2011 Beanpot Tournament: Boston College Hoping To Buck History Tonight Against Boston University

In 1983, the athletic directors of Boston College, Boston University, New Hampshire, Northeastern and Providence broke away from the ECAC to form a new Division I hockey conference. Later adding Maine and UMass-Lowell, the new seven-team Hockey East Association began competition during the 1984-85 season. 

Over the next 27 seasons, Hockey East arch-rivals Boston College and Boston University would play anywhere from three to seven times during the season. During that span, BC and BU have faced each other in the regular season, Beanpot Tournament, Hockey East Quarterfinals, Hockey East Semis, Hockey East title game and even in the NCAA Tournament.

The two conference rivals have since played games at BC's McHugh Forum and Conte Forum, BU's Walter Brown Arena and Agganis Arena, not to mention the Boston Garden (and its many name incarnations ... Fleet Center / TD Banknorth Garden / TD Garden). DCU Center, Matthews Arena, Providence Civic Center and even Fenway Park.

Boston College enters tonight's Beanpot Tournament Semifinal against BU riding a four-game winning streak over the Terriers. Not once in those 27 seasons since BC and BU have joined Hockey East have the Eagles won five straight over their B-line rivals.

BC has won four straight over BU just three times previously. During the 2003-04 season, BC swept the regular season series with BU before winning the Beanpot 2-1 in overtime. In their fifth meeting of the 2003-04 season, BU rebounded to notch a 3-2 win in the Hockey East Quarterfinals at Conte Forum. BU advanced to the semifinals winning the third and decisive game 4-2.

During BC's National Championship 2000-01 season, BC strung together three wins over BU, including a 5-3 win in the Beanpot Championship Game. The following season, BC won the regular season opener before losing the next three straight, including a 5-3 loss in the Beanpot's opening round.

Way back in 1986-87, the Eagles won four straight during the regular season (two at Boston Garden at two at Walter Brown), before losing to the Terriers 6-3 in the Beanpot Semifinal.

Want more bad news? Since the 1984-85 season, BC is just 7-18 against the Terriers playing in the Garden, and 4-15 in Beanpot games in the Garden. That record includes a stretch from 1987-2000 when the Eagles went 0-9 against the Terriers in the Beanpot. 

Let's hope the Eagles can buck recent history and get their fifth straight win tonight against the Terriers.