It’s finally here.
Three-hundred fifty six days after Boston College defeated Boston University, 5-3, to win the Beanpot — the first time in six years that the Icedogs had not captured the annual tournament — the two teams face off again at the FleetCenter.
And don’t think that hasn’t dominated the thoughts of BU players who saw now-departed BC captain Brian Gionta lift a prize that had eluded him through his first three years.
“I just picture Gionta picking up the Beanpot right in front of our faces,” said junior forward John Sabo. “I actually feel like going out there to do something about it but you can’t after they win it.
“It’s a horrible thing to think about for me personally and I’m sure the team; everyone’s got it in the back of their minds.”
Teammate Jack Baker, a senior forward and Sabo’s linemate for three years, is also happy to see BC in the first game.
“It’s good that we get to play them, because they’re a familiar opponent,” Baker said. “But definitely we’d like to exact some revenge on them, especially after they ended our streak last year. It’s good to get them in the first game and maybe we can beat them and move ourselves into the final.”
The Icedogs head into the game with not only the momentum of a two-game sweep of Merrimack College, but also the knowledge that less than three weeks ago, they swept the Eagles in a home-and-home series.
The two BU wins were part of a record six-game losing streak for BC, which was snapped only Friday night in a come-from-behind, 3-2, overtime victory against Hockey East cellar-dwellars University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
The Eagles downward flight has taken place since broken ribs put star forward Ben Eaves on the sideline. Although his return is imminent, it will not happen tonight, a fact that is clearly a boost for the Terriers, who took advantage of his absence in both their wins, but were burned by the sophomore to the tune of two goals and an assist in BC’s 3-1 victory.
But BU is not without its own significant loss. Senior defenseman Pat Aufiero is out for three to six weeks with a torn tendon in his ankle, suffered in BU’s 3-2 victory against Merrimack on Friday night. Aufiero’s injury weighs on the minds of both his roommate and his coach.
“We feel awful,” Baker said. “It was just such a freak injury, and it’s terrible that he can’t play in his final Beanpot. We want to — as seniors, especially — we want to win our last one, and we know that he might not be able to be a part of it, so we want to make sure he goes out a winner as well, even if he can’t be out there.
“He’ll definitely be in the front of our minds as we’re out there trying to win. We’re not going to look at it as only being four seniors out there. There will be five seniors, and we’ll be playing hard for him both games.”
Jack Parker, BU’s coach, put it a little more succinctly, but his disappointment was clear.
“I’m sad for him: Senior year, missing the Beanpot,” Parker said.
Despite Aufiero’s bad fortune, the excitement for the game is mounting, and the Icedogs are looking forward to the 50th incarnation of the legendary tournament between themselves, the Eagles and Harvard and Northeastern universities.
“It’s actually great because you get to play for a championship a little more than halfway through the year,” Sabo said. “It’s a great atmosphere; everyone loves to play at the FleetCenter. It’s a packed crowd and everything.”
For Baker, a South Boston native, the excitement of being the local kid in the ‘Pot has evolved over the last four years into a different feeling.
“I just want to win,” Baker said. “I’m not real concerned about being a local guy playing in front of family and friends. It’s still means a lot, but I’m more focused on the winning, it being senior year and all. I still want to go out a winner.”
BU faces a much different BC team than the last four incarnations. The Eagles of this year are mainly a three-line team, but unlike last year, the three lines don’t feature huge scorers. This year’s Eagles do bring something else to the table, according to Sabo.
“This year I think BC is different because every guy on the team’s out there hitting and banging, and I don’t think you saw that in the past BC teams,” Sabo said. “This year they’re really coming hard, and it’s going to be a physical game; there’s going to be a lot of hitting and mucking up in the corners.”
With Eaves out, BU can focus a little more on forward Tony Voce, whose 33 points lead the Eagles, and defenseman J.D. Forrest, who has 19 points from the blue line.
While BU has regained some momentum lost in a sweep to the University of New Hampshire, BC, despite the win, has been reeling of late. The Eagles, who swept honors last year, have struggled mightily, and stand in seventh place in Hockey East, while the Icedogs are tied for second with the University of Maine.
But truly, BU-BC is one of those games where the numbers can be virtually thrown out of the proverbial window.
For the Icedogs, tonight has been on their minds for quite some time. And yes, playing BC does make it just a tad more special.
“Beanpot’s the first big test of the year,” said junior center Brian Collins. “It’s always the first date on the calendar we mark. All great BU teams come to play at the Beanpot.”
“We’re pretty excited,” Baker said. “It’s the Beanpot, anything can happen. The opponent never really matters – it’s a big game no matter who you play – but playing BC makes it a little more special if we can get the win.”