Crimson vs. Eagles: More Than the 'Pot

Boston University Captain Mike Kelfer, Boston College Tri-Captain Dave Littman, and Northeastern Captain Dave Buda all like to talk about what it's like to play in the Beanpot finals, or watch their teammates lift the 'Pot trophy in celebration.

Harvard Captain Lane MacDonald can tell you about the NCAA Final Four. Or the ECAC Championships. Or even the Olympics. But the Beanpot, well, MacDonald hasn't had much luck in that tournament.

"I wish I could say I know what it's like to win the 'Pot," said MacDonald, after listening to Kelfer, Littman and Buda talk about their happy Beanpot moments. "But we don't do that very often."

Harvard hasn't won the tournament since 1981. It hasn't even made it past the first round. Tonight at Boston Garden the top-ranked Crimson (17-1 overall, 15-1 ECAC) takes another shot at the 'Pot when it faces fourth-ranked Boston College (17-5-3 overall, 13-4-3 Hockey East) in the semifinals at 6 p.m.

Hoisting the Beanpot trophy in triumph was one of the first things Kelfer thought about when he was elected captain.

Buda thinks the 'Pot is "Without a doubt, the top tournament in college hockey."

And Littman thinks it's "a season in itself."

MacDonald doesn't think about it much at all. He and his teammates worry about the St. Lawrence game, the ECAC playoffs, the NCAAs.

"I think we've always looked past the Beanpot towards other things later in the year," MacDonald said.

But with eight seniors seeing action in their last 'Pot, Chuckie Hughes--a Catholic Memorial graduate with a case of Beanpot fever--in the net, and a number-one national ranking on the line, the Crimson is taking this 'Pot a little more seriously.

"I think everyone will be ready," junior John Murphy said. "Everyone really wants the Beanpot badly. It's a stepping stone to bigger things later in the season. A win could prove we deserve our ranking."

With Harvard and B.C. both in the top five of the NCAA poll, the Crimson-Eagle semifinal should be the biggest game of the tournament.

When the Crimson and the Eagles met last November, Harvard claimed a tough 4-3 overtime victory at Bright Center. Donato sent a slapshot past Littman with only 29 seconds remaining in OT to lift the Crimson.

"But when it comes to the Beanpot," Littman said. "Everyone knows you can throw the records right out the window."

If anything--besides the Beanport mystique--can be considered a key factor in tonight's game, it has to be goaltending.

It was Littman who kept B.C. alive in Harvard's OT win earlier this year--the closest Harvard came to a loss until last Tuesday's 3-1 fall at Yale. There, Eli goalie Mike O'Neill made the difference.

"Down at Yale we ran into a hot goalie, and whether it's at B.C. or at Yale, whenever you do that it makes things tough," senior Josh Caplan said.

Littman has a 12-4-3 record and .900 save percentage, and turned away 44 shots last time he faced Harvard.

"In a game against [Harvard], the goaltending has to be the most important factor," Boston College Coach Len Ceglarski said. "[Littman's] going to be one of the keys."

Harvard will have its own weapon in the net--Hughes, who earned the win in the earlier meeting of the two teams. For Hughes, the B.C. game was the highlight of the early season, and the Beanpot is more than just another tournament.

"When I was a little bit younger, all I dreamed about was playing in the Beanpot," Hughes said. "I can remember watching so many games in the stands and thinking about being there."

Northeastern-B.U.

The 9 p.m. semifinal pairs Northeastern with Boston University, two teams that have had a few problems this season.

For Northeastern (14-11-2 overall, 10-10-2 Hockey East), the problems have been off, rather than on the ice. Six players have sat the bench for "disciplinary reasons," but the Huskies have still managed to stay near the top of the Hockey East standings.

B.U. (12-15-1 overall, 9-11-1 Hockey East) has been struggling to reach the .500 mark all season.

"If anybody's the underdog, we're the guy," B.U. Coach Jack Parker said. "But this has been an underdog's tournament. That's a real key to the success of the Beanpot. Anybody can win it on a given night."