The student newspaper the day after BU's first Beanpot 4th place finish in 31 years.

I’ve experienced lows as a fan before. I’ve been a fan of teams who Super Bowl wins were denied by field goals, blue collar Canadian teams defeated by oil magnet America’s Teams, a quarterbacks whose career was ended by one hit after one guard missed a block and allowed a hit so hard he was knocked unconscious, and league founding hockey teams struggling to exist in an economically devastated city. I’ve felt the lows, I’ve felt the pits, I’ve felt the loss of identity. I know what it’s like to wonder why you even cheer on a team, geography, tradition and childhood be darned.

But Boston University’s loss Monday night in the Beanpot consolation game, giving them their first last place finish in the event snarkily referred to as the BU Invitational in 31 years, felt like something different. While I didn’t have the sucker-punch pit I did when Scott Norwood’s kick went too far right, or when Jeremy Newbury missed the tackle to let Aeneas Williams take Steve Young down that last time, I felt more like I was watching an oddity. A bad dream. Something so unreal that I would undoubtedly wake up and text Laurel like I do after any weird hockey related dream, saying despite the now three hour time difference between us, “I had this crazy dream that we lost the Beanpot to Harvard.”

This dream-like sequence was further assisted by the fact that I was watching this once in a lifetime (because literally, it has only happened once in my lifetime – I’m only 29) loss from a perch on the ninth floor of the TD Garden, bright green laminated press pass around my neck, sitting at an assigned seat, laptop computer open and frantically typing away. Those I only had ever seen on NESN were walking behind me, getting ready for the main event, the Northeastern – Boston College championship game. People I recognized from Twitter, from local news sites, people who have no idea who short little me was but who I knew immediately. And I was one of them, if only for two nights in February.

I watched the Terriers defense seemingly fade to invisibility as goaltender Kieran Millan was left in the cold as a Harvard team who literally only had this game to play for from my perch. I watched as Harvard outskated BU, scoring three goals in two minutes. I watched as BU pulled Millan but never got close to converting their man advantage. I watched them lose a Beanpot with the lowest point of effort I may have ever seen from a hockey team. Even the lowly Merrimack teams of five years ago would bite, even the UMass Lowell’s seemed to have a sort of pride to play for. And now, it was one of the nation’s historically best hockey teams looking like they checked their motivation in 2009. But I was watching this all from a seat that represented the pinnacle of what I’ve been working towards since I was 12 years old.

The arena was empty, the press box was barren, and BU had just lost a game against a team that had had only four wins prior to that night. But I was in a press box, and people wanted my take on the game immediately.

“This is the lowest of lows,” I said to the first person who asked.

But still, part of me inside was jumping on a metaphorical mattress. I was in the press box, in a major venue, for a major event. And because of that, it was the best night of my entire life. The best night gift wrapped as one of my lowest nights as a sports fan.

The previous Monday night during the BC-BU first round.

Per usual, I’m all over the Beanpot like wanna-be rock stars up on MySpace. Catch my extensive overview of Beanpot Players to Watch on Beantown Athletic Supporters. Tonight, I’ll be live tweeting for BU Today along with several of my co-workers and students, and you’ll also be able to catch my reports direct from Twitter.

Later this week, I’ll be profiling the Charity Beanpot Challenge, a game featuring Beanpot alumni and supporting the Travis Roy and Mark Bavis Foundations.

Happy Beanpot Monday!

But tonight, they had finally changed them to this year’s captains. Or at least, who we had thought this year’s captains would be:

My screen capture of the official Beanpot website at 11:05pm, Sunday evening.

Did Brian Strait suddenly return from Wilkes-Barre Scranton to BU? Wow, he must have forgave all of those awful things Coach Parker said about him in that USCHO piece from the summer.

Well, that all changes tonight, because here at …On Being a Sports Girl, we have determined an 2009 Unofficial Beanpot All Tournament Team. I consulted with my dear reader Scott, my fellow Terrier blogger Joe of Let’s Go Terriers, and my Twitter followers for input on who should make up such a team. Ground rules: Nick Bonino and Brad Thiessen were inelgible because they won the MVP and Eberly; there has to be a representative from each school; and I’m going to name eight team members because…well, because it’s my blog and I can if I want to.

So, without further adieu, may I present to you the 2009 …On Being a Sports Girl Unofficial Beanpot All Tournament Team:

Pier-Olivier Michaud, Harvard Michaud was an unanimous selection by Joe, Scott and I. Scott gave great reasoning for Michaud’s inclusion: “He scored the game-tying goal flying in the face of momentum with only a few minutes left in the third in the Opening Round against BU, and he scores Harvard’s first two goals and assists on their third in a game that should have gone into overtime had Harvard not been asleep and already planning on sudden death when BC scored their winning goal in the consolation game.”

Also, I think Michaud has an awesome name. That name either screams hockey player, pairs figure skater, or sculptor.

Photo used via Creative Commons license from Blast magazine

A-Number-Twenty-One….I mean Jason Lawrence, BU Hey, I’m biased – if you read this blog on a regular basis, it’s as clear as ice that JLo is my favorite Terrier, and has been for years. But Joe and Scott both agreed that Lawrence deserved a place on an all-tourney team, and some out in the blogosphere are claiming that he could have easily been named tournament MVP.  He scored both BU game-winning goals, and easily played two of his best games of his collegiate career. Besides his game-winners, he made a few solid defensive plays throughout Monday night as well, and was a danger to score anytime he got in vicinity of Hoyle or Thiessen. In his career, Lawrence has scored three Beanpot game-winning goals, and also is on the record books for scoring the most points during the 2006 tournament as a freshman.

Benn Ferriero, BC Sure, this wasn’t BC’s tournament, and they definitely didn’t show up last Monday evening against Northeastern. But I can’t not include an Eagle, especially one who scored two goals in the consolation game.

Chris Donovan, NU He went to town last Monday, and while he didn’t have any points in the championship game, his output against BC alone ties him with Ferriero for a spot on an-all tourney team.

Matt Gilroy, BU Joe, Scott, and quite a few Twitterers insisted on Gilroy, whose leadership skills shine as much as his abilities at the blue line. What can we say about Gilroy that hasn’t been said?

Kevin Shattenkirk, BU Shattenkirk was a Scott and Joe selection.  Again, I’ll let Scott do the explaining on this pick: “Shattenkirk’s confidence and skills that allow him to pinch in the offensive blue line even when a man down along with the same from (Brian) Strait is what accounted for BU to be able to score three short handed goals last night.”

David Strathman, NU This junior defenseman was all over the ice both Mondays, getting helpers and making life just overall difficult for BU and BC. He definitely tries to make Thiessen’s game easier.

Kieran Milan, BU The nerves that showed themselves against Harvard had disspated against Northeastern. In the third period, my favorite Dolph-fan, who was sitting in front of me, turned around and said, “This is just like Curry.” It was indeed. Milan is fun to watch, and is only getting better with confidence and expierence. I won’t argue that Thiessen didn’t deserve the Eberly – he definitely did, and even with his loss last night, I still think he is currently the best goalie in college hockey – but Milan is slowly and surely making a name for himself, and his Beanpot performance only helped that.

I know several of you out there will not agree with these selections, and if you don’t, please give me your selections in the comments below.  And yes, I know these selections are heavily leaning towards BU – most of whom I polled were BU or Harvard fans, so it is a bit biased.  But no attacks on any player or team please – just make your case for your all-tournament team selections without getting too mean.

My favorite picture is of all the players picking up their equipment off the ice – I tried to get a few of these, but my camera is elderly and just isn’t getting all the shots it used to. I think it’s the last one in the slideshow.

Oh, and there is a Beanpot recap – including an inexplicable, “Your mom goes to college!” line from Scott Van Pelt – on ESPN’s Sportscenter tonight. Unlike last week, I was able to catch it on TV.

Also, if you didn’t read it while the game was ongoing, my live coverage live from the Garden is available here (select play on the Cover It Live video.)

More Beanpot recap will be forthcoming.

The rest of Boston is off to inexplicably jump on the Northeastern University bandwagon – which makes me angry, because if the Beanpot is quintessentially Boston, why are Bostonians openly rooting against a team with 10 players with Boston ties, including 4 on the top line alone? Does that make any sense? You want to openly root against guys who have dreamed of Beanpot glory since they knew what ice skates were?

I’ll be live tweeting from the Garden again, and I promise to do a far better job than last weeks debacle, where I spent most of the third period covering my face. I’ll start with the Boston College – Harvard University matchup at 5pm because I’ll use any excuse to spend more time in the TDBanknorth Garden (I have a thing for arenas) and because I want to see Harvard freshman goalie Matt Hoyle again in an unbiased atmosphere. Hoyle faced 50 shots and saved 45 of them against Yale on Friday night, and Harvard still lost 5-1. I think Hoyle might be the real deal for Harvard, yet unfortunately, the rest of his team can’t get things together.

If you enjoy hockey of any kind, I implore you to follow the Northeastern – BU game. This is arguably the biggest game in college hockey yet this year, and already is the most highly anticipated college hockey game I have ever experienced.

But I digress. What is more important is that according to this NHL.com article, Northeastern University and Boston University are separated by the Charles River. Really? Let’s take a look.

View Larger Map

That’s an oops for them. Oh well. They tried.

My BlackBerry photo of the clearly relieved Terriers at the end of their too-close matchup with Harvard.

Oh, what a Beanpot first game. I think it’s a good thing I have low blood pressure, because I think my blood pressure was at an all time high last night, meaning it was normal.

While I’ll have a more indepth recap later, here are my live Tweets from the game. If you notice, I was too busy hyperventilating when A-Number-Twenty-One scored his winning goal to update the Twitter feed. Start from the bottom up to read in chronological order.

1. But, but…that’s Sasquatch’s music! about 13 hours ago from TwitterBerry

2. BU won 4-3. Craziness at the end with a goal after time expired, but time had clearly expired. about 14 hours ago from TwitterBerry

3. BU take a 3-2 lead by a Zach Cohen goal. about 14 hours ago from TwitterBerry

4. Scrum at the end of the 2nd. BU-HU go into the 2nd intermission tied 2-2. about 15 hours ago from TwitterBerry

5. BU ties it up 2-2 with a second Bonino goal. about 15 hours ago from TwitterBerry

6. BU scores finally. Bonino goal makes it HU 2 – BU 1 about 15 hours ago from TwitterBerry

7. Harvard scores on a 5 on 3. HU 2 BU 0. I am sick to my stomach. about 16 hours ago from TwitterBerry

8. The Harvard pep band is playing Britney Spears’ “Toxic.” about 16 hours ago from TwitterBerry

9. 1st Intermission, BU 0 HU 1. So nervous. about 16 hours ago from TwitterBerry

10. Harvard scores first. 1-0 in the mid-1st about 16 hours ago from TwitterBerry

11. Harvard’s pep band just played, “Boom, Boom, Boom” about 17 hours ago from TwitterBerry

12. Today is jason Lawrence’s 22 birthday – the Saugus,MA native will start on the top line for the Terriers. about 17 hours ago from TwitterBerry

13. Is live from the Beanpot! Where are the Harvard fans? Us BU fans are here!

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Original Post:

I’m trying to live tweet the Beanpot, but of course, I can’t seem to get it to work in the actual factual post.

If you want to catch my live tweets from the game, follow my Twitter RSS feed or just follow the widget in the sidebar. Or if you are on Twitter, just follow SportsGirlKat.

I hope I come across as knowledgeable, but I think I probably come across as just insane. Who else would mention her mother’s Jim Kelly shrine and her cousin Adam’s air hockey table into a discussion about the Beanpot?  Leave it to me.

Edited 2/13/2009 – The interview is now down from Fetch’s site, but it’s after the jump for those of you nostalgic types.

1. You have quite the nickname for former BU netminder John Curry. I’m a Penguins fan, so I have no problem calling him my favorite goalie, but how did he become “Everyone’s Favorite Goalie?”

Hmm…I don’t really know how I came up with that nickname. I just referred to Curry as that in a blog post one day and it stuck. (Some of my blog nicknames don’t stick. FWNICM, anyone? Typing that acronym over and over, especially when writing about the infamous Petrecki hit, got old real quick.)

Back to Curry. I’ve been following BU hockey since I moved up to Boston for grad school in 2004, and I’ve been a pretty giant sports fan all my life. And I have never seen an athlete more universally loved than Johnny Curry. (I thought I had seen it all with Jim Kelly growing up in Western NY – I mean, my mom had a full-out shrine to Kelly. I actually think she still might.) Curry has more heart than 100 hockey players put together (although Jeff Lerg might rival it) and he never gives up. Both qualities were always evident in his play.  That he had the hip injury he had his senior year and still go out there everyday and try to carry that team as far as he did is why he will always be loved at BU. I am glad that the folks in Pittsburgh and Wilkes-Barre are treating him well and find him as endearing as we here at BU all did.

2. Speaking of Curry, when he was the goalie at BU it seemed that if the other team scored even 2 goals the game was over because the Terriers offense was so bad, but this year they’ve scored more goals than any team in Hockey East. They’ve had good goaltending, but it’s clear this is an offensive team. Which style do you think works better for the Terriers?

There were years – 2005-06 – where the team was pretty good all around. You had this year’s senior class as freshmen, particularly Higgins, Yip and Lawrence, and they all had promising years. You had guys like Zancanaro, Van Der Gulik and Spang, who were awesome all over the ice. You couldn’t tell if they all were offense or defense, they were awesome on both. Curry could have a bad night (which didn’t happen often) and that team could, most of the time, win the game for him.

Then you have the past two years, where one part of the team was good, and the other part was lousy, and the part that was great couldn’t carry the team. In 2007, Curry carried the team as far as it could possibly go, but what was in front of him couldn’t help him out. In 2007-08, the defense eventually caught on that they would have to do more to defend the goal in the absence of goaltending. The offense was developing, but couldn’t catch up with the number of goals that were being allowed.

This year, there is a security in offense, defense and goaltending that is much more than the great play of 2005-06. I think it’s not necessarily that this team is an offensive team, but that, for the first time, it’s a cohesive team – everyone is playing like their careers are on the line. Look at Brandon Yip and Zach Cohen, two players who have had a very quiet last two years. Bam – Yip is now a Hobey Baker Semi-Finalist and Cohen is in the lineup every single game. The other key is that the offense is playing great defensively, and the defense is home to Shattenkirk, Gilroy and Warsofsky, who are legitimate scoring threats all of the time. This may be an offensive team because of the variety of scoring threats – as of Saturday’s UNH game, 12 players are in the double digits for scoring this year! – but it’s more well balanced. Their power play has saved them several times this year.

3. We’re big Colin Wilson fans here. How good do you think he will be at the next  level?

Wilson is a great player, no doubt. However, I think despite his staying in college hockey this year, if I were with the Predators organization, I wouldn’t hesitate starting him for a month or two in the AHL whenever he does go pro. I think the very few weaknesses he has in terms of in-game focus would be worked out with a brief stint in the AHL. Also, developmentally – here’s the educator in me speaking, haha – you don’t want a 19 year old to be exposed to too much too soon. The AHL will allow him to get his bearings a bit, and I am sure he will move up quickly and contribute in the NHL not too long after he goes pro.

There has been a few moments this year while watching Wilson where I think we’ve only touched upon his talent. This weekend, for instance, when he skated circles – literally - around the UNH zone with the puck twice and no one could challenge him, I was just in awe.

4. Onto the Beanpot. As a fan of a participating school, how important is winning the Beanpot?

As a BU fan,winning the Beanpot is important.  Here’s a little story about how much BU and the Beanpot go hand in hand: when my little cousin – who is the reason I started following hockey – was roughly 9 or so, my sister and I were sitting around the air hockey table in his den with a few of his hockey teammates. They were talking about playing hockey when they grew up, and one said, “I want to play for Boston University, and I want to play in the Beanpot.” Mind you, we were in Irondequoit, NY.  14 year old me had no idea what the Beanpot was at the time, and had to have a gaggle of 9 year old youth hockey players explain it to me. If the Beanpot is synonymous with BU in frozen tundra that is the suburbs of Rochester, NY, then you know it has to be pretty important.

The Beanpot is typically is very important to the Terriers, but this year, it is not the be-all-end-all it once was. This BU team needs to do more than win the Beanpot. If they lose the Beanpot this year, I’ll be bummed, sure. But what is most important is that they are winning in March. If we have to sacrifice a Beanpot title to the “Hockey Gods” to get to the Frozen Four, then so be it. This year’s team has the most heart, determination and talent Terrier fans of the last decade has ever seen, and I think many fans focus is on this team continuing to prove this on the national stage.

Despite all of that, I think this year’s team will find the Beanpot important because of last year’s disappointment and because of the team has a large number of Boston area players. Many of these student-athletes grew up watching the Beanpot, attending the Beanpot, wanting to play in the Beanpot. You think someone like a Chris Higgins is not going to step up beyond belief for his last Beanpot?

5. BU Takes on Harvard in the semis. How do you think the Terriers and Crimson stack up, and how do you see the game going?

Oh, I have felt for the Crimson since that North Dakota shellacking in December. They have never found their footing this year. What hurts Ted Donato’s team immensely is their lack of offense.  If they are already having difficulty on offense, and can’t convert power plays (they are converting on 15.5% of them), then BU’s penalty kill will only be more frustrating to them.

I expect BU to come out and be determined to not repeat last year’s Beanpot. This senior class wowed at their first Beanpot in 2006, and understand the importance of the event (look at how many members of this senior class are local kids – McCarthy, Higgins, Lawrence.) I think they were disappointed in how last year turned out, and are determined not to repeat last year.

While I am sure Donato will fire up his team to be a spoiler, I think the lack of offense may be Harvard’s demise at the end of Monday evening. I think BU will be fired up to right the wrongs of last year, and as much as Harvard tries, this might not be the Crimson’s year.

6. Last but not least, who do you think wins the Beanpot?

I think we’ll see a Northeastern – BU final, and this is only a start of a two month span where Terrier fans begin to think of Northeastern of BC from 2006 – how many times can we play them?! Northeastern is a serious threat, because when Brad Thiessen is on, he’s scary. But the trick to Northeastern is that they still play angry, they still play like they are underdogs in the bottom of the middle of Hockey East, and they can be easily befallen by the penalty monster because of that mentality.  I think the NU-BU final goes into overtime, and Chris Connolly wins it for BU with a quick shot to the blocker side of Thiessen.

Lawrence, Higgins and Yip celebrate their first Beanpot in 2006. (Courtsey Jamd.com)

Awwww….

I couldn’t wait for next week’s Beanpot preview to share this photo of Jason Lawrence, Chris Higgins and Brandon Yip with the 2006 Beanpot. The three of them, now seniors for the Terriers, owned that Beanpot.  Most notably, Higgins had a goal so remarkable that it made ESPN’s Sportscenter that evening.

But I’ll talk about that more next week.  I am about to head off to the BU-UNH game at Agganis, but I just had to share that photo.

We may have lagged in our regular programming as of late, but it’s because I’ve been blogging fast and furious over at Examiner Boston about the “Biggest Hit of the Year” in pro lacrosse – Boston Blazers’ Mitch Belisile’s hit on New York Titan Jarret Park last Saturday night. Thanks to my readers from the Examiner for making me one of the top Examiners this week!