Cornell Hockey at Yale
November 8, 2003
by Michael Walls

The family and I went up to Yale last night for a hockey game. My wife’s cousin, Ryan Vesce, is the Captain on Cornell’s “Big Red” Hockey team. Cornell was in town to play Yale and Ryan reserved some seats for us.

I’d forgotten how much fun college hockey is. I’m not really a pro hockey fan, as I’ve got my sports priorities pretty much occupied by baseball and football. And I simply don’t have the time to follow college basketball and football. But spending 4 years at the University of Maine, I’m very familiar with college hockey and after last night’s game, realize how much I miss it.

College hockey is a lot different environment then other college sports. I don’t want to say that hockey fans are better than basketball or football fans, as all live college sporting events are much more raucous then professional events. But because the hockey arena venues are so much smaller then football stadiums or basketball gymnasiums, it makes it a much more intimate experience.

Yales’ hockey arena seats only about 3,500 – and it was nearly to capacity, with about a third dressed in red to cheer for the visiting Cornell squad. We were seated three rows behind Cornell’s bench, eye-level with the top of the glass. Great seats. Now, Cornell must bring their own glee club, along with the band, because even though they were the visiting team, they were relentlessly tormenting Yale with group chants and yells. Things like, “BU SUCKS, BU SUCKS, BU SUCKS…AND SO DOES YALE!” or something like that. Apparently, BU is Cornell’s biggest rival, and even though they’re not playing BU, they like to advertise that they suck. Then they throw the current opponent’s name in for good measure. They were also extremely tough on the Yale goalie, standing up, pointing and chanting “IT’S ALL YOUR FAULT! IT’S ALL YOUR FAULT!” whenever Cornell would score against him. Brutal.

It helped that Yale actually did suck, as Cornell was having their way with them, leading 5-1 going into the third period. Cousin Vesce was responsible for one goal in the second, on a power play.

The other thing that makes college hockey so exciting, is that you can feel every hit. Every player that gets crushed up against the boards, you hear it and feel it vibrate through the wooden benches you’re sitting on. Every puck that hits the glass in front of you, makes you duck or jump.

My two young sons have been to some baseball games this summer, and usually get bored around the 6th inning. Here, they sat, wide-eyed, watching in wonder at the action zipping past the glass, trying to catch a glimpse of the hockey puck.

I also love the slight chill in the air, as you spend the first period wearing your coat, until the arena warms up with body heat.

It was a great game and a great environment, and reminded me of all the games I’d seen up at Maine. I miss it. Cornell ended up winning 6-2, with Ryan notching 1 goal and 1 assist. We had a lot of fun and wish they played Yale more often. I’m sure Yale doesn’t feel the same way.

(Michael Walls is a volunteer staff writer for 2 Walls Webzine)