BU maintains its grip on title

By Bob Duffy, Globe Staff, 2/15/2000

his Terrier Tournament - all right, it's still technically the Beanpot, but isn't it about time to acknowledge that a trend is turning into an eternity? - ended the way they all seem to: With Boston University hoisting the coveted silver chalice.

For a record sixth year in a row, and the 15th time in Jack Parker's 27-year reign as coach, the Terriers captured Boston's internecine college hockey festival, victimizing Boston College, 4-1, last night before 17,278 fans at the FleetCenter.

From its humble beginnings at Boston Arena through its raucous heyday at Boston Garden to its antiseptic ambience in the Fleet, the Beanpot has had a common denominator: BU.

Last night's championship marked the Terriers' 23d in the 48-year history of the event - almost half the available titles. And that's one large hill of beans.

''It's not something we mention at the start of the season,'' said Parker, trying to explain the inexplicable. ''It's always a goal of ours, but we don't circle it on the calendar. In fact, we try not to mention it until after the game the Friday before the first round because the players tend to focus on it.''

Of course, that's also the focus of BC, Northeastern, and Harvard, as Eagles coach Jerry York ruefully acknowledged.

''It's up to [the other three schools] to beat them on these first two Mondays in February,'' said York. ''They're not going to give it to us, that's for sure.''

Indeed, the Terriers have come to regard this local get-together as their birthright, even if they don't articulate it as such. It's evident in their unyielding play.

Last night, for the most recent example, BC seemed to have the edge in the first period, outshooting BU, 11-5 - and having nothing to show for it.

''Our goalie kept us in it,'' said captain Tommi Degerman, who with Chris Heron forms the latest BU senior class to go 4 for 4 in the Beanpot.

The goalie was also the tournament's MVP. Freshman Rick DiPietro set Beanpot records for goals-against average (0.50) and save percentage with his performances last night and in last week's 4-0 first-round dispatch of Harvard. But most important, he kept the Terriers alive in a St. Sebastian's scrimmage with his fellow rookie - and former high school classmate - BC goalie Tim Kelleher.

Kelleher got the start even though junior Scott Clemmensen had posted three straight shutouts, including a 6-0 opening-round win over NU.

''Timmy made the choice fairly easy for me,'' said York. ''He leads Hockey East, which I consider the best conference in the country, in goals-against average and save percentage. Scott's been hot with the three shutouts, but Timmy's been on fire all year.''

This time he was a casualty of a second-period conflagration. BU spotted the Eagles the first lead on senior Blake Bellefeuille's first career Beanpot goal at 3:42. But 24 seconds later, Heron drew the Terriers even when he cashed in his own rebound over the supine Kelleher, who had lost his stick making the initial save.

''It was huge getting that goal right after they did,'' said Parker.

At 7:11, Degerman put the Terriers ahead for good when he finished off a tic-tac-toe play from Chris Dyment and Heron, the puck barely crossing the line and the tally being upheld after video review.

But the real crusher came with just 17 seconds left in the second when Nick Gillis tipped home a drive from the left point by Freddy Meyer.

''To tell you the truth, I think I tipped it with my elbow,'' said Gillis.

It gave BU some elbow room as the Eagles pressed DiPietro for much of the third period before Chris Corazzini put the lid on this pot at 17:29.

Then it was all over but the by-now-traditional celebrating - save for a needless brawl with 2:24 left that cost each team two players (Jeff Farkas and Brooks Orpik of BC, Keith Emery and Pat Auferio of BU) for its next outing because of game disqualifications.

The feisty DiPietro was at the center of that scrum, just as he was the centerpiece of the triumph.

''I've experienced for the first time what the BU experience is all about,'' he said.

It's partially about winning the Beanpot. And whether by osmosis or not, that's become a given for the Terriers.

This story ran on page F01 of the Boston Globe on 2/15/2000.
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