By Annie Maroon/DFP Staff
Ahti Oksanen may only have learned the word “Beanpot” recently, but the freshman defenseman from Finland understands the significance of the Boston University men’s hockey team’s matchup with Northeastern University Monday night.
“They have told me quite a lot about it,” Oksanen said of his teammates. “I’m starting to feel as excited as the other guys.”
No. 9/11 BU (13–10–1, 10–7–1 Hockey East) will face Northeastern (7–13–3, 4–11–3) at 5 p.m. Monday at TD Garden. Senior defenseman Ryan Ruikka is the only Terrier who has won a Beanpot, as BU has uncharacteristically fallen short of the trophy for the last three years. Boston College won in each of those three years.
One Terrier who could easily fill Oksanen in on Beanpot history is his classmate, Needham-born center Danny O’Regan. O’Regan’s father, Tom, was the tournament MVP for BU in 1982, and O’Regan said he has been going to Beanpot games since he was about eight years old.
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What about the seniors at BU? None of these students have ever won anything:
HE regular season – lost all 4 years
HE Tournment – lost all 4 years
Beanpot – lost all 4 years
NCAA – lost all four years
This senior class of students at BU could become the biggest losers ever.