Huskies Hustle Harvard

(Photo: Alan Sullivan)

In a sadly under-attended match between the Northeastern University Huskies and Harvard University Crimson in the 64th Beanpot’s consolation game, the Huskies came out fast and furious in the first and despite some push back by Harvard in the second, much of the game was all Huskies all the time. It was also a relatively penalty free game with just five penalties called (three on Northeastern and two on Harvard).

As the horn sounded the end of the first period, Northeastern had scored three goals off the sticks of Mike McMurtry, Adam Gaudette and Dylan Sikura. Gaudette would have a three-point night (two goals and assist). McMurtry would have a two-point game (goal and assist), as would John Stevens (two assists) and Nolan Stevens (two assists). With his assist on McMurtry’s first period goal, Huskies captain Kevin Roy reached the top-25 of all-time Beanpot scoring with 12 points (seven goals, five assists). He is the first player since Boston College’s Steven Whitney to reach the top-25.

The second period would see Harvard’s lone goal, scored by Boston Bruins drafted Ryan Donato, who had six shots on goal in the game—the most of all the Crimson, as well as all of the Huskies. Unfortunately for Donato though, freshman goaltender Ryan Ruck stood firm in between the pipes for the Huskies.

Undoubtedly there was some strong talk by Coach Jim Madigan to the Huskies during the second intermission because they had sort of backed off during that middle frame. Coming into the third, they had to kill the remainder of Garret Cockerill’s holding penalty and it appeared from that point they just never looked back. Zach Aston-Reese put the Huskies up 4-1 just 6:15 into the final frame. Gaudette got his second goal of the game on the power play just four minutes later for a 5-1 score.

It was clear that Northeastern had a little extra jump in their skates from the first puck drop. Perhaps it was a result of their disappointment in not coming out as strong during the semi-finals.

While Harvard’s head coach, Ted Donato commented to the lack of push from his team, he was quick to point out how clear it was that Northeastern wanted to win this game.

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