Hockey

[smc]

Hey, hockey fans, I've been meaning to post this all week but didn't get around to it ... mostly because other things on the Forum have been catching my eye!

Anyhow, I thought I'd tell you about the Beanpot Tournament. It's a great Boston tradition that goes back to 1952, and in a year like this -- when the Bruins are sucking (okay, it's mostly because of injuries, but it still feels like they suck) -- the Beanpot is even more of a treat.

It started on the day after Christmas 1952, but now takes place on the first and second Monday of every February. The hockey teams of Boston College, Boston University, Harvard University, and Northeastern University (some great college hockey teams here over the years!) face off at Boston Garden for the tournament. The winners of the two games on the first Monday play on the second Monday for the championship, and the other two teams play on the second Monday in a consolation game. (Faceoff is at 5 and 8 pm, respectively.) And the best part is that everyone -- players, coaches, fans -- have a great time, no matter who wins.

In 1979, a women's tournament was added on the first and second Tuesdays of February, with teams from the same four universities. (Unfortunately, they don't get to play at the Garden ... mostly because of conflicting Celtics games, there was never a serious effort by the organizers of the women's tournament to secure the Garden for two night in a row of college hockey.)

I try to go every year to the men's tournament (I've caught a few of the women's), and have not missed very many men's Beanpots since I was a kid (a few while away at college, etc.). These are always great games with great rivalries based on city pride and winning "bragging rights"; they count for nothing in the NCAA standings. Locals sometime call the tournament the "Stanley Cup of Chowder." It's as big as the Frozen Four here in Boston; 17,000 fans come out!!

In this year's round 1, Harvard was absolutely routed, 6-0, by BC. Boston University beat Northeastern 2-1. So, the championship game will be between BU and BC, as is often the case.

I'll be there next Monday, and I can't help but think it would be a huge amount of fun to be accompanied by all of our most rabid hockey fans on the Forum.