The first Monday in February is a very historic time for college hockey fans in Massachusetts and especially in Boston. This day is the start of the Beanpot Hockey Tournament in Boston at the TD Garden.

This tournament is a battle between the four Division 1 college hockey teams in Boston. These teams include Boston University Boston, Boston College, Harvard, and Northeastern. This year the tournament began on the February 3 instead of February 2, due to the severe snowstorm.

The 2015 Beanpot is the 63rd annual since it began on December 26, 1952 at the old Boston arena. The year after it was played at the Garden, and it has been played there ever since.

This year was been a very interesting year for the Beanpot since the semifinal round was pushed pack a day and the final round was pushed back two weeks.

The semifinals did not disappoint as Harvard and Boston University took a 3 to 3 game into double overtime until BU finished with a goal by Danny O’Regan. It was a very entertaining game that had a matchup between two brothers; junior Danny O’Regan on BU and senior Tommy O’Regan on Harvard.

The second game was between ranked Boston College and non-ranked Northeastern. This was also a very entertaining game that ended in an upset by Northeastern.

This meant that for the first time in 4 years there would be a new Beanpot winner, as BC had won the 4 previous years and they would not be in the championship game.

Two weeks later and it was time for the championship game that was set to be a thriller. BU has one of the top offenses in the nation, led by freshman phenom Jack Eichel, who is already projected to be one of the top two picks in the NHL draft this summer. Northeastern also has a top scorer in junior Kevin Roy. The game did not disappoint as it was a back and forth battle that seemed to be Boston University’s as they held a 3-1 lead until half way through the third period, when Northeastern struck with 2 goals quickly tying the game at 3.

This game needed over-time, but not much more time, as right off the opening faceoff Jack Eichel carried the puck in and tried to pass to Danny O’Regan in front of the net, but O’Regan was hooked and a penalty was called. BU went on the power play and only a minute into overtime junior Matt Grzelcyk buried a shot from the point, winning BU the Beanpot.

This win was Boston University’s 30th Beanpot win. Matt Grzelcyk, Harlestown, Massachusetts native, was named MVP and Harvard goalie Steve Michalek was given the Eberly Award for the best save percentage.