The Bruins and their fans could get used to this.
Several high-level Bruins prospects showed out in the first semifinal of the 73rd Annual Beanpot at TD Garden on Monday night, helping No. 11 Boston College (15-8-1) topple Harvard, 5-1, to get back to the championship game for a second straight year.
Perhaps no outing was bigger than those of Boston’s two most recent first-round selections, as 2025 seventh-overall pick James Hagens (two goals, assist) and 2024 25th-overall pick Dean Letourneau (goal, assist) combined to anchor an early offensive eruption. Paired with Boston’s 2021 seventh-round selection Andre Gasseau’s two assists to help him surpass 100 career points, fans saw a glimpse at the possible future in the Bruins’ home arena.
Andre Gasseau, James Hagens and Lukas Gustafsson of the Boston College Eagles celebrate their fourth goal against Harvard during the second period of the men’s Beanpot semifinals at TD Garden. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
The Eagles certainly the win as they are looking to start former coach Jerry York’s famously-coined “trophy season” with their first Beanpot championship since 2016. BC lost last year’s final 4-1 to Boston University in Hagens and Letourneau’s first Beanpot.
Still, it was nice for BC head coach Greg Brown to see Hagens, Letourneau and Gasseau flourish in the building.
“I’m sure they want to do well here,” Brown said. “They’ve been playing well for a while now, but of course, when they come here … they want to put a good step forward and do well. We’re excited that they were comfortable in their surroundings and excited to make an impact. You don’t know how kids are going to try too hard sometimes, but our guys didn’t. They stayed right in the moment.”
After skating with the Bruins at Warrior Ice Arena in the preseason, Hagens decided to return to school feeling that there was unfinished business with BC. That includes taking the Beanpot, and the win continues a turnaround from a 2-4-1 start with a fourth straight victory.
“It’s a huge part of that (unfinished business),” Hagens said. “It’s one of the reasons why I wanted to go to school here, just the rich history of the Beanpot. Being able to step on that ice and be a part of it is really special and I’m grateful to be here.”
Hagens made his mark very early, scoring twice in a runaway opening period that gave the Eagles a 3-0 lead despite freshman goalie Louka Cloutier (a Colorado Avalanche 2024 fifth-round pick) needing to rack up 18 of his 30 saves.
“Thought the way the game started, they put as much pressure on us in that first period (as) anybody,” Brown said. “(They) gave us, especially in the first, a lot of fits and had some good chances. We were fortunate, that was definitely not a 3-0 period.”
Hagens’ first was a rebound goal in front off of freshman Oscar Hemming’s initial shot, giving BC a 2-0 lead with 6:49 left in the frame. Just 2:10 later, Hagens passed to Hemming on his left on a 2-on-2 rush, Hemming got around the edge, and slid a pass across the front to Hagens at the backdoor for a 3-0 advantage.
“It was a great play,” Hagens said of the second goal. “Gasseau, he started it there and to be able to go out there with Oscar, you know, to see the things he’s done, to see how he’s playing, he made a great move. And then just put it on my tape there. So, I was just lucky to be there.”
Ryan Healey of the Harvard Crimson dives for the puck in front of Andre Gasseau of the Boston College Eagles during the first period of the men’s Beanpot semifinals at TD Garden. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Hagens certainly took in the experience of scoring twice at TD Garden.
“It was a really special moment,” he said. “To be out there, to hear the crowd, it was great. But, yeah, to be able to get that win, Harvard’s a very great team, and it was a really tough game.”
Hull native Ryan Healey, a Minnesota Wild 2022 fourth-round pick, got a goal back for Harvard in the first minute of the second period to flip momentum, finishing off a three-shot flurry that the Eagles couldn’t clear out. Energy continued to build for the Crimson despite a furious charge as BC’s attack produced throughout the second. Harvard goalie Ben Charette (38 saves) stood on his head with a 20-save frame.
Yet, BC again found the back of the net with under 30 seconds left in the second on a power play, tipped home by Letourneau for the 4-1 lead. Hagens had the primary assist with a one-timer from the point.
Play was mostly scoreless throughout a fast third period, but Lukas Gustafsson’s (goal, assist) tally with 1:05 left sealed the scoring. Luka Radivojevic and 2025 Bruins second-round pick Will Moore assisted it.
“They definitely had the momentum there,” Brown said. “But I just think the guys stayed positive and said, ‘Let’s get to our hockey.’ The older guys especially recognized that we could still play better.”
Other notable performances came from NHL prospects came throughout.
Eagles junior Drew Fortescue (2023 New York Rangers third-round selection) had the game’s opening tally, giving BC a 1-0 lead less than four minutes in. Cloutier had eight saves in the third period, and Aran Minnetian (2023 Dallas Stars fourth-round pick) had an assist in the win.
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