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At Northeastern, fans rejoice over first Beanpot win in 30 years

Northeastern Adam Gaudette celebrated his goal with teammate Nolan Stevens.Matthew J. Lee/Globe staff

In 1988, the last time Northeastern University won the Beanpot hockey tournament, Brent Arvidson was a first-year student, cheering on Northeastern from the stands. He didn’t expect it would take 30 years for his team to win it again.

“We thought ‘Oh, this is great, we’re going to be dominant,’ ” said Arvidson, who graduated in 1992. “And it took 30 years. But I am so happy right now.”

On Monday night, the Northeastern Huskies ended their Beanpot drought, beating the Boston University Terriers 5-2. Outside TD Garden, jubilant fans celebrated the long-awaited victory.

“I think the university deserves it,” said Arvidson’s friend, Kareem Ghobrial, a 2010 Northeastern graduate. “They’ve worked hard for it, the program’s grown considerably, and it’s definitely deserved for the students and the fans.”

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Ken Anderson was at the Garden in 1988 and again Monday night.

“The most exciting part about it is not having to watch the grainy black and white reruns of the last time we won it,” said Anderson, who traveled from Hollis, N.H., for the game. “I think it just shows how far this school has come.”

Paul Carey, of Stoneham, came to his first Beanpot game in 1961 as an 11-year-old Cub Scout.

A decade later, Carey and his twin brother were Northeastern students, and his brother walked onto the hockey team and played goalie. Carey would go to his brother’s games to support the team, at least some of the time.

“I was one of those guys who would only come for the first round because that’s when Northeastern was still alive.”

On Monday, Northeastern had its moment.

“The crowd was on Northeastern’s side,” he said. “Everyone was pulling for the team. They got a great coach and a great team, they deserved to win.”

Eager to see the drought end, Northeastern fans were in the strong majority. When Charlotte Weber, a Boston University graduate, stood up to cheer after the Terriers netted their first goal, she realized “no one around me was standing up.”

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When the Huskies scored the next three goals to take a commanding lead, fans said they were in disbelief.

“They scored an empty net goal, I cried, I danced,” said Alan Circeo, who graduated Northeastern in 2013. “I don’t know what to do with myself — just elated. Pure joy.”


Alana Levene can be reached at alana.levene@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @alanalevene. Aimee Ortiz can be reached at aimee.ortiz@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @aimee_ortiz.