Harvard Sisters Looking To Make Most Of Unique Beanpot Experience

Harvard sophomore defenseman Kaley MacDonald is coming to grips with the reality that is in front of her.

She and her Harvard teammates will have a crack at capturing the Women’s Dunkin Beanpot title this month. And MacDonald will have two more chances after that to get her hands on the coveted trophy.

But for MacDonald’s sister, Jenna, who is a senior defenseman with the Crimson, this is her final opportunity at helping Harvard capture the Beanpot crown. And Kaley couldn’t think of nothing better than winning the Beanpot with her older sister by her side.

“Last year was just so special to go through it together,” Kaley told NESN.com “But going into this year, knowing it’s our last shot of winning it together, it puts even more pressure on it. Obviously I want to be holding the trophy, getting a picture with Jenna at the end.”

Jenna already knows what it is like to hoist the Beanpot trophy. It came during her freshman season when Harvard topped Boston College in a 5-4 thriller to win its first title since 2015.

The feeling of what that victory was like hasn’t left Jenna and she wants Kaley to get the same experience, this time at TD Garden.

“I think I’ve told her before about our freshman year win when I was on the team,” Jenna said. “It was probably the coolest game I’ve ever played in. It’s so special and I really hope she gets the opportunity to get that win one day.”

Kaley and Jenna grew up on the ice together. The Walpole, Mass., natives played side-by-side, even partnering on the blue line in their early years and with the Boston Jr. Eagles club hockey program. But when Kaley got to high school, the two became opponents.

The MacDonald sisters attended different schools, with Jenna suiting up for Rivers and Kaley playing for Nobles. Kaley still fondly remembers Nobles getting the better of Rivers in at least one matchup.

But the sibling rivalry faded a bit when Kaley joined Jenna at Harvard. The two are each other’s biggest supporters on and off the ice, which fostered a tight-knit relationship and an unbreakable bond.

“Honestly, high school you’re sort of still at that age where you fight with your sister,” Kaley said. “But college, we’re both adults now. We’re each other’s best friends on the team, outside the rink. It’s been so special to just have our final chapter of hockey be together at Harvard.”

Jenna understands just how meaningful these moments like the Beanpot are. She knows that with her college career winding down that it all goes by in a blink. So, Jenna will try to hold onto this last Beanpot with her sister for as long as she can.

“Once you get to be on that stage, it’s just incredible,” Jenna said. “And especially getting to do it alongside my younger sister is something that’s really rare. It’s something we don’t take for granted.”

The Beanpot, which begins next Tuesday with semifinal action kicking off from Northeastern’s historic Matthews Arena, is coming up quick for Harvard and the MacDonald sisters.

Kaley and Jenna will hit the ice with the goal of bringing the Beanpot back to Harvard. But in the back of their mind, they know they won’t get this shared experience again.

“It’s sort of hitting me now that this is our last go at it together,” Kaley said.

NESN Dunkin’ Beanpot coverage is presented by Dunkin’