Hockey Scrimmage Nets Hundreds Of Students For Midnight Madness

About 900 Harvard hockey fans ventured to the Bright Hockey Center Saturday night for "Midnight Madness," an event replete with introductions of the 1998-99 Crimson teams an inter-squad scrimmage and prize giveaways--including a shot at $25,000.

The evening began with introductions of each member of the Harvard women's and men's ice hockey teams to the enthusiastic crowd, which thundered in support.

The men then took to the ice for a 20-minute inter-squad scrimmage. The "white" team topped the "crimson" team 3-1, with two of the goals on the winning side scored by Jamin F. Kerner '00.

During the play, some fans chatted with friends, while others were more attentive, clearly interested in getting a sneak peak at the 1998-99 Crimson team.

"I enjoyed getting a first look at the teams in action," said Stephen C. Hely '02.

The crowd was especially enthusiastic when a "fight" broke out during the scrimmage, although the participants' grins and repeated punches that caught only air made the scuffle seem about as realistic as a WWF wresting match.

The event's organizers kept the audience's attention with ongoing giveaways of items like movie tickets, CDs and sweatshirts.

The Harvard Band was also there, playing their usual fare, but members replaced their traditional red jackets with white Harvard hockey jerseys.

And at one point "John Harvard" himself took to the ice and threw assorted trinkets into the stands. He looked more like the star of the classic horror movie Leprechaun 2 than the statue in the Yard.

The final event was the $25,000 shoot-out.

Six lucky people, picked by a lottery of all ticket-holders, were given the opportunity to win the $25,000 prize. To do so, however, they had to hit a hockey puck from the face-off circle at one corner of the rink to the small center dot in the face-off circle at the opposite corner.

Despite encouraging cheers from the crowd, and impromptu lessons from several members of the Crimson squad, none of the contestants walked away with the prize.

But many attendees said it was not the shootout or the free prizes that drew them across the river on a Saturday night. Most expressed a desire to see the teams and support their friends.

"I'm here to support my fellow entry-way mate," said Isaac J. Weiler '02.

This is the fourth year of hockey "Midnight Madness" at Harvard; the tradition began years ago in college basketball as a celebration of the first night that teams were allowed to practice.

The hockey teams are hoping that the support they received Saturday will continue throughout the season, which begins for the men on Nov. 6 with a home game against Brown.

The focus at "Midnight Madness," however, was less on competition and more on fun. The spirit of the event was perhaps best expressed by the excited fan who screamed during introductions, "Crimson hockey rocks the world, baby!"