M. Hockey Looks to Alter N.Y. Trend

It’s almost a seven-hour ride from Cambridge to the North Country, a trip made even longer when the drive back is after a winless weekend.

That was a ride the Harvard men’s hockey team endured last season after losing to Clarkson and tying St. Lawrence in upstate New York, a fate that it will try to avoid in building upon its two-game winning streak.

Harvard (2-1-0, 2-1-0 ECAC) rebounded strongly from its season-opening shutout by Brown to take four points at Bright last weekend against Dartmouth and Vermont. The Crimson’s offense looked especially potent against the Catamounts, when it fired 56 shots at Vermont goalie Travis Russell and turned aside six of seven Catamount powerplays.

Recent results aside, Harvard’s record against the New York neighbors Clarkson (1-3-1, 1-1-1) and St. Lawrence (2-6-1, 1-2-0) has been anything but inspiring.

“When you look at Harvard’s success in the North Country over the years, it hasn’t been great,” said Harvard coach Mark Mazzoleni.

Last season the Crimson absorbed a 4-1 loss at Clarkson’s Cheel Arena before salvaging a tie against the Saints at Appleton Arena. Harvard was more successful at home against those teams, tying the Golden Knights 2-2 and beating St. Lawrence 2-1 on a dramatic Tyler Kolarik goal with 21 seconds to play.

The Crimson’s first extended road trip of the season will bring with it interesting challenges, including the difficulties of a reduced bench. Last weekend, Mazzoleni rotated in three players for each game, experimenting with line combinations and giving everyone ice time. A travel party limit of one forward and one defenseman beyond the full-dress compliment of 16 forwards, six defensemen and three goalies will be the extent of the subs Mazzoleni can utilize.

According to Mazzoleni, the Crimson’s primary goal—aside from continuing its success and energy on offense—is to reduce the number of penalties it takes. After a relatively clean opener, Harvard has given up seven powerplays in back-to-back games.

Against young and less-talented teams like Dartmouth and Vermont the Crimson might be able to get away with surrendering that many man-advantages, but against the Golden Knights and the Saints, the upper echelon of the ECAC, Harvard will have to avoid playing with a man in the box.

The hostile crowds will also work against the Crimson, which has yet to face an arena packed with fans rooting against them this year.

“Clarkson and St. Lawrence are perennially tough teams, especially when you go into their rinks on the road,” captain Dominic Moore said. “You’ve really got to play a sound game to come out of there with two points. We’re looking forward to the challenge.”

The trip to St. Lawrence and Clarkson is part of back-to-back weekends against the cream of the ECAC. Next weekend Harvard will face off against Cornell in Ithaca on Friday night before challenging Colgate on Saturday.

—Staff writer Timothy M. McDonald can be reached at tmmcdonal@fas.harvard.edu.