Vancouver Canucks 2023 first-round pick Tom Willander added a championship title to his resume just one day after his 20th birthday.
He and his Boston University Terriers defeated their arch-rivals and top-ranked team in the Nation, the Boston College Eagles, by a score of 4-1 to capture the 2025 Beanpot Championship.
The Beanpot is a highly anticipated event, held annually between Boston’s four major college hockey programs, that is full of rich history and tradition. Willander and the Terriers’ victory marks their 32nd Beanpot title and first since 2022.
The championship game was a thrilling contest that saw momentum swing back and forth. Boston College dominated the first period, outshooting the Terriers 16-9 and taking a 1-0 lead into the intermission. However, BU stormed back in the second period, scoring two goals in 76 seconds to regain control of the game.
Willander played a key role in the Terriers’ victory, contributing a primary assist on the game-winning goal. He made a heads-up play to keep the puck in the offensive zone before sending a crisp cross-ice pass to Cole Hutson, who beat Boston College goaltender Jacob Fowler with a quick shot.
In addition to his offensive contribution, Willander was a force defensively, making several key plays to shut down Boston College’s high-powered offence. His consistent and effective defensive efforts warranted several instances of praise from the commentators, as he was a force in his own end. He finished as a plus-1 in the evening.
The 20-year-old sophomore now has 15 points (3 goals, 12 assists) in 25 games this season and is well on pace to match his point totals from last year. He has collected six goals and 40 points while maintaining an incredible plus-37 and 18 penalty minutes across 63 collegiate matches.
Willander’s strong play has fueled speculation about his potential jump to professional hockey. However, his focus remains on helping the Terriers achieve further success this season.
Boston University, currently ranked ninth in the country, has seven games remaining in the regular season before embarking on the Hockey East playoffs. Should they advance to the Frozen Four National Championship, Willander’s college season could extend into mid-April (April 10 & 12).
Other Canucks prospect Aiden Celebrini plays for the Terriers. However, he missed the last several weeks due to an injury and missed this tournament. BU is expecting Celebrini to return relatively soon.
Canucks fans will be eagerly watching Willander’s progress and hoping that he’ll be donning a Canucks’ jersey sooner rather than later.