MONTREAL — There was a lot of talk about unity at NHL 4 Nations Face-Off media day as rivals came together for the good of team and country.
It was mostly universal. It’s the middle of February. And while it Bruins and Panthers might be expected to put aside their history for the common good, there are no ceasefires during Beanpot week.
And with several Boston College and Boston University players joining forces on Team USA a little betting and a lot of playful chirping was inevitable.
During the team dinner that included American hockey legends Mike Eruzione, Rob McClanahan and Mike Modano, players were constantly checking their phones for score updates or in some cases streaming the game. That might have seemed disrespectful, except Eruzione, who is currently an ambassador for Boston University was fully invested too.
“There was a lot of going back and forth last night during the Beanpot,” said Jack Eichel, who remains loyal to his end of Commonwealth Avenue despite playing just one season in scarlet and white.
“I made some good money last night. My pockets are a little heavy this morning,” Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy said smirking. “I’d like to thank the BC guys. Shout out to BU on great win.”
Depending on whether or not he exchanged his currency, Jake Oettinger also had a few more dollars, or perhaps looneys in his pocket.
“I did too. Kreids is hurting on cash today. Maybe we’ll start a Go Fund Me or something,” Oettinger said. “Our whole coaching staff is BU and we had Mike Eruzione there. It doesn’t get much more BU than that.”
Kreids of course is Chris Kreider, a Boston College product, who had to reach into his wallet to settle some undisclosed wagers.
“Guys were streaming it. When BC went up 1-0, Kreids got pretty cocky,” Oettinger said. “Unfortunately, I never won a Beanpot. But I won a Hockey East championship. When you win something there, that was one of the funnest nights of my life. I’m sure those guys had a great night. I’m just happy for them.”
Kreider was already gone from his media session by the time the Terriers started barking, leaving BC-product Noah Hanafin as the face of Eagle disappointment.
“I was taking a lot of heat. We have too many BU guys. We have a few BC guys,” said Hanafin, who said the game was a fun bonding point for the team even though his team left disappointed.
“It was fun talking it with the guys. We were keeping track of it and following the score,” he said.
And being a BC alum was still better than having played at Harvard.
“Adam Fox had his tail between his legs after that 7-1 beatdown,” Oettinger said. The Terriers trounced the Crimson by that score in the semifinals.
A year from now a lot of these same guys could be on Team USA and watching the Beanpot in Italy and trash talking each other at the Olympics.
Oettinger was happy to just live in the present and said:
“We’ve got the upper hand for a year now.”
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