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Beginning December 18, 2024, Beacon staff will be away from the newsroom for the Emerson College winter break. Daily news coverage will resume on January 13, 2025.
Emerson College’s only independent, student-run newspaper since 1947

The Berkeley Beacon

Emerson College’s only independent, student-run newspaper since 1947

The Berkeley Beacon

Emerson College’s only independent, student-run newspaper since 1947

The Berkeley Beacon

Sports Column

The 2019 Tampa Bay Lightning tied the NHL's regular season wins record—and then were swept in the first round of the playoffs. Could the Bruins suffer the same fate?

Bruins on Boylston: Could the B’s be the next NHL super-team to experience a first-round collapse?

By Leo Kagan, Sports Editor / April 2, 2023

On April 16, 2019, the Columbus Blue Jackets shocked the hockey world and made NHL history by completing a 4-0 sweep of the league-best Tampa Bay Lightning...

March Madness: Upsets galore and glimpse into Final Four

March Madness: Upsets galore and glimpse into Final Four

By Jordan Pagkalinawan / March 27, 2023

Bring on the madness! The opening round of the 2023 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament saw plenty of electrifying hoops and busted brackets. Those who...

The Boston Bruins have nine games left to play in the regular season, but they've already clinched a playoff spot.

Bruins on Boylston: Five more questions (and answers) facing the Bruins as the regular season winds down

By Leo Kagan, Sports Editor / March 26, 2023

Last spring’s first-round playoff loss to the Carolina Hurricanes marked the beginning of an uncertain summer for the Boston Bruins. After Head Coach...

Illustration Hailey Akau

Blake Griffin is the Boston Celtics unsung hero

By Rumsha Siddiqui / March 10, 2023

The Boston Celtics agreed to a one-year contract with 33-year-old veteran and six-time NBA All-Star Blake Griffin in October of 2022. NBA fans have been...

The Boston Bruins have 19 games left to play in the 2022-23 NHL season, and have posted a 49-9-5 record.

Bruins on Boylston: Using the Predictor 3000 to project postseason opponents

By Leo Kagan, Sports Editor / March 10, 2023

The Boston Bruins have 19 regular season games left to play. If they pump enough points out of them between wins and overtime losses, they stand to make...

Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney traded away two first-round picks in addition to future assets to acquire three new players in the last week.

Bruins on Boylston: B’s deadline dealings are bold, risky

By Leo Kagan, Sports Editor / March 2, 2023

It’s official: the Bruins are all-in on winning the Stanley Cup.  If centers Patrice Bergeron and David Krejčí re-signing or the Bruins’ unreal...

UFC fighter Islam Makhachev defended his belt at UFC 284.

Crooke’s Cage: UFC 284 Review and Takeaways

By Aidan Crooke / February 24, 2023

The night before Superbowl LVII, the UFC delivered one of its greatest main events in history: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski.  The UFC 284 champ vs. champ...

The Bruins last won the Stanley Cup in 2011—could they win it again in 2023?

Bruins on Boylston: Comparing 2023’s Bruins to 2011’s championship team

By Leo Kagan, Sports Editor / February 22, 2023

On June 15, 2011, then-Bruins captain Zdeno Chara hoisted the Stanley Cup above his head in victory, ending a 39-year championship drought for Boston’s...

The New England Patriots logo.

The Patriots missed postseason football by one game. What went wrong?

By Aidan Crooke / February 22, 2023

On Jan. 8, the Patriots had their final chance to punch their ticket to the playoffs against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, New York. The Pats’ season...

The Boston Bruins are the NHL's best team with a 39-8-5 record.

Bruins on Boylston: What can, should, and will the B’s do at the trade deadline?

By Leo Kagan, Sports Editor / February 13, 2023

For Boston Bruins fans, the trade deadline should be one of the most exciting times of the year.  Apart from the playoffs, in fact, nothing should...

Bruins on Boylston: Measuring losing streak concern levels with the Yikes-o-Meter

Bruins on Boylston: Measuring losing streak concern levels with the Yikes-o-Meter

By Leo Kagan, Sports Editor / February 2, 2023

Encircling the faceoff dot in the middle of the ice at PNC Arena in Raleigh, the Carolina Hurricanes lifted their arms and clapped together with a crowd...

Social media erupted after referees missed a foul committed by Celtic Jayson Tatum on Lakers' LeBron James. (Photos via Creative Commons)

Bad reffing didn’t beat the Lakers—the Celtics did.

By Jason Tulchin / February 1, 2023

The Boston Celtics broke their three-game losing streak in a controversial 121-125 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday—a game that took the...

Photo via Creative Commons

Crooke’s Cage: Predictions for the UFC in 2023

By Aidan Crooke / January 29, 2023

The new year is upon us, and it’s time to step back into the Octagon and see what UFC President Dana White and the UFC have in store for us.  A light...

Boston Bruins face off against the Calgary Flames on November 10, 2022. Photo by Leo Kagan

Bruins on Boylston: Which Bruins were All-Star snubs?

By Leo Kagan, Sports Editor / January 28, 2023

The NHL released its initial selections for the 2023 All-Star Game—the league’s best players all gathered on the same sheet of ice for a weekend—on...

The Boston Bruins face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning at TD Garden.

Bruins on Boylston: Revisiting preseason queries and posing three current questions

By Leo Kagan / December 9, 2022

Plenty of NHL teams faced questions entering the 2022-23 season. Would the Colorado Avalanche play their way to a second consecutive Stanley Cup? Would...

Patrice Bergeron (via Beacon Archives)

Bruins on Boylston: Why you should doubt the Bruins’ strong start

By Leo Kagan / November 30, 2022

The Bruins have played 22 games in the 2022-23 season, roughly a quarter of the regular season matchups they’ll take part in before the postseason, for...

The Bruins drew criticism from their recent signing of Mitchell Miller (via CreativeCommons)

Bruins on Boylston: Bruins must sever ties with new signing

By Leo Kagan / November 6, 2022

20 year--old Mitchell Miller inked his NHL entry-level contract on Friday, becoming a Boston Bruin for the next three years.  For most young players,...

TD Garden.

Bruins on Boylston: It’s early, but the Bruins have all the pieces of a championship contender

By Leo Kagan / November 3, 2022

The last time the Boston Bruins lifted the Stanley Cup was 2011. It’s been just over a decade—not long compared to franchises that have been in limbo...

Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB and former Patriot Tom Brady (via Creative Commons)

Go out with dignity, Brady

By Vani Hanamirian / November 1, 2022

He has served his time, done his duty, and lived out every young football player's dream. Now, it’s time for Tom Brady to retire.  Thomas Edward...

Bailey Zappe has big shoes to fill in the wake of Tom Brady. (Courtesy: Creative Commons)

I’m not a Boston sports fan, but Bailey Zappe caught my eye

By Vani Hanamirian / October 20, 2022

As a Philadelphia sports fan, I’m used to an underdog situation — note Super Bowl LII — but was not expecting the same ‘underdog feeling’ in...