The Beanpot celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. To honor the milestone, NESN.com will count down the top 60 moments in Beanpot history.
The tournament was founded in 1952 by Herb Gallagher and Walter Brown. Now it is one of the fiercest hockey tournaments in the country. While Boston University has dominated the tournament historically, there have been many iconic moments spread out among BU, Boston College, Northeastern and Harvard.
In order to present the vast history of the Beanpot, the top 60 moments will be spread out over this week on NESN.com. This chronicle of the Beanpot will go through memorable finals, dominant players and everything in between.
Here are moments 60-41.
60. Goal x 5
Boston College forward Mike Powers scored five goals against Northeastern in a consolation game victory in 1973, which tied the most goals scored in a single game.
59. Hall of Fame Performance
During his time at Boston College (1976-1979), Hall of Fame winger Joe Mullen set the record for most career goals scored in Beanpot play with 10 goals.
58. A Great Way to End the 1963 Beanpot
Billy Hogan was named the 1963 Beanpot Most Valuable Player with one goal and two assists in the tournament.
57. Defense Wins Championships
Dominant defense held BU to only 13 shots, but BC still needed overtime to take home the 2004 title. BC's Ty Hennes scored with less than four minutes left in regulation, and Ryan Murphy punched in the game winner.
56. Double Trouble
Northeastern needed two overtimes to knock off Harvard in the 2005 semifinal round. Tim Judy knocked in the game winner at 2:05 in double OT. Northeastern defeated the 10th ranked Crimson with help from Keni Gibson, who had 39 saves.
55. Close Call
Boston University erased a late two-goal deficit to upend Harvard in a tight 2009 semifinal. The No. 1 ranked Terriers were in danger of being upset until they exploded for four goals in the last two periods.
54. Brady Brought His A-Game
Dan Brady backstopped the Terriers to a 12-2 win over Northeastern and a 4-1 title victory over Harvard in 1971.
53. It's Senior Time!
As a senior in 1971, Steve Stirling scored two goals and added five assists in two games, including scoring the game-winning goal in the team's 4-1 win over Harvard in the championship game.
52. Fan on Mascot Crime
Charles Geyer, a fan watching BU win another championship over BC, jumped onto the zamboni runway and attacked the Eagles' mascot in 2006. Police were forced to wrestle Geyer to the ground before making the arrest.
51. Roth Can Get the Job Done
Randy Roth played in two Beanpot finals, and led the Crimson to the 1974 title with a 2-1-3 Most Valuable Player performance in the championship game.
50. A Hat Trick and Game-Winner, Now That's Talent
Walt Greeley took home MVP honors after he scored the overtime game-winner against Boston College in the 1952 semifinals to propel the Crimson into the finals against Boston University, where he netted a hat trick to lead Harvard to a 7-4 win.
49. Three Goals Will Do the Charm
Jim Tiernan earned Most Valuable Player honors in his junior season after scoring twice in an opening-round win over Northeastern and once in the 4-2 title-game win over Harvard in 1956.
48. Great Goalies
BU's recent dominance was helped by having three of the best goaltenders in Beanpot history. Both Michel Larocque (1997-1999) and John Curry (2005-2007) hold the record for best save percentage in Beanpot games (.950) and Sean Fields (2000-2004) took home MVP honors twice for the Terriers.
47. Cinderella Wears Crimson
Sub-.500 Harvard upended the eighth-ranked Eagles and took BU to the wire in 1998. Harvard eliminated a three-goal deficit against the Eagles, and pushed BU to overtime before the Terriers took home the title.
46. No Offense, No Problem
The 2007 tournament set the record for fewest goals scored in Beanpot history at 15, with the losing teams averaging less than a goal per game. BU won the tourney and, unsurprisingly, goalie John Curry won MVP.
45. Stonewalled
Harvard netminder Wade Lau became the third goalie to ever post a shutout in a Beanpot Championship game, grabbing the MVP Award for the Crimson in 1981.
44. No Goal
During the 1979 semifinal game, Wayne Turner of Northeastern became the only skater in Beanpot history not to score on a penalty shot.
43. Golden Mitts
Gold medalist and Boston University forward Dave Silk tied a tournament record by dishing out six assists in 1977. BU ended up losing the championship game to Harvard 4-3.
42. Have We Met Before?
Boston University defeated Boston College 4-1 in 1986 in their 10th meeting in the Beanpot championship game.
41. The First Cut Is The Deepest
Future legend Jack Parker took the reins in his first ever Beanpot as a head coach, losing 5-4 to Harvard in the 1974 final.
Click here to see Beanpot moments Nos. 40-21 >>
Click here to see Beanpot moments Nos. 20-1 >>
Thumbnail photo via bu.edu
