‘It’s the Beanpot and anything can happen.’ After 2022 upset, Northeastern women chase championship In the days to come, he was surprised to be recognized by strangers on campus. Though Turner has trouble remembering the play itself-it happened so fast that he has had to recreate the goal by watching replays-he recalls the ice filling with exuberant teammates, coaches, students and fans. “We didn’t do all the stuff they do today-although I thoroughly enjoy the way they celebrate today.”Įveryone else took care of that for him. “I raised my hands, that kind of thing,” Turner says. It was a wristed forehand and as it thumped high into the net Turner skated by as if he’d been there before. And having played in so many big games in Canada, he knew what to do as he moved in alone toward the BC goalie. While sprawling on the ice, teammate Dale Ferdinandi forwarded a pass ahead to Turner. Win they did, just 2 minutes 47 seconds into the extra period. “And the fans wanted to see the underdog finally win.” “It was a little bit of a new feeling for Northeastern,” Turner says. The score was tied, 4-4, when the title game went into overtime. It could have gone either way at any time.” If we’re just hanging on and they have 60 shots and we have 20, that’s a different story. “We were playing a pretty even match and that makes a difference. “In those games, the closer you get to the end and everybody’s still in it, that can pick you up a lot if you have a real bona fide chance,” Turner says. But the Huskies were up to the challenge. The pressure to take advantage of their rare opportunity might have been too much for some teams. You have to take what you’re given and make the best of it.” And then it’s about how you react to the situation you’re in. “You’re dealt the cards you’re dealt sometimes. “I do recall that a lot of people were behind us,” Turner says. Northeastern played for the championship a week later with the underdog support of everyone but the fans of Boston College, which was favored to win its 10th title. “We didn’t have the top talent that they have today.”Ĭarrying a 3-11 record into the 1980 Beanpot semifinals, the Huskies upset Boston University, 6-5, thanks to a pair of goals from Turner, who forced overtime with three minutes left in regulation. “Northeastern didn’t have very strong teams in those days,” says Turner, who was the lone Black hockey player in the Huskies’ conference, the ECAC. Northeastern and Harvard have never met in a Beanpot men’s final. Turner knew nothing of the Beanpot until he arrived. He had grown up playing for winning teams in Canada, including a Junior A national champion that was coached by Doug Messier-father of NHL legend Mark Messier-who facilitated his recruitment by Northeastern. Turner was a forward from rural Kittimat, a small town in northern British Columbia. “They lost four players to early signings to the NHL, including Chris Nilan and Jimmy Walsh,” Madigan says. Not only had the Huskies never won the tournament, but they were in the midst of a woeful 7-20 season under longtime coach Fernie Flaman, who hadn’t enjoyed a winning year since 1974-75. It was February 1980 and Northeastern was the ultimate underdog entering the 28th Beanpot at Boston Garden. “It changed the course of Northeastern hockey and Northeastern athletics,” athletic director Jim Madigan says. Wayne “Beanpot” Turner, as he is known today. The Huskies’ recent domination of men’s hockey in Boston can be traced back to a single dramatic goal scored 43 years ago by senior captain Wayne Turner. Northeastern will be seeking its fourth championship in a span of five Beanpot tournaments Monday night at TD Garden.
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