Boston Beanpot Hockey Tournament Unlike Anything Else

College hockey is alive and well in Boston. The 72nd Annual Dunkin Beanpot Championship once again brought men's hockey teams from Harvard, Northeastern, Boston College and Boston University together for a hard-hitting tournament on the ice of TD Garden.

Home of the Bruins, the Boston venue was absolutely packed with screaming fans and rowdy college kids for the championship game on Monday, February 10.

A true rivalry on the ice took place as the Eagles from BC faced off against the Terriers of BU. The Eagles have been dominating throughout their 2024-2025 season so far, ranking No. 1 in the country for men's college hockey. BU, on the other hand, is not too far behind at ninth.

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With standings like these, it's a nice reminder of the tremendous talent that we have in our own backyard. The Beanpot teams have produced names like the Bruins' Charlie Coyle (BU) and Charlie McAvoy (BU), the late Johnny Gaudreau (BC), Joe Mullen (BC), Jimmy Vesey (Harvard), Mike Morris (Northeastern) and many, many more.

As the In-Arena Host of the Boston Bruins, I've seen some exciting moments, but there's something about this college hockey battle that is unlike anything else. First and foremost are the fans. A slew of alumni and current students fill the stands as well as their bands. Live music is an instant crowd pumper.

What Are the Crowds Like at the Dunkin' Beanpot?

I must say, there's this unspoken respect that exists between the two bands in the stands.

For example, on one side of the balcony sat the Terrier band and on the other, BC's band. They seamlessly take turns playing for their fans and the crowd making for a beautifully-conducted concert.

Boston Schools Get Clever with Chants

What's not so kind and respectful are the chants. It's all part of the game and quite honestly, something I look forward to.

Whether it's chatting at the opposing team's goalie, shouting profanities (comical at times, I might add), asking BU "where's your campus?" (pretty clever) or my personal favorite, "safety school." These two words are shouted by every team in the Beanpot about any opponent.

If your team scores? Forget about it! The chants after a goal go on well past the initial celebrations, past the following puck drop and well into the next play.

Monday evening's 4-1 victory over the Eagles brought Boston University its 32nd Beanpot title, its first since 2022.