Another Step Toward Sports Equality: Womens Beanpot Title Game To Be Held At TD Garden In 2024

student sports

Andrew Mahoney, The Boston Globe

March 21, 2023 |: 9:40 am

Gabby Roy speaks for many college hockey fans when she says the Beanpot Tournament is "my favorite time of the year."

The Boston College junior knew the tournament well, growing up in Marshfield and relishing the opportunity to play for the women's hockey team for the past two years. But he never imagined he and his teammates, along with Boston, Harvard and Northeastern, would have a chance to play for a title at TD Garden.

That is, until this week.

TD Garden announced Tuesday that it will host the 2024 Beanpot Women's Championship Round, with the draft and championship games taking place on Tuesday, Jan. 23. In the past, women's beanies were held at the campus ice rink.

"Honestly, I thought it was a man thing, so I think it's a great opportunity not just for BC, but for all four programs to showcase their talent on a big stage like this," he said.

The idea has been discussed for years and has gained momentum. TD Garden President Amy Latimer believes this could have happened sooner had events not been canceled due to the pandemic. Besides the Bruins and Celtics being at home, the shows had to be rescheduled, not to mention four schools to work with to get the date right.

But the timing is right for next year, which will celebrate the 45th Women's Bean Festival. The announcement coincides with the Bruins celebrating Women in Sports Night during Tuesday's game against the Ottawa Senators. The 2023 defending Northeast champions will be honored and players from each team will meet fans and take photos with the beans indoors during the first and second intermissions.

"We are thankful and grateful to TD Garden and the administrators for making this opportunity possible for our student-athletes," Northeastern coach Dave Flint said. "This is a huge step in the development and visibility of women's hockey."

Latimer hopes to provide the same experience at the women's tournament as the fans and athletes at the men's tournament.

"We wanted to give young girls playing hockey in New England a platform to see this great event," Latimer said. "We believe in 'they see it, they can be it.'

“For female athletes, we want them to have the same experience as male athletes. They can walk into the building with championship banners hanging from the trophies and play on the same ice as the Bruins."

For this, the event will have a title sponsor for the first time. In 2023, Dunkin became the first sponsor of the men's tournament, and in 2024 this agreement will be extended to the women's tournament. Both games will be televised on NESN.

In the past, four schools hosted the tournament, which took place on the first two Tuesdays of February. Harvard would host in 2024 and the first round is still believed to be held at the Bright-Landry Hockey Center, possibly on January 16.

An early appointment can be an advantage. In most years, the men's and women's tournaments alternate. Hosting two events in a row at the start of the week may seem like a lot, but it won't happen next year.

Ticket information and further details will be announced in the autumn. Latimer hopes to reach out to youth organizations to encourage parents to participate in the games with their children.

Roy believes the teams will have plenty of support from friends and family.

"If there's a chance people need to go to the park, they'll go, especially if they know someone's playing," Roy said. “I think a lot of local kids are going to be able to bring people together, so I think it's going to be really fun. I also think it is very nice to watch your friend playing in the park.

Perhaps more than anything, Latimer is looking forward to the postgame celebration, when the winning team will raise the Women's Beanpot Championship banner to the Paratroopers and step onto the ice at TD Garden with the trophy for the first time.

"I think there will be a particular focus on who will win next year. "These coaches and players will want to be first," Latimer said. "I don't think there will be a dry eye in this place."