2012 Beanpot

Sports fans in Boston always have the Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins, or Celtics to root for.  However, for two weeks in February, the professional sports teams take a backseat to one of the most storied college athletic championships of all time.

Thats right.  I'm talking about the Beanpot.

In one of the most underrated and under appreciated College Athletic events outside of New England, the Beanpot is a tournament between Boston College, Boston University, Harvard, and Northeastern that is played over a two week period with week one being the semifinal games and week two consisting of the consolation game and championship game.

Now in recent years the tandem of Boston College and Boston University have dominated not only the Division One Hockey landscape, acting as the LSU's and Alabama's of their sport.  Additionally Northeastern and Harvard have never met in the Beanpot final.  Either BC or BU has always advanced to the final round.  Take a look at the most recent victory for each school:

BC: 2011
BU: 2009
Harvard: 1993
Northeastern: 1988

As has become the norm the eighth ranked Eagles and the fourth ranked Terriers once again meet in the championship game.  Regardless of how the tournament has become skewed in terms of competition, this tournament must never, and in my opinion will never, lose the grace that it carries because it connects directly with the city of Boston and the faithful Bostonians.

Growing up in Boston, and in a hockey family, I remember always watching these games with mt father and other family and its a memory than many Massachusetts children hold with them.  Unfortunately the Beanpot has lost some of its national shine that it had in its early days, and I wish that more people would appreciate its history, importance, and pure competitive spirit that it brings on of each collegiate athlete that play for the four participating schools.  Hockey players choose of of these four institutions simply to have an opportunity to play in the Beanpot.

Now if that doesn't attract you to the game of hockey, or sports in general, I don't know what will.


Here's some related links for everyone to check out:
http://insidecollegehockey.com/5Polls/1112/polls_1020.htm


http://www.beanpothockey.com/

Photo credit:
http://www.nutmeghockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/beanpot-2011.jpg