Beanpot Battles: The Best Games in Recent Years

While the rest of us are trying to pick spring classes and stay out of the cold, the Harvard ice hockey teams have different priorities. Facing off against BU, BC and Northeastern in the Beanpot next week, the men’s and women’s teams will look to prove that they are the dominant hockey force in Boston. The two week tournament is never an easy win, but it’s always worth watching. The Back Page breaks down some of the best Harvard Beanpot victories in recent memory.

2005 Women’s Hockey Team Makes it Seven in a Row

In its seventh straight Beanpot victory, the team cruised to a 6-1 victory over Boston College. The 6-1 win was the team’s 11th in a row for the 2004-2005 season. Although the Crimson started slowly, failing to make it on the board in the first 13 minutes, it quickly picked up steam after freshman Laura Brady found the net. Two minutes later, Harvard was up by two and didn’t slow down. The Eagle’s best look and only goal came during a 5-3 advantage.

2012 Men’s Hockey Team Takes Home Third

Although the team was shut out of the championship game, Harvard did not stop playing. Taking on the Huskies in the consolation game, the Crimson avoided coming in last place in the tournament with a 2-3 win over Northeastern. In a back-and-forth matchup, Harvard never gained a comfortable lead. Just seconds after the Crimson went up, 3-1, the Huskies responded, bringing them within one goal again. Harvard’s defense carried the team the rest of the way.

1999 Women’s Hockey Dominates Boston College

In a decisive 9-0 victory, the women’s hockey team proved itself once again to be the best in Boston. The Crimson only needed one to take the title, and co-captain A.J. Mleczko—who led the nation in scoring at the time—got it done early in the first period. Mleczko would go on to net two more in a hat trick. After finding goal only once in the first period—thanks to strong defense by Eagles’ goaltender Christy Nentwig—Harvard turned it on after the break and left Boston College in the dust.

1993 Men’s Hockey Team Wins it All

In Harvard’s most recent Beanpot championship win, the Crimson upset Boston University in a 4-2 victory. The Terriers entered the contest having won the last three tournaments—two over Harvard—and intent on adding a fourth title to the list. But Harvard was not content to let history repeat itself, and defied all expectations by seizing the lead early and never giving it up.