Playing in the arena they hope to call home someday, Boston Bruins prospects James Hagens, Dean Letourneau and Jonathan Morello all scored in the semifinal round of the Beanpot at TD Garden on Monday.
Hagens, whom the Bruins selected seventh overall in the 2025 draft, had the most impressive day of the three. He notched two goals and assisted on Letourneau’s power-play goal in a 5-1 win over Harvard, continuing what has been a good second half of his sophomore season at Boston College.
“I'm sure they want to do well here,” BC coach Greg Brown said. “They've been playing well for a while now. But of course, when they come here -- hopefully to their future place of employment -- they want to put a good step forward and do well. We're excited that they were comfortable in their surroundings here and excited to make an impact.”
“Yeah, it was a really special moment to be out there, to hear the crowd,” Hagens said about playing at TD Garden. “It was great.”
Brown said after the game that this recent stretch is some of the best hockey he’s seen Hagens play:
“He's been getting points the whole season, but I agree -- he's more impactful of late,” Brown said. “Maybe his decisions are a little bit better or a little bit quicker.”
“Him continuing to be assertive all the time has really helped him. He was good, but now he’s taken it up a notch,” Brown added.
Hagens nearly had a hat trick, but Letourneau got a piece of a shot Hagens had on the power play.
For Letourneau, his goal and assist in the “Deanpot” semifinal are just the most recent points in what has been an extremely productive season for the sophomore, who produced no goals his freshman year.
Letourneau leads BC with 15 goals, which is tied for second in Hockey East. Both Hagens (29 points) and Letourneau (28 points) are top five in Hockey East in points.
Letourneau’s growth has been evident in his production, confidence and increased physical strength. Brown said Letourneau’s jump in development from last season to this season was among the biggest transformations he’s seen in college hockey.
But Letourneau and Hagens weren't the only Bruins prospects to chip in with points. In total, Bruins prospects accounted for four goals, five assists and nine points Monday. Bruins seventh-round pick Andre Gasseau had assists on both of Hagens' goals, and Bruins 2025 second-round pick Will Moore assisted on the Eagles' final goal of the game.
Hagens and Letourneau have been the main drivers of BC’s production this season and when they do it together, BC has had consistent success. There have been eight occasions this year in which both Letourneau and Hagens have scored in the same game and the Eagles have a perfect 8-0 record in those games.
In the second game between BU and Northeastern, Bruins fifth-round pick Jonathan Morello scored BU’s first goal in their 2-2 tie vs. Northeastern before the Terriers eventually won in a shootout.
BC will face off against BU in the Beanpot final next Monday.