Boston College just turned the 2026 Beanpot on its head. The Eagles rolled through Harvard in the first semifinal at TD Garden, and they did it with force. James Hagens walked in and took over. The Garden felt it. Harvard felt it. Everyone left in this tournament took notice.
BC sends a message
From the opening faceoff, BC played fast and brave. The Eagles chased pucks, finished checks, and got on top of Harvard’s defense. Their gaps were tight. Their breakouts were clean. They owned the middle of the ice. It was a clinic in five on five control.
Harvard had moments, but few second chances. BC’s forwards sealed the walls and swung the puck with pace. Their defense played downhill. The goaltending was steady and calm, which let the skaters stay aggressive. Harvard tried to stretch the zone late, yet BC closed every window.
This was not flash without substance. The Eagles layered their attack, line after line. They won races. They won net-front battles. They made it look simple, which is the mark of a team that knows exactly who it is. The building buzzed with that old Beanpot edge, and BC fed off it.
The Hagens effect
James Hagens put his stamp on this rivalry night. He carried the puck with swagger and purpose. He cut back hard, drew coverage, then slipped passes into space. He attacked the slot and did not flinch under pressure. You could feel the crowd rise when the puck found him.
He scored, he created, and he led. His edges are elite. His vision is a step ahead. Teammates read off him and jumped into lanes. Harvard tried to hit him early, but he bounced right back and pushed the pace. NHL eyes in the building had plenty to file away.
Hagens looked like the best player on the ice. That changes the tone of a tournament.
BC needed their star to be a star. He answered. He also backchecked, blocked, and stayed on the right side of the puck. That detail matters in February. It is why the Eagles now sit one win from the trophy.
BU vs Northeastern sets the stage
Now the spotlight shifts to the nightcap. BU and Northeastern are minutes from deciding who meets BC in the final. It is a classic Boston split. BU brings layers of skill and speed, with a top six that can break games open. Northeastern brings structure, patience, and a counter punch that punishes mistakes. The Dog House will be loud. The Terriers travel well. TD Garden will feel like a playoff rink.
If you want three keys before warmups, start here:
- Discipline, both teams must stay out of the box against lethal power plays
- Net-front, the team that wins tips and rebounds will own the night
- Breakouts under pressure, first passes need to be clean and quick
- Faceoffs, small edges turn into zone time and shot volume
BU thrives when their feet are moving and the puck is on sticks early. Northeastern thrives when the game slows and they punch back off turnovers. Goaltending will be the heartbeat in this one. One big save can flip the whole bracket.
The Beanpot is Boston hockey’s family reunion, with bragging rights that last a full year.
What this means in Boston and beyond
BC did more than win a semifinal. They reset the pecking order in the room. This is a group that wants the Garden, and they played like it. The win boosts their resume and sends a message for March. It also puts pressure on BU and Northeastern to match that level.
The Beanpot still feeds the pro pipeline. It is a live showcase, with players handling big crowds and big moments in a famous building. BC and BU have long argued over who shapes more NHL talent. Nights like this keep that debate alive. Scouts want to see who drives play when the noise is real and the shifts are short. Hagens did that tonight. Others will get their shot in the late game.
Culturally, the Beanpot is Boston at its best. Students sing. Alumni chirp. Families share stories from the upper bowl. Old heroes walk the halls. New ones skate into focus. It is rivalry wrapped in tradition, and it still makes young players into names the city will remember.
The next 60 minutes
BC will sit back, refuel, and watch the late game with interest. They are faster when they play on their toes, and they found that gear tonight. Whoever comes out of BU and Northeastern will need to be ready for a track meet and a street fight at the same time.
We are on the ice at TD Garden and staying there as the drama builds. The Eagles are in the final. The other spot gets decided next. It already feels like a championship week in Boston. Buckle up, Beanpot lovers 🏒.
