Beanpot Woes Plague M. Hockey

BOSTON-—It’s easy to say that the No. 10 Harvard men’s hockey team is impressive this year, that it has felled a slew of formidable opponents, and that, all in all, this is a season of which the Crimson can be proud. Nevertheless, it remains impossible to say anything that will lessen the sting of last night’s double-overtime Beanpot defeat.

“It’s a heartbreaking loss,” admitted Harvard coach Ted Donato ’91 of the more-than 82 minute contest, one determined by a high-slot slapshot by Northeastern’s Tim Judy early into the second, 20-minute extra period.

Said Huskies coach Bruce Crowder, “It was almost one of those situations that you hate to see somebody lose.”

Especially if that somebody loses every year, which has been the case for each current member of the Crimson. In fact, Harvard has not made it past the first round of the Beanpot since 1998, when most of this year’s Crimson seniors were mere freshmen in high school.

“I don’t think it’s really hit me yet,” said captain Noah Welch, who has talked extensively of the tournament’s importance and his now-conquered desire to win one before he graduates.

“Four consolation games,” he said, “it’s not something I had planned when I came to Harvard. I planned to win four Beanpots.”

The February tournament has remained elusive despite any success the Crimson program has enjoyed in recent years, be it consistent or limited to postseason runs. But if ever there was a year for Harvard to buck its history, this would be it.

It is a new and impressive Crimson team that has plowed through its schedule thus far, offering a glimmer of opportunity to the program that has so long suffered Beanpot embarrassments.

“I’m disappointed for our guys,” said Donato, who won the tournament in 1989 as a player. “I have great feelings, especially for my senior class.”

Donato spoke of Welch, assistant captain Ryan Lannon and Rob Flynn, Massachusetts natives all three. He spoke of Dov Grumet-Morris, Harvard’s nation-leading goaltender, and of assistant captain Tom Cavanagh and Andrew Lederman and Brendan Bernakevitch.

The seven form a group that has played in the NCAA tournament in each of the last three years, and it has a strong chance to return for a fourth this time around.

But now, there is one prize for which the seniors will never play.

“I think when you’re a senior in college,” Donato said, “you start to see the end of your college career near, and I think there was a large part of me that really was hoping that these guys would be able to experience a Beanpot final.”

THE LINES, THEY ARE A CHANGIN’

Junior Dan Murphy, who had been sidelined with a shoulder injury since Harvard’s January exam break, returned to the ice after watching his team’s last four games in a suit and tie.

The winger replaced freshman Mike Taylor, who had skated 15 games on Harvard’s top line before sitting last night.

Taylor had fared well in the position—but freshman Dave Watters, who has filled Murphy’s void on the fourth line for the last four games, has notched five points during that window of opportunity.

Justifying Watters’ removal from the line charts at this point would be difficult, to say the least.

Murphy took four shots on goal, and his line eight, but the trio was a combined -2 on the night.

HUSKY HISTORY

Since 1989, Northeastern has advanced to the Beanpot finals four times, this year’s tournament included, and, each time, the Huskies have defeated the Crimson to do so.

Northeastern defeated Harvard in 2002, 1999, and 1996, only to lose to Boston University in each final.

This time around, it took an extra 22 minutes and change, but the Huskies once again sent the Crimson packing to the consolation round—though the overtime play did postpone the Terriers-Boston College nightcap, which began at 9 p.m. instead of 8.

“We walked by the BU team on the way out [after an intermission],” Welch said, “and one guy in the back said, ‘someone score a goal.’”

“I don’t know if they were rooting for us or not,” he added.

SLAPSHOTS

The Crimson was 0-for-5 on the power play tonight despite three prime opportunities in the first overtime period, one of which was carried over from the end of regulation play...Grumet-Morris managed 34 saves in his 82:01 of play, while Northeastern goaltender Keni Gibson amassed 39...Sophomore blueliner Dylan Reese led Harvard with six shots, while Welch—who turned in strong play on both ends of the ice as the extra-play wore—finished with five. The Huskies blocked 25 Crimson shots last night, 13 of which came in the first overtime.

—Staff writer Rebecca A. Seesel can be reached at seesel@fas.harvard.edu.