Rivalry on Ice: Yale, Once Again

In the second edition of the Rivalry on Ice, Yale beat Harvard again at Madision Square Garden (YWAA photos).

The novelty didn't wear off.  After last year's exciting, auspicious debut of Harvard vs. Yale at the "World's Most Famous Arena" in Midtown Manhattan, the "Rivalry on Ice" resumed Jan. 10.  The script was the same.  A packed arena (almost 13,000, not sold out, but seemingly filled except for the upper rows) huddled around the rink to see the Bulldogs whip the Crimson, 4-1. A year ago, Yale won, 5-1.

This year's crowd might have been more subdued, dominated by Yale fans who appeared confident that Yale would control the match-up throughout, as it did.  The Yale band returned, and so did throngs of students and lots of alumni, young and old, cheerfully staging mini-reunions on the Garden's plazas in between periods.

Harvard followers, including their band, were scattered about and recognized this might well have been a home game for Yale. They all (from Harvard and Yale) brought their familiar Harvard-Yale chants, the same taunting that goes back and forth at Bulldog-Crimson clashes in football.

Just like last year's game, if you turned around or got distracted for a moment, you might have missed one of the flurry of Yale goals. Yale scored quickly and often during the middle of the contest. Harvard was never really in it. The final period was a mere exhibition, a skating session to celebrate the Elis' second win this season over Harvard. Yale beat the Cantabs in Cambridge, 2-1, in November. And they play a third time at Ingalls Rink in New Haven Feb. 6.

Westchester is not represented on the Yale squad, but a showdown at Madison Square Garden was a homecoming of sorts for 11 players from New Jersey, New York and Connecticut.  Two who hail from New Jersey, Charles Orzetti '16 and Matt Killian '15, scored two of Yale's goals.

For Yale, the holidays have come to an end, school starts Monday, and the team with its 9-4-2 record has back-to-back dates with Brown next weekend.

The Bulldogs beat Harvard for the second time this season (YWAA photos).

Yale fans, students and alumni outnumbered the Harvard following (YWAA photos).