Boston, MA--It was the undeniable battle cry which silently came from the mouths of every player and coach present at Legends Restaurant yesterday.

As a prelude to one of Boston's most historic sporting events, the coaches and players from the four competing schools--Boston College, Boston University, Harvard and Northeastern--gathered alongside the media in the FleetCenter to toast the beginning of the Beanpot hockey tournament.

"I remember my first Beanpot back in February of 1965," said B.C. alum Reed Oslon, the luncheon's keynote speaker. "I, like tens of thousands of other students over the years, took the Green line to North Station. I couldn't believe the excitement and the magic that really is the Beanpot. It's such a special event."

For 46 years, a rich history has developed as these same teams have been battling it out on the first two Mondays in February all in the name of Boston bragging rights. Scanning the crowd on hand, the tradition was omnipotent amidst a mix of old and young. While the current players talked quietly at their own tables of the classes they were missing thanks to the two-hour luncheon, the old-timers sat along the edges reminiscing about the Beanpot game of 20 years ago which fell on the same days as the Blizzard of 1978.

Some young faces, like those of the B.U. players, had sweet memories themselves to conjure up as the Terriers are looking for their fourth-straight piece of the Pot this year. Others, who have not had such good fortune, were looking to make some of their own this time around.

"I was trying to determine what my favorite Beanpot memory was," said Harvard captain Jeremiah McCarthy during his speech. "We lost two games last year so that wasn't it. We lost two games the year before so it wasn't then either. And my freshman year we lost two games as well so I decided that my favorite Beanpot memory was my opening warm-up. That was pretty good."

Regardless of the current rankings, this year should prove to be one of the best tournaments in recent memory since of the four teams, Harvard is the only squad which has yet to be ranked in the top ten of the nation.

"I wouldn't call anyone who wins this tournament an upset," said interim B.U. Coach Brian DeRochia, who is filling in for Jack Parker, who recently underwent minor heart surgery. "Years past that might have been the case, but not this year."

In two weeks that winner will be decided and only then will the 46th Beanpot Champions be able to hoist the coveted trophy high over their heads while skating around the FleetCenter ice.

The first puck will be dropped at 6 p.m. on Monday night when B.U. takes on Northeastern, while Harvard and B.C. will follow with the nightcap at 9 p.m.

See you at the Beanpot.