Boston University 2015-16 thread part 2-move along! nothing to see here! all is well!

[Friend_of_BU_Hockey]

Re: Boston University 2015-16 thread part 2-move along! nothing to see here! all is w

There were thousands of empty seats at the Beanpot first round. Whole sections on the upper level that didn't have any bums on them for the third period of the first game or any of the second game.
Is the Beanpot still hot?
It is certainly not the hot ticket that it used to be.

The problem is that two of the four teams are almost an afterthought in the tournament.
Northeastern shows up every year with plenty of enthusiasm and some hope, and go home disappointed.
Harvard? Do they even show up? Do they even care? Ted Donato was coaching in his 12th Beanpot Tournament, and will be playing in their 11th consolation game next Monday.

Harvard hasn't won a Beanpot since 1993. Northeastern since 1988.
There is no player on the Huskies that was alive the last time they won. Maybe some seniors from Harvard?

The Beanpot is a two team tournament, and has been for 23 years.

In 64 years, there has NEVER been a Harvard vs. Northeastern final. And it could potentially happen two out of every three years of the tournament. But never? In 64 years?
Pathetic!

The Beanpot never gets old at BU. That is also probably true at BC, for the last decade anyway.

But for the Beanpot to be truly viable and vibrant, it needs Northeastern and Harvard to to be relevant. Which means, for the overall health of the tournament, that they win it.
That's not happening this year. Again!

Attendance was listed at 11,792. The Garden was quite empty for the nightcap. Even the BU sections in both levels weren't as filled as in many past years. It wasn't all that long ago when the 1st Monday would be a sellout at 17,565.

I had an extra ticket for last night and nobody expressed interest in it. Went to Beer Works pre-game and it was shockingly quiet.

It's becoming increasingly evident that the Beanpot isn't what it used to be for many casual fans, especially those without a strong rooting interest in one of the schools.

 

[Friend_of_BU_Hockey]

Re: Boston University 2015-16 thread part 2-move along! nothing to see here! all is w

Ticket prices, concession prices, parking prices, the Monday night thing, and the fact that only 2 of the 4 teams have won in the past 2+ decades all contribute to this.

I find the ticket prices to be approachable, but IMO the concession ($11.75 for beer like Sam, Goose Island or Harpoon), parking ($45 to park under the Garden) and Monday night thing (i.e. fans who have kids having to find child care, or leaving spouse/partner at home to watch the kids) might be even bigger factors.

FWIW I think the shot in the arm the Beanpot needs would be a NU win one of these years. They draw well and it'd be a huge deal for their fan base if this happened.

 

[Scarlet]

Re: Boston University 2015-16 thread part 2-move along! nothing to see here! all is w

A couple of tidbits from last night....

- I thought Robbie B played really well. He's been playing well the last few games. This is a good thing. Good to see him score last night.
- Same with Charlie McAvoy. I thought he had one of his better games last night. Or is it just me?
- Sean Maguire seemed very cool and collected. Was hoping he would continue his shutout streak.
- Northeastern's team came out on the ice before BU. BU was the home team. Weren't they supposed to wait? Isn't that the protocol, or does that not matter? Jerks.

OK, that was more than a couple. Here's two more....

- Does Quinn stay with Maguire this Friday out at UMass Amherst?
- How is the home team determined next Monday?

And just because....Matt O'Connor was there last night. Good to see him.

 

[Bomber]

Re: Boston University 2015-16 thread part 2-move along! nothing to see here! all is w

He did redshirt his junior year due to injury. He is eligible to return next year.
O'Connor was eligible to return this year, too.
We will see what Maguire will do.
BU has Oettinger coming in from US Jr Team, LaCouvee will be a junior. Prawdzik is the proverbial third string walk-on guy, with some potential.
If Maguire comes back, does LaCouvee?

He's listed as a Senior. Are we sure he's eligible to return? If so, he'd have to enroll in graduate school. I can only think of one player in the history of BU hockey who has done this. (Trivia question!)

BU Hockey: Masters in Hockey

 

[Tater]

Re: Boston University 2015-16 thread part 2-move along! nothing to see here! all is w

It wasn't all that long ago when the 1st Monday would be a sellout at 17,565.

My feeling, and I have no facts to back this up, is that the first Monday hasn't been 17,565 in a number of years. They are just being truthful about it now.

 

[Scarlet]

Re: Boston University 2015-16 thread part 2-move along! nothing to see here! all is w

He's listed as a Senior. Are we sure he's eligible to return? If so, he'd have to enroll in graduate school. I can only think of one player in the history of BU hockey who has done this. (Trivia question!)

BU Hockey: Masters in Hockey

Ryan Ruikka

 

[Bomber]

Re: Boston University 2015-16 thread part 2-move along! nothing to see here! all is w

And just because....Matt O'Connor was there last night. Good to see him.

Chris Drury threatened so show up last night as well. Any confirmed sightings?

 

[Tater]

Re: Boston University 2015-16 thread part 2-move along! nothing to see here! all is w

He's listed as a Senior. Are we sure he's eligible to return? If so, he'd have to enroll in graduate school. I can only think of one player in the history of BU hockey who has done this. (Trivia question!)

BU Hockey: Masters in Hockey

Yes. And Anthony Moccia. I'm sure there are a couple others.

 

[Bomber]

Re: Boston University 2015-16 thread part 2-move along! nothing to see here! all is w

Yes. And Anthony Moccia. I'm sure there are a couple others.

I meant contributors.

 

[Scarlet]

Re: Boston University 2015-16 thread part 2-move along! nothing to see here! all is w

Chris Drury threatened so show up last night as well. Any confirmed sightings?

Who did he threaten? And I didn't see him, but that doesn't mean he wasn't there. Wouldn't surprise me if he was.

 

[Bomber]

Re: Boston University 2015-16 thread part 2-move along! nothing to see here! all is w

Who did he threaten? And I didn't see him, but that doesn't mean he wasn't there. Wouldn't surprise me if he was.

On Bernie's podcast last week. It's a good listen. Check it out.

 

[mookie1995]

Re: Boston University 2015-16 thread part 2-move along! nothing to see here! all is w

maybe if they scheduled the beanpot at 4p on a saturday it would fill up!

 

[smyler3]

Re: Boston University 2015-16 thread part 2-move along! nothing to see here! all is w

I meant contributors.

Jaques Joubert

 

[smyler3]

Re: Boston University 2015-16 thread part 2-move along! nothing to see here! all is w

I wonder if they would consider mixing up the process for determining the first round matchups. You could do rematches of the previous year's second Monday. Or they could just straight up make it standing as BU-BC and H-NU so you're guaranteeing either Harvard or NU in the final.

 

[JerryP66]

Re: Boston University 2015-16 thread part 2-move along! nothing to see here! all is w

I find the ticket prices to be approachable, but IMO the concession ($11.75 for beer like Sam, Goose Island or Harpoon), parking ($45 to park under the Garden) and Monday night thing (i.e. fans who have kids having to find child care, or leaving spouse/partner at home to watch the kids) might be even bigger factors.

FWIW I think the shot in the arm the Beanpot needs would be a NU win one of these years. They draw well and it'd be a huge deal for their fan base if this happened.

All of these points are valid. I could not attend due to kids, but the crowd looked horrible last night. NU and Harvard have killed the beanpot. BU and BC is not the matchup that anybody wants anymore. I have non hockey friends who know I love the beanpot that every year tell me BU over NU, BC over Harvarf and then BC over BU and they are right. I try and say no Harvard is good this year and NU is tough and they can beat them but they never do. They were boasting this as being a even beanpot, yet it ended up BU BC. Pri ces at Garden are outrageous, you think for these college events they could drop the price a few bucks. But I heard that at Fenway this year for the HS football games hot chocolate was $11. Good tro see our pro sports teams here supporting the community, they welcome the communities with there hands out.

 

[Bomber]

Re: Boston University 2015-16 thread part 2-move along! nothing to see here! all is w

Jaques Joubert

Really? I knew he transferred from Princeton, but I thought he was a true Senior in '95 (not a grad student.) The more you know...

 

[Scarlet]

Re: Boston University 2015-16 thread part 2-move along! nothing to see here! all is w

Are you ever going to let us know the answer????

 

[Rogie21]

Re: Boston University 2015-16 thread part 2-move along! nothing to see here! all is w

He's listed as a Senior. Are we sure he's eligible to return? If so, he'd have to enroll in graduate school. I can only think of one player in the history of BU hockey who has done this. (Trivia question!)

I'd be very surprised if Maguire is back next season. If he continues his strong comeback year, Pittsburgh will want to sign him rather than lose him. Even while rehabbing last summer he attended another Penguins development camp, earning very good reviews and the guy who ran the camp, Mike Sullivan, is now the Penguins head coach. [Same guy who scored this Beanpot goal]

Oettinger is a highly regarded goalie for the 2017 draft and is ready to compete for starting time from day one. From USHL.com

Just as impressive has been the play of 2017 NHL Draft eligible goaltender Jake Oettinger. The Lakeville, MN native is chasing every Team USA USHL goaltending single season record including John Gibson’s 2010-11 USHL season record for save percentage (.926%), Thatcher Demko and Jack Campell’s GAA record (2.21) and Demko’s 2012-13 record for most wins (15). With seven games remaining Oettinger is 10-1-0-0 with a 2.16 GAA and .925 SV%.

 

[HHound]

Re: Boston University 2015-16 thread part 2-move along! nothing to see here! all is w

I wonder if they would consider mixing up the process for determining the first round matchups. You could do rematches of the previous year's second Monday. Or they could just straight up make it standing as BU-BC and H-NU so you're guaranteeing either Harvard or NU in the final.

NU-Harvard will be a first round game next based on the normal rotation. It's a solid be that one, but not both will be in the final game.

 

[defkit]

Re: Boston University 2015-16 thread part 2-move along! nothing to see here! all is w

Tweaking the format will not improve attendance, IMHO. Other than perhaps moving it to a weekend night.

The following would help:
- let the students sit in the lower bowl
- charge reasonable prices for concessions
- and yes, NU and Harvard have to step up and win one for crying out loud.

Holding a collegiate event at an NHL arena with NHL priced parking and concessions is a huge deterrent. In case people haven't noticed, median income just recently finally surpassed where it was AT THE END of the recession. The number of families that can afford to take a couple kids to this event is not what it used to be.