Men’s Hockey: Terriers Reclaim Kelley-Harkness Cup

By Riley Lackey

The No. 19/20 Boston University men’s hockey team (7-7-1, 4-4-0 HE) edged No. 17/16 Cornell (6-3-0, 4-1-0 ECAC) 2-1 on Saturday night in the 10th edition of Red Hot Hockey at Madison Square Garden, reclaiming the Kelley-Harkness Cup for the first time since 2015.

Sophomore forward Kamil Bednarik and sophomore forward Cole Eiserman scored for BU, while sophomore goaltender Mikhail Yegorov turned away 28 shots in one of his sharpest performances of the season.

BU entered the weekend having split its home-and-home series with Northeastern, earning an overtime win after a previous loss. Sophomore defenseman Cole Hutson, who entered Red Hot Hockey with 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) to lead all NCAA defensemen, is a key figure for the Terriers. Ranked among the national leaders in shorthanded goals, BU looked to ride its speed and transition game while limiting Cornell’s structured zone attack.

The Big Red came out pressuring early, earning the first power play of the night when freshman forward John McNelis was whistled for slashing. Cornell generated a quick chance across the slot, but Yegorov slid post to post for a huge stop to keep the game scoreless, setting the tone for his night.

After the win, BU Head Coach Jay Pandolfo said he was impressed with how his young group met the moment, noting, “It was great to see… Cornell is a really good hockey team, a heavy team, tough to play against… I thought we had a really good third period and found a way to win the hockey game.”

The Terriers answered shortly after with a power play of their own, and they capitalized.

At 6:17, Bednarik redirected a low shot from Eiserman and junior defenseman Gavin McCarthy at the top of the crease to give BU a 1-0 lead—the goal developed from smooth puck movement and traffic in front, elements that the Terriers emphasized heading in.

The Big Red responded with sustained zone time and an 11-6 shots advantage, but Yegorov remained strong in net. He kicked away multiple point shots, knocked aside a tricky bouncing puck and controlled rebounds well despite heavy pressure. BU ended the period up 1-0, generating several quick-transition looks while Cornell kept firing from distance.

Cornell tightened defensively in the second, blocking Terrier shooting lanes and limiting clean entries. Yegorov continued to keep BU in the game, making two key left-pad saves midway through the period during a Big Red push.

The Terriers created a few chances, including a rush by Hutson that was cut off wide and a long-range look from the point, but much of the period was spent trying to break down Cornell’s pressure. With less than five minutes to go in the period, the Big Red broke through on a net-front play, and a goal from freshman forward Reegan Hiscock tied the game 1-1.

BU pushed back late, but the teams entered the final period tied, with Yegorov’s steadiness the reason the Terriers allowed only one goal.

After a quiet defensive opening stretch to the third, BU seized momentum at 5:24. Sophomore defenseman Charlie Trethewey collected a puck in the neutral zone and sent a clean feed to Eiserman. Eiserman cut into the offensive zone and snapped a five-hole finish for his seventh goal of the season, restoring the Terriers’ lead at 2-1.

After the game, Eiserman spoke about performing in big moments, saying, “I love these big games. Love the big lights… when you’re in these big games, the sticks get tight, and I kind of want to loosen my other guys’ sticks up for them.”

Cornell gained some energy after the goal, and BU committed late-period penalties that put the Terriers on their heels. In the final five minutes, BU was forced to kill off 3:38 of Big Red power-play time, including extended shifts pinned in its own end. The penalty kill held firm, blocking shots, winning board battles and clearing the zone when needed most.

Yegorov stood tall through every scramble, sealing the crease during Cornell’s final push with its goaltender pulled. The Terriers’ structure and composure in the final minutes secured the win in front of a packed crowd.

Post game, Pandolfo praised his sophomore goaltender directly: “I thought he was excellent tonight… You could just tell he was going to be on pucks. He was seeing it… in an environment like this, for him to have that type of performance, I think was great for him.”

It was a resilient, opportunistic win for BU. Yegorov’s steady play was the backbone of the night, especially during the Big Red’s late power-play push. Offensively, the Terriers made the most of their chances, as Bednarik’s tip and Eiserman’s third-period strike showed how dangerous BU can be even without heavy shot totals.

In the final minutes, the Terriers’ defensive structure and penalty kill held firm.

The Terriers will return home Dec. 5 to take on the University of Vermont at 7 p.m. The game will be available to stream on ESPN+.