It was all TJ Semptimphelter all the time in last Monday’s Beanpot semifinal win over Boston College. Northeastern’s acrobatic freshman goalie, who had started only two games prior to the BC contest, was nearly unstoppable, halting all but one of the 42 shots that came his way.

One of his best saves of the night—and one that triggered thunderous applause and cheers from the DogHouse—came when he went post-to-post to rob BC’s Brandon Kruse of a sure goal. Semptimphelter’s near-flawless performance earned him admiration from BC’s coach: “Their goalie played really, really well,” Jerry York said after the game.

Can #33 replicate the magic in Monday evening’s Beanpot finals clash against Boston University? He showed he was up to the task in Friday evening’s 4-2 win over UMass Lowell.  Semptimphelter halted 25 of 27 shots to up his record on the year to 3-1-0.

“There’s no doubt he’s confident,” Huskies head coach Jerry Keefe says in a Sunday afternoon press briefing. “He’s got some experience now playing against really good teams.”

It didn’t take Harvard University long to figure out just how good BU is. The Terriers got things going early and never looked back in the other semifinal at TD Garden. They raced out to a 2-1 lead after the first period, then scored twice in the second period to stamp a ticket to their 32nd finals appearance in 39 years. BU never trailed the Crimson.

Northeastern (19-8-1) didn’t want for offense of its own when it cruised to a 3-1 win over the Eagles. The Huskies broke open the scoring early with a short Matt Demelis cross to Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, who lunged for and waved in the rebound of his point-blank shot before BC’s goalie could locate the puck.

Of course, the Terriers (16-10-3) have a steady netminder of their own in Vinny Duplessis. The sophomore from Quebec stopped 22 shots in his first Beanpot game. “It’s the biggest crowd he’s ever played in front of,” Terriers head coach Albie O’Connell says.

Duplessis’s college debut as a freshman raised eyebrows when he halted 40 shots in a 3-1 win over then-No. 1 Boston College last February.

The Terriers started this season 6-9-3. Since the second half, though, they have gone on a tear to become one of the hottest teams in college hockey. “They’re healthy now,” says Keefe. “They were banged up earlier in the year.”

If earlier season matchups between Northeastern and BU are an indication, Monday’s Beanpot final could be a nail-biter. The home-and-home series in November went into overtime on both occasions, with the Huskies prevailing 1-0 in the first meeting and tying 2-2 in the second. 

But those games were with their star players. Both teams will be missing at least one valuable member due to the Olympics in Beijing.

One thing is for certain about the final: it is going to be loud.

Junior Huskies forward Aidan McDonough says the decibel level in the BC game made it feel like they were playing for the championship.

“Momentum is a huge part of the Beanpot,” #25 says. The crowd “can really help you as an advantage.”

At stake are bragging rights to Boston’s premier college hockey tournament, which returned this year after being canceled for the first time in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. BU has won a record 30 Beanpot titles, the most recent coming in 2015. The Terriers were beaten by Northeastern in double overtime in the last championship game in 2020.

If the Huskies prevail, they will become the fourth team to win at least four consecutive Beanpots. Boston University has done it twice, from 1970-73 and then 1995-2000. The most recent four-peat came from Northeastern’s first-round opponent, Boston College, from 2010-14.

The men’s championship will be preceded by the consolation game between Harvard and Boston College.

In the women’s consolation game, senior forward Maureen Murphy’s hat trick led Northeastern to a 3-0 win over Boston University on Tuesday at Matthews Arena. In the title game, Harvard edged out Boston College 5-4 to capture the 2022 women’s Beanpot. It marked the 14th time Harvard has won the Beanpot and first time since 2015.

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