For Grzelcyk Family, the Beanpot 'Means the World'

BOSTON - John Grzelcyk hasn't missed much during his 50-plus year stint as a member of the Garden bull gang. But there was one particularly important moment on Causeway Street that he did not witness firsthand.
It just happened to feature, perhaps, the biggest goal of his son's hockey career.
When Matt Grzelcyk scored the overtime winner against Northeastern to secure Boston University's 30th Beanpot title back in 2015, his father was not in his seat inside the TD Garden bowl to witness the goal that came just 51 seconds into the extra session.

"When the overtime started, I went to the bathroom," said John Grzelcyk. "I was talking to somebody, as usual. I caught the goal on TV. I didn't see it live…I was talking, and someone said, 'I think BU [won].' I said, 'Wait, a minute. That's my son.'"
And on Monday afternoon, some eight years after that iconic overtime winner, it was John Grzelcyk's son who was once making him proud - and this time, he wasn't going to miss it.
During the annual Beanpot luncheon, the tournament committee announced that both Grzelcyks would be inducted into the Beanpot Hall of Fame, as the two shared the stage at TD Garden to reflect on what the annual college hockey tradition means to their family.
"It means the world," said Matt Grzelcyk, now in his seventh season with the Bruins after being drafted by the club in 2012. "It's a tournament I grew up wanting to play in ever since I was young enough to tie up the skates. It means that much more to me to be able to share this with my father as well. He's meant so much to me and so much to this community. It's very well deserved."

Grzelcyk managed to keep the accolade a secret from his father all the way through the official announcement when Boston Bruins Foundation President Bob Sweeney - who was celebrating the 40-year anniversary of his Beanpot MVP as a freshman for Boston College - took the stage to make the special declaration.
"I tried my best not to tell my mom [Kathleen]," said Matt Grzelcyk. "She can have a big mouth with these things sometimes. I had to give her a two-day advance notice and begged her not to say anything. It was pretty cool. Just to see the look on his face was pretty cool. When they started announcing it, I heard him kind of saying, 'Oh, geez.' He had no clue at all. It's kind of cool to see how much it means to him."
The elder Grzelcyk, who has been a member of the bull gang for 55 years, recalled attending Beanpot games when he was "10 or 12 years old" and watched the likes of legendary Boston University coach Jack Parker and current Nashville Predators general manager David Poile (Northeastern) play in the tournament back in the 1960s.
"It's unbelievable to be in there, especially going in with my son," said John Grzelcyk. "I didn't expect it. I'm probably the first worker that's ever gone in there. I've been here a long time, but it's such an accomplishment. I'm just so bewildered by it.
"So many great hockey players that played in this, great coaches, they probably deserve it more than I do. But I'm really appreciative of it. It means a lot to me and my family. My name's gonna be in the book forever."

As is his son's.
Matt Grzelcyk played four seasons at Boston University from 2012-16 and made three appearances in the Beanpot. Most notably, of course, the Charlestown native was named the tournament MVP in 2015 after notching the overtime winner, his second tally of the game, in the championship game against Northeastern.
"I think we got a power play super early into overtime and we had a really, really good team, a really talented team, good power play that year, so we wanted to capitalize," said Grzelcyk, who served as captain of the Terriers during his junior and senior seasons.
"As a kid, you dream about being the one to score that goal, but once you're in that game, you want to win. I think what I remember most is seeing the look on all my teammates, coaches, the staff members at BU, how much it means to them.
"That's why you play the game is to share those moments with all the people who helped get you there. That was super, super special for me."
Grzelcyk, funny enough, never attended the Beanpot as a kid, despite growing up just over the bridge from the West End. The blue liner was always home on those Monday nights in February watching on television as he finished his homework - "H&H: homework and hockey," as John Grzelcyk put it - and did not see the tournament in person until he competed in it as a freshman for the Terriers.
"It's tough to put into words," Matt Grzelcyk said when asked what the tournament means to his family. "When you're a kid, you look forward to these two Mondays watching it on TV. Unfortunately, I never got to go to one as a kid, my dad always kept me home.
"For sure, was turning into both games [on NESN]…just to see the tradition and all the history that's gone into it and maybe one day getting the chance to be a part of it is what you dream about. To have that opportunity, I'm super blessed."

John Grzelcyk, finding it difficult to produce the right words, feels the same way about being able to watch his son fulfill his dream at Boston University and as a crucial contributor to his hometown Boston Bruins.
"I think it's beyond my wildest dreams," he said. "This is what I wanted him to do, go to college, hopefully play college hockey, gets to enjoy the Beanpot. Little did I know, the league is gonna change and now he's in the NHL, he's playing. MVP of the Beanpot. It's something that you wish for, but [you think] it's unattainable."
In many ways, the Beanpot helped make it all possible.
"It's Boston," John Grzelcyk said. "Most of these kids - Matt, his friends that grew up [with him]…BC, Harvard, Northeastern, most of these kids play with each other growing up. They're all friends…it's just the greatest tournament in the world, that's all."