Beanpot Brings Bruins Future to the Forefront at TD Garden
BOSTON - The Beanpot has always been a proving ground for Boston’s best college hockey talent, but this year’s championship game between Boston College and Boston University offers something extra for Bruins fans - a glimpse into the franchise’s future.
When the puck drops Monday night at TD Garden for the 73rd annual Dunkin’ Men’s Beanpot Championship, as many as seven Bruins draft picks could take the ice, with six of them wearing the maroon and gold of Boston College. That’s not just a fun footnote - it’s a pipeline in motion, and it’s skating straight through Causeway Street.
BC Stocked with Bruins Talent
Let’s start with the names Bruins fans should start getting familiar with. Boston College’s roster is stacked with organizational prospects: James Hagens (7th overall, 2025), Will Moore (2nd round, 2025), Andre Gasseau (7th round, 2021), Dean Letourneau (1st round, 2024), Kristian Kostadinski (7th round, 2023), and Oskar Jellvik (5th round, 2021). That’s a lot of black and gold potential in one locker room.
And they’re not just riding the bench. In BC’s 5-1 semifinal win over Harvard, these future Bruins made their presence known.
Hagens led the charge with a three-point night - two goals and an assist - showing off the kind of offensive instincts that made him a top-10 pick. Letourneau, another first-rounder, chipped in a goal and an assist of his own.
Gasseau set up two goals, and Moore added another assist to the tally.
This wasn’t just a good night - it was a showcase.
Lines Loaded with Potential
Look at the lines, and the Bruins’ fingerprints are all over this BC team. Letourneau centered the top line, Gasseau held down the middle of the second unit with Hagens flanking him on the left wing, and Moore anchored the third line.
Kostadinski was part of the second defensive pairing. Jellvik was sidelined with an injury, but he’s another name to keep an eye on moving forward.
That kind of lineup continuity gives Bruins fans a rare opportunity: watching potential future linemates develop chemistry years before they ever hit the NHL ice. It’s a front-row seat to the development process - and it’s happening right in the Bruins’ backyard.
The Beanpot Factor
For the players, the Beanpot isn’t just another game. It’s a rite of passage. It’s a tournament that means something in Boston, and the guys wearing BC and BU sweaters know it.
“It’s such a fun tournament,” said Eagles head coach Greg Brown. “The local kids, they grow up with it.
But even the guys from outside the area - once they’re here, they get it. The faculty, the people around Conte Forum - they’re all saying good luck in the Beanpot.
You feel the weight of it.”
That sentiment echoed in the words of Hagens, who’s quickly becoming a fan favorite for both BC and Bruins supporters.
“It was a really special moment to be out there,” Hagens said of his first Beanpot game. “To hear the crowd, it was great.
It’s one of the biggest reasons I wanted to come here - the history of the Beanpot. Being able to step on that ice and be part of it, it’s really special.
Just grateful to be here and be in it.”
Hagens Heating Up
If Hagens’ performance in the semifinals wasn’t enough, he’s been on a tear lately. The freshman enters the championship with six points in his last three games. Even in BC’s recent 6-1 loss to Vermont, he was the lone bright spot, scoring the Eagles’ only goal.
Through 23 games this season, Hagens leads the team with 29 points (15 goals, 14 assists). Letourneau isn’t far behind at 27 points (15 goals, 12 assists). Those are impressive numbers for any college players - but especially for two guys already in the Bruins’ system.
Looking Ahead
Monday night’s Beanpot final isn’t just about bragging rights between BU and BC - though there’s plenty of that on the line. It’s also a spotlight moment for the Bruins’ next generation. With so many prospects already playing key roles on a big stage, the organization has to like what it’s seeing.
The Beanpot has long been a Boston tradition. This year, it’s doubling as a sneak preview of what could be coming soon to TD Garden - not in maroon and gold, but in black and gold.