Holiday Showdown Looms for M. Hockey

In the two week break at the midpoint of the season, the Harvard men’s hockey team can look back proudly on one of its best starts in recent history.

When the squad travels to Milwaukee, Wis., for the Bank One Badger Showdown Dec. 28 and 29, expect to see the same assertive play that has led the Crimson to a 9-4-1 record and a No. 12 national ranking (USCHO).

The Crimson boasts the best winning percentage of the four teams competing and is the favorite to come home with the cup.

The tournament is a two-day event, with the championship and consolation games on the second day. Depending on the outcome of the first game, Harvard will play either Colgate or host Wisconsin for the tournament title.

The first and probably most challenging opponent will be No. 15 Northern Michigan. The Wildcats (9-6-1) are coming off a 3-2 loss to Michigan Tech. Senior Mike Stutzel leads the team in goals, including both scores in that defeat.

Though the Crimson has not played NMU in recent memory, the Wildcats’ up-tempo transition style is similar to that of recent Harvard opponents Yale, BC and Maine, said Harvard captain Dominic Moore. Harvard’s experience against these teams will be key to its success against the Wildcats.

However, the Crimson will not get too confident with its apparent advantage.

“It’s in our hands, it’s not what anyone else does to us,” said sophomore defenseman Ryan Lannon.

Against Colgate, Harvard has the benefit of familiarity. The Crimson has already defeated the Red Raiders (7-8-1) this season in a dominating 7-1 win which saw an excess of ugly penalties by game’s end. Colgate enters the tournament coming off a disappointing 2-1 loss to Clarkson in Ottawa.

Wisconsin has struggled so far this season, reaching the halfway point with a record of 5-11-0. The Badgers come off a 7-0 exhibition win over the Italian National team but are tied for last place in the WCHA.

Since its season-opening 4-0 loss to Brown, Harvard has been consistently aggressive and has demonstrated an ability to score on special teams. Early-season dominance of weaker opponents has given the team confidence in its capacity to live up to expectations.

Moore said that the high number of road games the team played early on provides both good experience and helps to establish Harvard as a legitimate contender.

However, the team has not been as successful against non-conference foes.

While last week’s 2-2 tie against No. 6 Boston College proved Harvard a worthy and capable adversary against high-caliber teams, the most recent 4-2 loss to No. 2 Maine revealed facets of the team’s game that still need improvement.

The Crimson is 0-2-1 in non-conference play, a fact that has Moore less than pleased.

“Obviously it’s a good sign that we played close games, but we have high expectations for ourselves,” Moore said.

Against the Black Bears, Harvard was unable to recover from giving up three goals in the first period, including one a scant 45 seconds into play.

Lannon said that the losses taught valuable lessons.

“You can’t afford to take nights off,” Lannon said.

On the plus side, the Crimson’s level of play during the following two periods against Maine was more indicative of the level at which the team has competed throughout the first half of the season.

“We can play with any team in the country when we’re playing our best,” Lannon said.

Harvard will attempt to erase the sting of defeat with a successful showing in the Showdown.

The last time the Crimson attended the Badger Showdown in 1997, Harvard lost to Wisconsin 6-3.

Over winter break last year, Harvard played in the Wells Fargo Denver Cup, recovering from a 2-0 shutout by UMass-Lowell to defeat Bowling Green 5-3 in the consolation game.

The combination of victories over both a hardy challenger as well as a weaker opponent would help set the Crimson back on track to dominate in the latter half of the season.

“We’re looking to bring a new level of consistency,” said Lannon.

—Staff writer Lisa J. Kennelly can be reached at kennell@fas.harvard.edu.