.
Boston and Philadelphia have traditionally shared the stigma of being called "provincial" in its collective mindset. While Philadelphia has done quite a bit in recent years to reshape its image and shed that moniker, it is largely alive and well in the Hub, and its college hockey scene is one of the embodiments of that ethos.

The Beanpot is to Boston what the Big 5 was to Philadelphia -- a collection of individual schools competing against one another, but at the same time collectively raising the profile in the sport in the city while also providing a feeder system for the pros. The rivalries are intense, full of pride and passion, pain and prominence. In Philly as in Boston, there is an issue of class in which school you either attended or support.

You're just as likely to find friends who attended BC and BU cursing each other during the 'Pot then sharing a beer after the game as you are to find St. Joe's and Villanova alums doing the same after the Holy War. The colors and the loyalty run deep.

Think Eagles fans are a ribald bunch? How about the potential of 60,000 students ages 18-25 who have the rivalry tattooed on their chromosomes.

Still, college hockey has little significant foothold in Philadelphia, and though the Frozen Four is coming here in next April, we will be besieged with what equates to foreigners on friendly shores.

The invading hordes from every small Northern town from Orono to Colorado Springs will be upon us, so I'm trying to rope in some new initiates before then. Knowledge of the Beanpot is a great way to start.

Regarding the bona fides: Boston University has won the most, with 29 titles -- but only once in the last 5 years. Perennial rival BC is next with 17. Harvard has won 10 and Northeastern, the red-headed stepchild of the bunch, clocks in with just four crowns. The Eagles hadn't won three straight since taking three in a row from 1963-65, and can set a school record with a fourth consecutive title if they happen to win out. The Crimson haven't been triumphant since 1993 and the Huskies are still looking to regain the magic from the 80's, when they took their entire allotment ('80, 84-85, '88).

The winners of this Monday's contest will play for the Beanpot title at 7:30 p.m. next Monday in Boston. The losers compete in the consolation game which is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. that day.

If everything goes according to plan, there will be yet another clash between Jerry York-led Boston College and BU-driven Jack Parker in the finals.

But then again, some years things are turned on their heads and the least-likely suspects come to the forefront -- like the year Harvard rallied from deficits of 3-0 and 4-1 to beat eventual conference champion and national finalist BC in overtime during a first-round game. Or having BC and Northeastern combine for 13 goals two years ago that could have easily been 20.

Former Beanpot participants who have played/coached for the Flyers include: Harvey Bennett, Tony Amonte, Freddie Meyer, Kevin Stevens and Joe Mullen.

For a full work-up, visit the official site.

BC beats BU, York ties Mason for wins mark

Chestnut Hill, MA -- Bill Arnold scored twice and Kevin Hayes added three assists as No. 1 Boston College downed Boston University, 5-2, at Conte Forum on Saturday night.

The win, which came after a 4-2 loss in the front end of this home-and-home, gave BC head coach Jerry York his 924th career victory, tying him with Ron Mason for the NCAA record.

"It's an honor to play for Coach York here at BC. He's changed all of the guys on the team's lives,:" Arnold said. "Breaking the record is something that we really wanted to do for him."

Boston College can give York the record for himself this coming Friday at Schneider Arena in Providence.

"I thought we were smarter and our effort was better than last night," York admitted. "We feel really good about the game, and I think that the rivalry is second to none in college hockey."

Parker Milner made 21 saves, outdueling counterpart Matt O'Connor, who was tagged for all five scores on 36 shots.

BC took two of three in the regular season from their Commonwealth Avenue neighbors, with two more potential meetings in the Beanpot and Hockey East playoffs in 2013.

"I think that as a team we played a lot better and stuck to our game plan much better than we did last night," said Eagles forward Pat Mullane, who assisted on Michael Matheson's second-period power-play goal.

Johnny Gaudreau, who had a first-period marker wiped out due to a penalty, saw his streak of 12 straight games with a point from the start of the season snapped. Freshman Teddy Doherty registered his first collegiate goal to open the scoring in the first period.

It came on a power play, as the diminutive defenseman was alone at the left post to knock home a Hayes rebound at the 10:40 mark.

The Terriers evened the score on a slick passing play between Sahir Gill, Wade Megan and Carson Hohmann, the latter converting his shot at the left post over a fallen Milner on the advantage just over two minutes later.

The Eagles broke through with three in the second period, all with the power play. As it had done with impunity on Friday, Boston University kept taking liberties and penalties as BC swarmed around
O'Connor -- only this time it came back to haunt the visitors.

Arnold converted a Hayes dish at 1:59, just as a Yasin Cisse interference minor was set to expire, and though the Terriers survived a 64-second stretch in a two-man disadvantage, Matheson tallied 40 seconds into an Alexx Privitera holding call which put BU down two men once more.

It was 4-1 for the hosts only 50 seconds later on Arnold's second of the evening, then Brendan Silk collected his first collegiate strike at 4:16 of the third period.

Evan Rodrigues converted a Patch Alber holding infraction with 6:58 left in regulation to make it a three-goal spread, and the Eagles were forced to kill off a third penalty to Gaudreau shortly thereafter.

No matter, as the record was already in reach save for the clock hitting triple zeroes.

“He deserves all the accolades,’’ said BU head coach Jack Parker. “It’s hard for people to believe this because he’s been around so long and he’s been so successful, but I still don’t think he gets the credit he deserves. He’s done an unbelievable job making this program the best it’s ever been."

Following the game, tributes came pouring in from former players such as Bobby Allen, current Buffalo Sabre Nathan Gerbe, and ex-NHLer Brian Holzinger, whom York coached at Bowling Green University.

Even though it managed a split, BC may fall from its perch atop the college hockey world, as second-ranked New Hampshire swept a pair from UMass-Lowell to improve to 11-1-2.

York comes up short in Mason bid as BU beats BC

Boston, MA -- Jerry York's pursuit of the all-time NCAA wins record will have to wait one more game.

Wade Megan picked up a goal and one assist, while Matt Nieto added two helpers and Matt O'Connor stopped 35 shots as Boston University downed Boston College, 4-2, in the front end of a home-and-home series from Agganis Arena on Friday night.

The Eagles could have given York, still stuck on 923 wins, a chance to eclipse Ron Mason's record of 924 victories with back-to-back victories this weekend, but the Terriers put together one of their best defensive efforts of the season.

Yes, O'Connor had to face 37 shots, but many of those were low-percentage, point drives or rebounds at either post, not quality chances.

"We had some excellent chances, but for the most part, I thought BU had the territorial edge, York said. "I don't think we were as sharp as I would have liked to have seen us. BU played good defense. We did have four or five Grade-A scoring chances."

Garrett Noonan, Evan Rodrigues and Matt Grzelcyk also tallied for the Terriers (8-4-0), who also must prevent a record-tying performance at Conte Forum on Saturday night.

Johnny Gaudreau and Pat Mullane lit the lamp, but it wasn't enough to help Parker Milner, who stopped 30 shots as BC (10-2-0) saw its 10-game win streak come to an end.

Grzelcyk netted a valuable insurance goal less than two minutes into the third period, stretching the Terriers' lead to 3-1. The freshman winger raced up the left-wing side, swung around Milner's cage and beat the senior netminder with a sweeping shot

BC kept pressing from there, racking up an 11-8 shot edge in the final 20 minutes and also taking away some of the territorial advantage. The Eagles, however, couldn't capitalize in the final minutes after Alexx Privitera was given minors for hitting from behind and unsportsmanlike conduct, plus Sean Escobedo's penalty for slashing 43 seconds later.

The visitors pulled Milner and sustained an attack, but Cason Hohmann gathered a rebound of an errant point shot and fed Megan for a short-handed empty-netter with 1:39 to play.

Gaudreau eventually beat O'Connor with 24 seconds remaining to account for the final score.

“I thought we played extremely well,” said BU head coach Jack Parker. “I thought we played smart and didn’t let our emotions take over. All-in-all, it was a good effort by us. I thought we deserved to win tonight. I’m glad we raised our game up.”

BC captures 60th annual Beanpot with OT thriller over BU

by Bob Herpen
Phanatic Hockey Editor

The only way the 60th annual Beanpot final on Monday night at TD Garden could have been any better would have been if the game were decided after multiple overtimes.

It very nearly happened.

Boston University was seconds away from escaping to the locker room to regroup, until Bill Arnold's tally with 6.4 seconds remaining in OT sent Boston College to a 3-2 victory against their Commonwealth Avenue neighbors and staked yet another claim to bragging rights over their perennial rivals.

Arnold, a 19-year-old sophomore, accepted a Steven Whitney pass and ripped a shot high over the glove of Kieran Millan from just below the right circle for the winner, touching off a wild celebration.

"I'm in the clouds right now," Arnold said of his title-clinching goal. "You dream about this as a kid and you never really expect it to happen, so this is unbelievable."

Pat Mullane and Chris Kreider each lit the lamp for the Eagles(19-10-1), who took home their third straight crown for the first time since winning three years in a row from 1963-65. Jerry York's squad also picked up its second title-game victory over Jack Parker's charges in the last three years.

It was also a measure of vindication for the two-time defending Hockey East champs, who faltered in two home contests against BU at Conte Forum earlier this season and dropped two of three in the season series.

"BU played an outstanding hockey game," the gracious York said following the contest. "I thought we came right back with the same attitude to our team, so that was college hockey at its finest. We're both ranked in the top five in the country, so we kind of expect that. And then with the rivalry between the two schools, it had all the makings of a classic college hockey game and it unfolded just like that."

Freshman Johnny Gaudreau -- a South Jersey native who scored twice against Northeastern in the semifinals and picked up an assist on Monday -- was voted the tournament's most outstanding player.

Parker Milner stopped 32-of-34 shots as BC claimed its 17th title in school history.

Garrett Noonan potted both scores for the Terriers (17-10-1), who haven't endured a three-year Beanpot drought since 1983-85. Millan was the hard-luck loser despite making 44 saves, but still took home the Eberly Award as the top goaltender.

Mullane put the Eagles up just shy of the nine-minute mark of the first period, beating Millan from the left wing while shorthanded.

Boston University endured a lengthy two-man disadvantage with no damage, then were forced to survive another BC power play before finally hitting the scoreboard on a power play of its own when Noonan rifled home a shot from the left circle with 4:49 remaining in the second.

BC was awarded a two-man edge for 23 seconds late in the stanza, and Kreider beat Millan with a high wrister from between the circles with 1:18 to go.

BU then enjoyed a two-man advantage for 1:47 early in the third period, and Noonan tallied off a redirection of an Alex Chiasson offering from the left side for a 2-2 game at 7:12. The Terriers failed to click on the 5-on-4.

Millan kept his team in the game with multiple key stops, none more than a sprawling glove stop against BC defenseman Brian Dumoulin in the extra session.

In the consolation game earlier on Monday, Luke Greiner notched the winner late in the third period as Harvard topped Northeastern, 3-2.

Alex Killorn and Alex Fallstrom also tallied and Tommy O'Regan added two assists for the Crimson, who fell by a 3-1 count to Boston University in last week's semifinal and haven't emerged victorious in this gathering since 1993.

Steve Michalek stopped 24-of-26 shots for the win as Harvard claimed third place for the second straight season.

Luke Eibler and Robbie Vrolyk scored for the Huskies, who dropped a 7-1 decision to Boston College in the other semi. Clay Witt played well in defeat, making 33 saves.

Northeastern finished fourth for the first time since 2008 and hasn't celebrated a Beanpot win since taking the final of its four triumphs back in 1988.

BC, BU to renew hostilities in Beanpot final

by Bob Herpen
Phanatic Hockey Editor

Steven Whitney tallied twice and Johnny Gaudreau once in a three-goal second-period burst as Boston College subdued Northeastern, 7-1, to reach the Beanpot final for the third straight year.

Gaudreau finished with two scores as did Paul Carey for the Eagles, who will square off against perennial rivals Boston University next Monday in the championship of the 60th annual tournament.

The schools last met in the title tilt two years ago, with BC winning by a 4-3 count. It will be the sixth time in the last decade that these programs will face each other for Boston bragging rights.

Parker Milner made 22 stops for the victory. The Eagles improved to 32-9 all-time in Beanpot games against their Huntington Avenue neighbors.

Anthony Bitetto scored for the Huskies, who have a date with Harvard in the consolation game. Chris Rawlings was tagged for five goals on 29 shots in defeat. Clay Witt allowed a pair of scores on 17 shots in the third period.

Whitney scored shorthanded just shy of the seven minute mark of the middle period for a 3-1 contest, Gaudreau added his second of the contest at even strength before nine minutes elapsed, and Whitney struck again while BC was a man down at 13:11 for a four-goal spread.

Barry Almeida and Carey lit the lamp in the third period against Witt to cap the rout.

Carey gave BC the lead at 5:14 of the opening period on a wrister from between the circles, Gaudreau made it 2-0 just prior to the midway point of the first, beating Rawlings through the five-hole.

Bitetto responded during a 5-on-3 for Northeastern at 12:34, but the Huskies had no answers for Milner thereafter. It was a far cry from the school's run last year, which included a thrilling 7-6 overtime defeat to BC in the final.

In the earlier semifinal, Kieran Millan stopped 29 shots and Wade Megan tallied twice as BU took a 3-1 decision over Harvard.

Matt Nieto also scored for the Terriers, who advanced to the final for the eighth time in the last 10 years. The top-ranked school in the country now seeks its 30th Beanpot crown in their fourth meeting with Boston College this season.

Alex Killorn notched the lone goal for the Crimson. Starter Steve Michalek was pulled after allowing three goals on 17 shots. Raphael Girard stopped all eight shots he faced the rest of the way.

College Hockey Update: Pot o' Beans edition

by Bob Herpen
Phanatic Hockey Editor

Ordinarily, the Monday after the Super Bowl is a powering-down for a significant portion of the sporting public.

But for hard-core hockey fans and alumni/alumnae of the four Boston-area Division I universities, things are just heating up.

It's the traditional first Monday of the Beanpot, whose 60th annual edition kicks off later this evening at Boston's TD Garden with a pair of contests: Boston University pairs up with Harvard in the early game, slated for 5 p.m. (et) and Boston College squares off with Northeastern at 8 p.m.

Three schools (BC, BU and Northeastern) located within the boundaries of the City of Boston are the pride of Hockey East and Harvard (out of Cambridge) holds it down for ECAC Hockey.

Though the tournament, which has come to be called the "BU Invitiational" for the Terriers' stretch of dominance for the last two decades, it is BC which holds the crown as two-time defending champions and winners in three of the last four years.

Boston and Philadelphia have traditionally shared the stigma of being called "provincial" in its collective mindset. While Philadelphia has done quite a bit in recent years to reshape its image and shed that moniker, it is largely alive and well in the Hub, and its college hockey scene is one of the embodiments of that ethos.

The Beanpot is to Boston what the Big 5 was to Philadelphia -- a collection of individual schools competing against one another, but at the same time collectively raising the profile in the sport in the city while also providing a feeder system for the pros. The rivalries are intense, full of pride and passion, pain and prominence. In Philly as in Boston, there is an issue of class in which school you either attended or support.

You're just as likely to find friends who attended BC and BU cursing each other during the 'Pot then sharing a beer after the game as you are to find St. Joe's and Villanova alums doing the same after the Holy War. The colors and the loyalty run deep.

Think Eagles fans are a ribald bunch? How about the potential of 60,000 students ages 18-25 who have the rivalry tattooed on their chromosomes.

Still, college hockey has little significant foothold in Philadelphia, and though the Frozen Four is coming here in 2014, we will be besieged with what equates to foreigners on friendly shores.

The invading hordes from every small Northern town from Orono to Colorado Springs will be upon us, so I'm trying to rope in some new initiates before then. Knowledge of the Beanpot is a great way to start.

Regarding the bona fides: Boston University has won the most, with 29 titles -- but only once in the last 5 years. Perennial rival BC is next with 16. Harvard has won 10 and Northeastern, the red-headed stepchild of the bunch, clocks in with just four crowns. The Eagles hadn't won two straight since taking three in a row from 1963-65. The Crimson haven't won since 1993 and the Huskies are still looking to regain the magic from the 80's, when they took their entire allotment ('80, 84-85, '88).

The winners of this Monday's contest will play for the Beanpot title at 7:30 p.m. next Monday in Boston. The losers compete in the consolation game which is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. that day.

If everything goes according to plan, there will be yet another clash between Jerry York-led Boston College and BU-driven Jack Parker in the finals.

But then again, some years things are turned on their heads and the least-likely suspects come to the forefront -- like the year Harvard rallied from deficits of 3-0 and 4-1 to beat eventual conference champion and national finalist BC in overtime during a first-round game. Or having BC and Northeastern combine for 13 goals last year that could have been 20.

Former Beanpot participants who have played/coached for the Flyers include: Harvey Bennett, Tony Amonte, Freddie Meyer, Kevin Stevens and Joe Mullen.

For a full work-up, visit the official site.