Looking Back At 40 Years of the 'Pot, Nine Harvard Trophies

The first annual Beanpot tournament began forty years ago at the Boston Arena, featuring Boston College, Boston University, Harvard and Northeastern. The tournament skipped a year in 1953, but has been held every year since then, growing in popularity to become one of the most well-attended and most prestigious collegiate hockey tournaments in the nation.

Harvard captured the first `Pot with a 7-4 thrashing of Boston University on December 28, 1952. Since then, the Crimson has captured eight more Beanpots. Here's a look back at each of those victories.

1955

Behind the prolific forward Bill Cleary, Harvard pummeled Northeastern 12-3 in the opening round. Cleary tallied five goals and two assists to send Harvard into the final round against a steady BC squad.

Unfortunately for the Crimson, its thrashing of Northeastern left the team physically exhausted. In the closing session with Harvard up 4-2, the Crimson players could only drag themselves around the rink and managed only six shots on goal.

Meanwhile, the Eagles battled back behind Captain Dick Dempsey, knotting the score at four.

Cleary, however, saved his weary team. With the Crimson a man down, Cleary went coast-to-coast to slip a shot by BC goalie Chick D'Entremont at 1:46 of the overtime session.

Cleary's heroics proved pivotal. The victory over BC earned Harvard its first-ever bid to the NCAA post-season tournament.

1960

Bob Bland may not be the greatest goalie east of the Mississippi, but the 8000 fans who watched the Crimson pick the Beanpot title from BU's pocket at the Boston Garden in the final round that night must believe he is.

His 24 saves did not make a record, but many were made on solo breaks or vicious thrusts by BU All-American Bob Marquis, and he held off the swarming Terriers with 11 third period saves while his teammates connected twice within two minutes to gain a 3-2 decision.

It didn't bring Harvard a trip to the NCAA's, but it at least gave the Crimson bragging rights in Boston for a year.

1962

Thirteen seconds. Enough time to spit. To blow your nose. And, as Harvard proved, to win a Beanpot.

Even before BU touched the puck in the finals of the tournament, Ike Ikauniks flicked a high backhand into the net at :13 of the first session, giving the Crimson a lead it would never relinquish.

The Crimson showed none of the lapses in judgment that almost cost it a loss the BC in the opening round. Instead, Harvard manhandled BU all night long, taking a 5-0 victory and the `Pot back to Cambridge.

1969

Even though it just finished exams, Harvard had little trouble trouncing Northeastern 8-4 in the opening round of the Beanpot before a decidedly anti-Harvard crowd, behind a five-point effort from sophomore sensation Joe Cavanaugh.

Boston's worst snow storm in twenty years did not stop 10,000 fans from watching Harvard capture its first Beanpot in seven years and seeing Cavanaugh pick up yet another honor--this time, tournament MVP.

Cavanaugh again led the way in the finals, with his line's three goals lifting the Crimson past BU, 5-3.

1974

Everything was going BU's way. Fourth in the nation. Four `Pots in a row. An All-American goaltender. A powerhouse offense.

BU, however, couldn't shake off a pesky Harvard offense, led by junior (and two-time All-American) Randy Roth. Roth, the tournament MVP, beat Walsh with 2:37 remaining in the contest with a hard slapshot from the left circle to notch the Crimson's first `Pot in five years.

The Terriers wouldn't easily forget Harvard's Beanpot surprise. BU eventually downed Harvard 7-5 in the NCAA tournament, with the Crimson ending the season fourth in the nation.

1977

It had been a long time between Harvard band concerts on the Red Line after a hockey game at the Boston Garden. It had been a while since Brian Petrovek showed BU what kind of goaltender he really is. It had been years since Harvard last won the `Pot.

That all came to an abrupt end, however, as the Crimson tallied two shorthanded goals en route to a dramatic 4-3 victory over the Terriers before a capacity crowd.

Petrovek was at his flamboyant best against BU. The All-American senior stopped 29 shots and copped the MVP and Best Goalie awards.

1981

In 1981, Harvard was by no means a hockey power. It was, everyone thought, a mediocre team with its glory days long gone.

The 1981 Beanpot, however, would go down as the turning point in Harvard hockey history. After shocking fourth-ranked Northeastern in the opening round, Harvard shut out BC in the finals, behind a marvelous performance from junior Wade Lau, whose fifteen saves earned him the MVP award.

After two miserable seasons (including the worst ever in Harvard history in 1979), Harvard would eventually cruise to a respectable 13-15-2 record. And, in the following year, the Crimson won the ECACs and advanced to the NCAA finals.

"This was the biggest game we ever played in--period," Lau recalled later. "We got a good taste of winning, a good taste of success. It really set us up for a good season the next year and a great season the following year."

1989

It took eight years. Eight long, torturous years.

But Coach Bill Cleary's team finally did it. Harvard advanced to the finals of the Beanpot with a 5-4 victory over Boston College.

It didn't come easy, of course. Harvard clung to a 5-3 lead heading into the third period, but had to battle off a last minute barrage from the Eagles to escape with the win--and a trip to the finals against Boston University.

Afterwards, the Crimson couldn't stop gushing over how goalie Chuckie Hughes (38 saves) kept the Crimson alive. Of course, once all the glee over `breaking the Beanpot jinx' ended, Harvard had to get down to business: a final against BU, which perennially finished strong in the 'Pot.

It would, however, be all Harvard in the finals. BU made it close--taking a 4-3 lead in the second period--but the Crimson roared back scoring four of the next six goals in the game to take the `Pot with a 9-6 victory.

Venerable BU Coach Jack Parker marveled at the Crimson's offensive prowess.

Cleary spoke about the thrill of the Beanpot.

Tournament MVP Lane MacDonald thanked his teammates.

The `Pot had returned to Cambridge.