SPORTS BRIEF: Boston’s 54th Annual Beanpot Tournament begins tonight; the Crimson will face BU

Harvard opens the 54th Beanpot against Boston University tonight at 9 p.m. Once again, TD Banknorth Garden, formerly known as the FleetCenter, will play host to thousands of local hockey fans.

Harvard has won the four-team tournament for local bragging rights 10 times—that ranks the Crimson third, behind the Terriers and Boston College—but the Crimson’s last title came in 1993, and the team hasn’t made the championship game since 1998, when it lost to Boston University in the final.

BU has won three of the last four tournaments and nine total since 1995.

Harvard tied the Terriers, now No. 8 in the national rankings, by a score of 2-2 at the Bright Center on Nov. 22.

Northeastern will play heavily favored No. 3 Boston College at 5 p.m.

—The Crimson Staff