BOSTON—Their best player was on the other side of the world. Their team is the third-youngest in the nation. Their teenage goaltender was making his third college start. 

To watch the thrice-defending champion Huskies dispatch Boston College 3-1 in the semifinal of the Beanpot at TD Garden on Monday was to realize that none of the potential excuses mattered. Northeastern looked as stubborn and confident as ever in its pursuit of a fourth consecutive title, following the cancellation of last year’s event due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The No. 16 Huskies (18-8-1) advance to the final at TD Garden next Monday against No. 20 Boston University (15-10-3), a 4-3 winner over Harvard in the early semifinal. The blistering Terriers, who have gone 9-1 since New Year’s Eve, are in the title match for the 32nd time in 39 years.

It’s a different story for Northeastern. Having won just four Beanpot tournaments before 2018, the Huskies have now earned the chance to double that total within a five-year span. 

In the absence of star goaltender Devon Levi—called to duty by Canada for the Olympics in Beijing—the Huskies put their faith in his freshman replacement, 19-year-old freshman TJ Semptimphelter, who three days earlier had earned his first Northeastern win, 5-4 over visiting Vermont, to break a three-game Huskies losing streak. 

For the final 34 minutes, Semptimphelter was charged with protecting a 2-0 lead as the Huskies were outshot 42-29 overall. The mission grew especially frantic after a BC breakaway enabled Patrick Giles to bring BC within 2-1 with more than 14 minutes remaining. 

Semptimphelter withstood 18 shots in the final period while allowing the one goal. Relief finally came with 14 seconds remaining, when a Justin Hryckowian power-play goal with 14 seconds remaining clinched Northeastern’s move to the final.

It was the first Beanpot rematch between the schools since Northeastern beat the Eagles in the 2019 final. BC, now winless in 10 games in 2022, was missing three Olympians, including top scorers Marc McLaughlin (playing for the U.S. team in Beijing) and Jack McBain (Canada) as well as defenseman Drew Helleson (U.S.).

Because of last year’s cancellation, Semptimphelter was among two classes of Huskies experiencing their first Beanpot. A release of pent-up energy showed them what it was all about before the puck had been dropped.

Students of the two schools were volleying insults at each other as the clock ticked down on their first Beanpot game in two years. The extended roaring of the Huskies supporters throughout the pregame introductions was inspiring to the marrow after so many silent nights in empty rinks over the past two years. 

“It was an unbelievable atmosphere at the start of the game,” said Northeastern’s Jerry Keefe, making his Beanpot debut as head coach after assisting Jim Madigan (now athletic director at Northeastern, and a new inductee to the Beanpot Hall of Fame) for the previous nine tournaments. “That gave our team a lot of life.”

The Huskies broke open the scoring in the ninth minute on a short Matt Demelis cross to Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, who lunged for and waved in the rebound of his point-blank shot before BC goalie Eric Dop could locate the puck.

Moments later, at the other end, Semptimphelter snuffed out a one-on-one attempt by BC’s Casey Carreau. In a span of seconds, the early nerves had been steadied.

The Eagles seemed intent on trying to intimidate the teenage goalie, but their efforts backfired when Aidan Hreschuk’s shot was saved and he responded by upending Semptimphelter and separating him from his helmet. Twenty-two seconds into the ensuing penalty, Sam Colangelo was first-timing a cross-ice pass from Aidan McDonough to put Northeastern up 2-0.

For the second half of the game, the focus switched to Semptimphelter, just 10 months after he committed to Northeastern. He arrived from the same area of southern New Jersey as Cayden Primeau, the fabled goalie who led the Huskies to their breakthrough Beanpots of 2018 and 2019, culminating with his award as tournament MVP. Semptimphelter and Primeau had trained together. Primeau, now with the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens, had helped sell him on Northeastern. 

With 41 saves, the most by a Northeastern goaltender for at least the past 10 Beanpots, the teenager picked up where the legend left off. 

“I feel really good now,” Semptimphelter said. “Coming in, I was just excited to have this unbelievable opportunity. I just wanted to make the most of this position I’m in. It was awesome to go out and experience it.”

For media inquiries, please contact media@northeastern.edu.