Harvard Men's Hockey Wins First Beanpot Since 1993

UPDATED: February 14, 2017, at 4:21 a.m.

BOSTON — Close down the monopoly on Commonwealth Avenue. Because for the first time in 24 years, the Beanpot belongs to the Harvard Crimson.

Prior to Monday’s clash of the two best men's hockey teams that the East Coast has to offer, either Boston University or Boston College had won every Beanpot since Harvard last celebrated on Garden ice back in 1993. But playing in its first tournament championship game in nearly a decade, the No. 3 Crimson outshot the No. 4 Terriers by a whopping 46-17 margin en route to a historic 6-3 victory Monday night over the 30-time champions at TD Garden.

“Our group felt like it was their night, and they were willing to make sure it was their night," Harvard coach Ted Donato ’91 said. “I’m very proud of the group. It’s been a long time coming, and I’m very happy for these guys.”

“So much work went into this game, into building this team that we have,” co-captain Devin Tringale said. “[The Beanpot] has been something we’ve wanted for a long time, so for it to happen, it’s awesome.”

Freshman forward Nathan Krusko, named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, netted two go-ahead goals for Harvard—one in the first and one in the second. The latter gave the Crimson a 3-2 edge with 1:06 remaining in the second period, and Harvard never looked back.

Freshman forward Nathan Krusko scores Harvard's go-ahead goal in the second period of the Beanpot finals Monday evening. Named the Most Valuable Player, Krusko finished the night with two goals and an assist. By Thomas W. Franck

Less than two minutes of game time later, co-captain Alexander Kerfoot punched home the Crimson’s fourth goal, which ultimately proved to be the winner. But sophomore Ryan Donato still had an exclamation point to provide.

Playing in perhaps his future home, the Boston Bruins draft selection came up with a steal at the attacking blue line, darted to the right wing, and then danced back towards the slot. And then he fired away.

The puck slid right by freshman goaltender Jake Oettinger, giving the Crimson a 5-2 edge with 7:13 to go. Up shot the arms of the sophomore, just as everyone in the building, including a Harvard student section no less, began to realize what might be in store.

“It was a big goal,” Ted Donato said. “I don’t think any of the goals tonight I would characterize as anything but. But that made the light at the end of the tunnel a little brighter.”

Harvard coach Ted Donato hoists the Beanpot Trophy following the Crimson's victory over Boston University at TD Garden. Donato, now in his 13th season behind the Harvard bench, now has won one Beanpot as a player and one as a coach. By Thomas W. Franck

The Terriers did offer a quick response courtesy of star freshman Clayton Keller, who scored twice in the game. But in a period in which BU managed only seven shots, the lead had proven insurmountable. Freshman defenseman Adam Fox provided the game's final score—an empty-netter heaved the length of the ice—with 1:50 left to play.

“This is a game of want and desire, and you’ve got to do it for 60 minutes,” BU coach David Quinn said. “You can’t all of a sudden elevate your want and desire when you have the puck.”

“Really disappointing, really a head-scratcher in a lot of ways,” Quinn added. “I don’t know if we thought we were just going to be able to show up and win because we had beaten them before…. I don’t know. I’ve got to find out, that’s for sure.”

Defeated Boston University hockey forwards Kieffer Bellows and Gabriel Chabot watch the Beanpot trophy ceremony following Monday's final match against Harvard. Harvard bested the Terriers, 6-3. By Thomas W. Franck

Quinn was left to scratch his head right from the start, as the Terriers took three penalties in the opening frame and were outshot, 18-2. But the Crimson only managed to break through once on a 5-on-3, allowing BU to show its first sign of life at the outset of the second period.

In fact, the Terriers logged as many goals in the second as they had shots in the first. Skating on its first power play of the night, BU evened the score just 1:29 into the period. Junior Brandon Hickey delivered a slap-pass into the slot, sophomore Bobo Carpenter threw the puck on net, and freshman Kieffer Bellows punched home the rebound that knotted things at one.

Stationed in front of Harvard netminder Merrick Madsen less than three minutes later, Keller tipped in a blue-line blast from junior defenseman John MacLeod to hand the Crimson its first deficit of the tournament.

Just as BU was beginning to take control of the contest, however, the Crimson’s Luke Esposito matched Keller with a tip of his own. With his back to the goal midway through the period, the senior second-liner deflected just enough of a point shot from classmate Clay Anderson to send the puck flying past Oettinger.

And from then on, it was all Harvard.

“BU made some plays to start the second, but I really liked the attitude and the answer on the bench,” Ted Donato said. “I thought we were relentless all night. Our guys just kept coming, and our best players I thought were just immense.”

Co-captain Devin Tringale, a native of Medford, Mass., hoists his first Beanpot trophy. By Thomas W. Franck

Spotting a loose puck by the bottom of the right circle with the second period winding down, freshman defenseman John Marino spun around to set-up Krusko's second tally with a feed towards the crease. The puck skipped off the left skate of freshman Dante Fabbro towards Krusko, who reached to his backhand to lift the go-ahead goal right into the cage.

The Crimson would immediately jump on the power play upon the ensuing faceoff thanks to a Fabbro hook, and before period’s end, sophomore defenseman Charlie McAvoy took his second shorthanded penalty of the night to put Harvard up 5-on-3 for more than a minute.

But the Crimson would only need 53 seconds. Right at the start of the third, senior Tyler Moy threw a pass through the crease to a lurking Kerfoot. Oettinger sprung to his left to make the save of the night with his pad, but the Harvard co-captain kept poking at the puck until it finally trickled through.

Kerfoot’s goal brought about the first multiple-goal edge for either side. And for both the Crimson and its co-captain, the backbone of a senior class playing in its eighth Beanpot game but just its first nightcap, that was enough of a cushion to ride to the finish.

“I think it was something they really wanted,” said Ted Donato about his seniors. “They wanted to leave this kind of legacy that they were a group that was going to break the curse.”

GAME NOTES

—The Crimson finished 2-for-5 on the power play Monday night, with both conversions coming on 5-on-3. BU defenseman Charlie McAvoy, a Boston Bruins prospect, took both penalties that produced the two-man advantages. One was a Bruin-on-Bruin board of Ryan Donato in the first period that helped set up Krusko’s first goal of the night.

—Five different Harvard skaters finished with multiple points on the night. Tyler Moy, Sean Malone, and Clay Anderson all logged two assists; Adam Fox netted a goal and an assist; and tournament MVP Nathan Krusko recorded two goals and an assist.

—With the win, Harvard moves into third in the PairWise rankings. BU slips to fifth.

—Staff writer Jake Meagher can be reached at jake.meagher@thecrimson.com. Follow him on Twitter @MeagherTHC.