Men's Hockey Opens Season With Tied Game

After many months of construction, the puck finally dropped for the Harvard men’s ice hockey team at the newly renovated Bright-Landry Hockey Center on Saturday night, as the squad kicked off its 2014-2015 campaign against Dartmouth.

Seeking to make some renovations of its own this season, the Crimson battled its way back from one-goal deficits on two separate occasions in the opener, skating to a 3-3 draw with the Big Green.

“It was a really good college hockey game,” Dartmouth coach Bob Gaudet said. ”[It was] really a good, fast-paced, hard, physical game for an opening game for both teams.”

Harvard (0-0-1, 0-0-1 ECAC) drew even with the Big Green (0-0-1, 0-0-1) for the final time with just over ten minutes remaining in regulation, courtesy of junior defenseman Patrick McNally.

Initiating the threat, McNally first ripped a shot from the blueline that knocked the stick out of the hands of diving Dartmouth winger Jack Barre.

In response, senior forward Tommy O’Regan quickly corralled the loose puck and sent it back to McNally. Taking advantage of Barre’s absence, the junior blasted his second opportunity past the glove of Big Green goalkeeper James Kruger to level the score.

McNally’s goal was his second of the game, as the defenseman also gave the Crimson its first lead at the 6:10 mark of the second period. Looking like the McNally who recorded six goals during his rookie campaign, the junior deftly made his way up the ice alone, eluded two Dartmouth skaters, and fired a wrist shot into the upper left corner of the net to put his side on top, 2-1.

“[McNally] is a game-changer,” Harvard coach Ted Donato ’91 said. “He’s at times our best forward, but he also seems to get back as well…. He enjoys being involved in the offense with the puck, and not only joining it but leading it.”

Dartmouth provided an answer just 1:27 later when alternate captain Eric Robinson ripped a shot past Crimson goaltender Steve Michalek off the draw. The Big Green would then add another with just over a minute remaining in the period, proving that Saturday was a great night to be a McNally.

Catching the Harvard defense napping, Dartmouth forward Brandon McNally weaved through defenders to join the Big Green attack before rocketing one home glove-side. The Saugus, Mass., native also had an assist in the game.

Last season, the Crimson split the season series with Dartmouth. In its one victory, however, Harvard lacked the services of then-freshman forward Alex Kerfoot, who sat out with a shoulder injury. Now entering his second season, Kerfoot said that he is finally healthy, which looked to be the case against the Big Green.

Following Dartmouth’s first goal 10:53 into the first period, the Crimson provided an immediate response after an attack from junior forward Jimmy Vesey produced a face-off in the zone.

Running a set play on the draw, junior captain Kyle Criscuolo smacked the puck in the direction of Vesey, whose shot was deflected into the air by Kruger. But after a failed clearance by Big Green defenseman River Rymsha, Kerfoot capitalized to put Harvard on the scoreboard.

“Kerfoot was tough to get a hold of out there,” Donato said. “He was quick and elusive and making plays. We’re excited [about] where we think that line [featuring Vesey and Criscuolo] can get to.”

Prior to its first goal of the season—coming just 14 seconds after Dartmouth’s—the Crimson had struggled to get anything going on the offensive end. Scrambling to solve the Big Green defense in the early stages of the contest, Harvard failed to register a shot on goal in the first 11 minutes.

“First game of the season, there’s always a [few] butterflies in everyone’s stomach,” Vesey said. “I think it took both teams a little bit to settle in tonight, but once you get the first couple shifts out of the way, it’s just another game.”

Once the Crimson put its first puck in the net, the offense found its rhythm. Harvard finished the contest with 37 shots on goal—a mark that the Crimson reached just twice last season.

“[This] is a group that is out to prove a point,” Donato said. “I think we have the potential to be an exciting team, and tonight was a good start.”

—Staff writer Jake Meagher can be reached at jmeagher@college.harvard.edu.