Crimson Bounce Back For Win

HAMILTON, N.Y.—Finally.

It took five league contests, but the Harvard men’s hockey team earned its first ECAC victory of the year, defeating Colgate, 4-1, at Starr Rink on Saturday afternoon.

Despite failing to take advantage of some quality offensive chances, the Crimson (2-4-0, 1-4-0 ECAC) was able to come away with a win, thanks largely to its sturdy defensive play.

“I don’t think it was our best win,” said Harvard coach Ted Donato ’91. “One of the differences between this game and maybe some earlier games is that we didn’t give up much…we defended pretty hard.”

The Crimson took the lead for good midway through the second period. Sophomore defenseman Jack Christian, stationed at the blue line along the right boards, stopped the puck from being cleared and fired it towards net. Though the shot hit the end boards well wide right, the puck caromed to forward Jimmy Fraser, who put it past rookie netminder Charles Long at the left post at 11:07.

The game-winning tally was just one of the highlights of the night for Fraser.

The sophomore was one of Harvard’s key penalty-killers and skated aggressively on the forecheck despite getting battered all night by Colgate defensemen.

“He actually got hit really hard across the middle one time, got a couple of stitches between periods, but came back and scored the next period,” captain Dylan Reese said. “He’s a gamer, he’s a young leader—he’s just battled so hard.”

Both the Crimson and the Raiders (3-6-2, 0-3-1) were forced to rely on their special teams during the opening frame, as the referees whistled the squads for a combined eight penalties.

Harvard earned four trips to the sin bin in the first seven and a half minutes of play, giving Colgate several opportunities—including 1:44 of five-on-three play.

But Fraser and blueliners Reese and Brian McCafferty contained the Raiders’ power play during the two-man deficit, even when Fraser broke his stick and was forced to rely on just his body for defensive purposes.

“Coach Bobby Jay has done a great job with our penalty kill,” Donato said. “I don’t want to jinx him, but that’s three games in a row without [allowing a power play goal]—and that’s three darn good offensive hockey teams.”

The Crimson earned its best man-advantage chance of the opening period when Colgate winger Mike Werner was awarded a major penalty and game misconduct at 9:25 for hitting Jon Pelle from behind.

Harvard eventually scored a five-on-three goal at 13:39, with junior forward Mike Taylor netting the rebound of linemate Doug Rogers’ shot.

Still, Colgate managed to equalize before the first intermission on a strange play.

After making an initial glove save, Crimson goaltender Justin Tobe dropped the puck in front of him. Attempting to clear it away, McCafferty accidentally slipped the puck into his own net for Tobe’s only “mistake” of the game.

“When he’s on, [Tobe is] very tough to beat,” Donato said. “The only guy that beat him was our guy.”

Harvard tacked on two insurance goals in the final frame.

Junior defenseman J.D. McCabe netted the first, launching a puck from the blue line that floated over Long’s shoulder for a score at 6:48.

Later in the period, Reese tallied his third score of the season and second of the weekend. Benefiting from two coincidental Colgate minors, the Crimson’s power play worked the puck to Reese at the top of the right faceoff circle. The captain fired a hard slapshot that beat Long low to give Harvard a 4-1 lead at 12:47.

“It was a good effort by us,” Reese said. “They came out a little flat, and we took advantage of it.”

—Staff writer Karan Lodha can be reached at klodha@fas.harvard.edu.