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BU Bridge Logo

Week of 12 February 1999

Vol. II, No. 23

Feature Article

BU makes Beanpot history with 5 straight titles

After a 4-2 victory over Northeastern February 8 in the FleetCenter, the BU hockey Terriers celebrate their fifth straight Beanpot Championship -- a tournament record. Photo by Vernon Doucette


By Brian Fitzgerald

As BU Hockey Coach Jack Parker sat down behind a podium to take reporters' questions following the Terriers' Beanpot Tournament victory February 8, he took a look at the trophy, which was shining in the camera lights. Then, with a metallic clang, he rapped the pewter pot twice with another prize: his 1995 National Championship ring.

It might have been a subliminal reminder of every Division I hockey team's ultimate goal -- the NCAA title -- although few predict that Boston University will go all the way this year. Then again, the Terriers weren't expected to win their fifth straight Beanpot. Boston College, ranked eighth in the nation, and the team expected to end BU's reign, fell victim in overtime to their B-line rivals in the tournament opener February 1. On the following Monday, it was Northeastern that stood in the Terriers' way.

And the Huskies certainly didn't roll over and play dead. Northeastern dominated the first few minutes of the first period, but tournament MVP Michel Larocque (MET'99) was solid in the net. Then forward Jack Baker (CAS'02) put BU on the scoreboard. In the second period, after Northeastern tied the game, the teams traded goals and were deadlocked at 2-2.

"I thought that we played very well technically the first two periods," says Parker. "But I don't think we played with anywhere near the emotion we played in our last couple of games. It was a real cautious game."

Michel Larocque (MET'99) made 36 saves against Northeastern in the Beanpot Championship game, and 28 against Boston College in the opening round of the tournament. Photo by Vernon Doucette


However, with just 1:35 left in the second stanza, forward Carl Corazzini (CAS'01), who had netted the overtime goal against BC in the first round, charged down the ice with Chris Heron (COM'00), picked up Heron's rebound, and put the puck past Northeastern goaltender Jason Braun. The goal gave BU a 3-2 lead that it would never relinquish. Although it marked another game-winning goal from the Framingham, Mass., native, at the time the contest was far from over.

"When the third period started," recalls Parker, "I told my team, 'Guys, this game isn't going to end 3-2. You've got to go out and win the third period.' " But the Huskies had other ideas. "We went out and stood around and watched while Northeastern took it to us for quite a while," says Parker.

Nonetheless, Larocque, who also picked up the Eberly Award for the tournament's best goaltender (.971 save percentage), turned back every shot. He isn't related to former NHL goalie Bunny Laroc