Six Players To Watch In Highly Anticipated Women’s Beanpot

Experience levels will differ when the Dunkin’ Women’s Beanpot commences Tuesday at Matthews Arena.

For some players, it will be their first time on the elevated stage which pits Boston’s college hockey powers against one another. For other players, it will be their last chance to get their hands on the coveted trophy.

Regardless, there will be plenty of talent once again on the ice. Boston University and Harvard kick things off Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. ET followed by Northeastern and Boston College in the night cap at 7:30 p.m. Both games will be televised on NESN+.

Here are six players to watch out for in the Beanpot and they could have a huge say in which team bring home the title this season:

Skylar Irving, Northeastern
Irving wrote her name in the Beanpot history books last season when she captured tournament MVP honors thanks to her heroics at TD Garden. Irving potted the winning goal in overtime to lift the Huskies to their second straight crown and the senior forward is back for more this year. She leads the Huskies with eight goals to go along with nine assists for 17 points and the Kingston, Mass., native will look to cement herself in Beanpot lore with another stellar showing.

“I like big-time, big moments. I love when the lights are on me,” Irving said. “I just know whatever is thrown at us, personally, that I have what it takes to overcome it and I know that our team does, too. At the end of the day, I think it’s less about the individual history and more about what history as a group that we can write.”

Sammy Taber, Boston College
Taber is one of the reasons why the Eagles have one of the fiercest offenses in Hockey East. The sophomore forward is atop the conference with 23 points off nine goals and 14 assists. Taber, who is Tewksbury, Mass. native, just had a six-game point streak snapped last week and she certainly will look to start another one by spearheading BC’s attack.

Julia Shaunessy, Boston University
Shaunessy is an imposing force on the blue line for the Terriers and a key part to BU allowing only 1.95 goals against per game. The Marshfield, Mass., native can also contribute offensively as she’s second on the Terriers with 12 assists. The Beanpot will also be a feel-good moment for Shaunessy after she missed last year’s event due to injury, making her grateful to have another opportunity to play in the tournament as a graduate student.

“I’m so excited,” Shaunessy said. “I had such an amazing reaction watching (last year’s) game and I can only imagine the feeling of being on the ice during that. And I can’t wait for that.”

Lisa Jonsson, Northeastern
Sensational goalies just tend to flock to Huntington Avenue and the Huskies have another star between the pipes in Jonsson. It will be the first Beanpot for the Sweden native and freshman netminder but she comes into the festivities with quite the reputation. She is first in the country in goals-against average (1.01) and save percentage (.959) while posting five shutouts in 11 starts this season.

Abby Newhook, Boston College
If the Eagles are to end their Beanpot title drought, Newhook likely will play a big part in it. The senior forward is second on BC in scoring behind Taber with seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points. That production has put Newhook, who played high school hockey at Taber Academy with Irving and Shaunessy, on pace to far surpass the 22-point campaigns she had each of the last two seasons.

“Ever since I got to BC it’s been a dream of mine,” Newhook said of trying to win the Beanpot. “I’ve definitely tried to envision it many, many times.”

Kaley MacDonald, Harvard
MacDonald will look to do it all to lead Harvard to an upset victory or two. The undersized sophomore defenseman from Walpole, Mass., collected a team-high nine points off two goals and seven assists so far this season. MacDonald will look to add to that total and do so as she plays alongside her older sister.

NESN Dunkin’ Beanpot coverage is presented by Dunkin’