NU aims to end title hex
Huskies look for 1st final win in 30 years
Thirty years ago, senior forward David O’Brien skated over to accept the Beanpot trophy from Boston Garden impresario Steve Nazro. Little did the Brookline native realize that he would be the last Northeastern hockey captain to place his hands around the coveted mug.
Tonight, NU (16-8-5) makes a bid for its first title since that 1988 tournament as it battles crosstown rival Boston University (1511-3), which is seeking its 31st crown in the 66 years of the historic four-team Boston-based tournament. NU and BU played twice this season, with the Huskies sweeping a home-andhome series, 4-1 and 6-1, back in early November.
“Quite frankly, I’m getting tired that everyone keeps mentioning me as the last NU captain to win the Beanpot,” the 51-year-old O’Brien said as he drove his sons — 14-year-old Ben, 12-year-old Max and 8-yearold Sebastian — home from a recent hockey practice. “It would be a nice thing if they could win it on Monday night and then people could forget about me.”
It’s unlikely that many will ever forget the NU Hall of Fame career of O’Brien, who joined teammates including MVP goalie Bruce Racine, Kevin Heffernan, Dave Buda, Rob Cowie, Rico Rossi, Will Averill, Claude Lodin and others in lugging the hardware around the Garden ice after beating BU, 6-3.
“I miss the old Garden with all the fans right on top of you. For me, growing up in Brookline, it always was quite a dream to play in the Beanpot. That year, I think we were the favorites and back in those days the favorite never won it,” said O’Brien, who is a partner at Boston-based law firm of Peabody & Arnold.
Current NU coach Jim Madigan was an assistant coach that year and, along with the great Ferny Flaman, may be the single most impactful figure in NU hockey history. Madigan holds a direct link to three of NU’s four Beanpot titles (two as a player, one as assistant coach), both Hockey East titles (assistant in 1988, head coach in 2016). He also played on NU’s lone Frozen Four entry in 1982.
“For the university, it would continue the upward trajectory of excellence. From a hockey standpoint, it would make Northeastern relevant again within the tournament,” Madigan said. “Plus, each school would have a win in the last four years just like in the early 80s when all four schools were able to win it.
“But we respect Boston University. They are not the same team that we beat twice back in November. They really have got it going. Their goaltender is hot. We’re going up against a great team and we have to be on the top of our game.”
The Terriers enter as the hottest team in college hockey with a nine-game unbeaten streak (7-0-2). Yet BU coach David Quinn won’t diminish the task at hand.
“We have to shut down the top line in college hockey,” said Quinn, referring to the NU trio of senior left winger Nolan Stevens (19 goals, 12 assists), junior center Adam Gaudette (2123-44) and senior right winger Dylan Sikura (14-2539). “That’s your first priority. They’re special players, they have a little bit of everything. They have a great goalie in Cayden Primeau (12-6-5, 1.97 goals-against average, .925 save percentage). We certainly understand the challenge that’s ahead of us.”
The departure of Jordan Greenway for the U.S. Olympic team will influence the BU lineup.
“It’s tough to replace a 6-foot-5, 230-pound first-line center,” Quinn said. “We have to make sure that everybody picks up a little bit of the slack. That’s what happened over the last month without (Patrick) Harper. It’s a little more responsibility and that’s what has to happen the rest of the way. We feel like we have the guys to do it.”
Harper, the sophomore who is out with an upperbody injury, was BU’s top scorer (8-13-21) before being hurt.