For the second time in just as many years Northeastern men’s hockey Team IMPACT teammate Simon hoisted the elusive Beanpot trophy on Monday night. Joined by his fellow Huskies, Simon celebrated on the ice after the championship game. Earlier in the evening, Simon got many of the nearly 20,000 attendees on their feet as he cheered ‘GOOOOO HUSKIES’ into the microphone. Back to back Beanpots are something to be proud of, but the relationship between the student-athletes, Simon and his family beat any trophy.
His mom Maria reflected on these last few weeks. “My mantra’s always been to celebrate life; these last few weeks of Beanpot fun, from ping pong to the Championship game, have been like a holiday. I get to prepare and think about my heart and spirit. Seeing Simon embraced by the team, students, and friends is a new way of celebrating. We’ve been given this incredible light, and it’ll shine forever.”
“We are so grateful for this experience,” said Simon’s mom Maria after the game. “It’s hard to put into words – you guys have changed our lives.”
Simon wasn’t the only Team IMPACT teammate to cheer on his team during the Beanpot tournament. During both the first round and consolation and championship games, Boston College, Boston University and Harvard University brought Josh, Logan and Parker along for the historic tournament.
Says Parker’s mom Michelle about these famous two weeks of college hockey, “As part of Team IMPACT, the Beanpot weeks create some of our most lasting memories as a family. Watching the team you’ve built a relationship with compete in the Garden is an exhilarating and meaningful experience. Parker feels grateful and fortunate to have shared these Beanpot weeks with his Harvard teammates. From shouting the starting line up in the locker room to watching warm ups from the Bruins bench, it is an experience he will never forget.”
All four Team IMPACT teammates were first together at last year’s Beanpot tournament and over the course of this year, have seen each other at Team IMPACT events and games. During the recent Comm Ave meetups between BC and BU, Josh and Logan provided a moment of connectivity for the two teams battling on the ice. The four were happy to see each other again on Monday night – Simon and Logan came early to help Josh and Parker support their teams, and Parker and Josh stayed for the championship game. While a bit bummed BC didn’t make it three in a row against BU, BC’s Team IMPACT teammate Josh said after the the tournament: “It was a fun and a good experience to be with the BC team. I liked watching Will Smith score goals and looking at his stats. It was nice to see the other TI kids.”
In addition to keeping their Team IMPACT teammates part of the tournament, all teams brought more awareness to the organization by sporting stickers on their helmets.
Noted Team IMPACT’s Northeast Executive Director Ryan Irwin, “The Beanpot is the premier collegiate sporting event in the Northeast, so to be so fully integrated into the event is an incredible honor and privilege. Thank you to our partners at TD Garden, BC, BU, Harvard and Northeastern for their dedication and passion for providing the children and families in our program this unforgettable experience. It’s a night we always look forward to and it just keeps getting better. Congrats to Simon and the Huskies for taking home the Beanpot once again!”
Thank you to our friends at TD Garden for making sure Josh, Logan, Parker and Simon get the same experience at the Beanpot as they do at their home arenas. They are a terrific partner to us at Team IMPACT and their support helps us get more kids in the game.