Monday's Beanpot Tournament Has Local Flavor

The local athletes who are competing in Monday's 65th Beanpot tournament have one request when you're watching Super Bowl LI. Leave a little gas in the sports tank for them.

The Beanpot takes over TD Garden Monday with Harvard playing Northeastern at 5 p.m., followed by Boston College and Northeastern at 8. This year's hockey tournament is filled with local talent, just another reason to watch the battle for Boston's bragging rights.

Boston College is led by North Reading brothers Ryan and Casey Fitzgerald. Ryan is a senior forward and 2012 Bruins draft choice. Casey is a sophomore defenseman. Both played at Malden Catholic and won Super 8 titles during their time with the Lancers. Ryan and Casey's father Tom is assistant general manager of the New Jersey Devils.

North Reading is also the home of Boston University sophomore forward Bobo Carpenter. Carpenter is the son of 18-year NHL veteran Bobby and his sister Alex is a Boston College graduate and member of the US National team. Bobo played for Austin Prep in Reading before finishing with the Sioux City Musketeers.

Carpenter's teammate is Wakefield's Nick Roberto. The senior forward played at Malden Catholic before finishing at Kimball Union. He led MC to the 2011 Super 8 title and led KUA to the Prep School title in 2012. If the final is a BU vs. Harvard matchup then Paul Pearl and Roberto could have a friendly wager of a Cravings sundae. Pearl is Harvard's Associate Head Coach and a Wakefield native. He graduated from Holy Cross and was the Crusaders head coach before joining the Harvard staff.

Reading's Sam Kurker could have something to say about the Beanpot outcome. The St. John's Prep graduate and senior forward plays for Northeastern. Kurker was drafted in the second round by the St. Louis Blues in 2012.

Kurker's teammate at NU is Lynnfield's Matt Filipe. The freshman forward played for Malden Catholic where he won Super 8 titles in 2013 and 2014. His father, Paul, was a four-year letter winner at Northeastern.

Northeastern and Boston College will square off Tuesday in the 39th women's Beanpot final. That means North Reading's Sarah Foss could be celebrating a title. NU's senior goalie spent two years in net for St. Mary's when the Spartans went 46-1-3.

Photo by Eric Kilby via Flickr