Harvard-Cornell Men’s Hockey Rivalry Reignites with Sold-Out ECAC Opener
The Crimson cannot afford a lapse against a Big Red team that opened the season splitting two games at No. 13 UMass and is expected to challenge for the league title.
Some college hockey matchups stand out on the calendar — the ones fans and players highlight as soon as the schedule is released. Harvard vs. Cornell is always one of them, and this season’s first meeting arrives without much delay.
The rivals face off Friday at a sold-out Bright-Landry Hockey Center for the ECAC opener for both programs.
“It does seem a little bit early that our first league game is against Cornell at home, but I think it’s exciting,” said Ted Donato, in his 22nd season as coach of the Crimson. “As a player, you always circle those dates for their intensity and emotion. The building will be buzzing, and everyone’s looking forward to it.”
Early Season Performance
Both teams opened with nonleague contests. Harvard began its season on the road at UConn, taking a 1-1 tie with the 11th-ranked Huskies. Back in Cambridge, the Crimson earned their first win — a 6-2 victory over Stonehill on Tuesday.
During that game, Harvard dominated the first 21 minutes, with Casey Severo scoring just a minute into the second period to make it 4-0. Stonehill responded by outshooting Harvard 19-3 for the rest of the frame and cutting the lead to 4-2 entering the third.
Author’s Summary
Harvard and Cornell renew their fierce hockey rivalry in a sold-out ECAC opener, with both teams showing strong early form and anticipation running high at Bright-Landry Arena.