Harvard Crimson men's ice hockey
Encyclopedia
The Harvard Crimson men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) Division I college ice hockey
program that represents Harvard University
. The Crimson
are a member of ECAC Hockey. They play at the Bright Hockey Center
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
. The Crimson hockey team is one of the oldest college ice hockey teams in the United States, having played their first game on January 19, 1898 in a 0-6 loss to Brown
. The team won the NCAA Division I Championship on April 1, 1989, defeating the Minnesota Golden Gophers
4-3 in overtime for their first and only championship.
on January 19, 1898 at Franklin Field in Boston
. The rivalry is the oldest continuing college hockey series in the country. The Crimson lost that game 0-6 but the Brown-Harvard rivalry would continue and later become US college hockey's oldest rivalry.
The two teams would play again the following winter, with Brown again taking the victory, by a score of 2-1. The Crimson would get their first recorded win in program history in 1900 with a 10-1 win over MIT. That same season Harvard beat Brown in back to back games. On February 26, 1900 Harvard played Yale for the first time. The game was held at the St. Nicholas Rink
in New York and the 4-5 loss was the Crimson's only loss of the 1899-1900 season.
In 1903 Alfred Winsor became the team's first official head coach. The team previously used captains
in a player-coach
role, including Winsor who served as the Crimson's captain from 1901-1902. Under Winsor the team recorded a 22 game winning streak that spanned five and a half seasons and lasted from January 10, 1903 to Jan 19, 1907.
After beginning the program on a pond and playing on various outdoor rinks constructed on campus over the seasons, the university constructed two ice rinks inside Harvard Stadium
for the 1904 season and move some old bleachers to the side of the rink. The university also began charging admission for select important games for the first time. The Crimson later moved home games to the Boston Arena, the first indoor ice rink in Boston
and one of the oldest in the United States. A few years after moving into the Boston Arena, on March 14, 1913, the Harvard University Athletic Committee voted to make ice hockey a major sport in the university's athletic department. Following the 1917 season Alfred Winsor stepped down as the head coach after compiling a 124-29 record in 15 seasons as Crimson head coach. The following season was suspended because of World War I
with the team resuming play in 1919.
On March 12, 1930 Harvard and Yale played the final game of a three-game series to end the 1930 season. The two teams split the first two games of the series. The game was called off at midnight due to blue laws
despite the teams being tied in the third overtime and a record crowd in excess of 14,000. The resulting tie caused the two rivals to share the 1929-30 intercollegiate title.
Joseph Stubbs became the fourth head coach in program history starting with the 1927-28 season. He stepped down after the 1937-38 season with a record of 95-43-6 record in 11 seasons. Stubbs led the team to four seasons of double-digit wins, including two back-to-back 11-win seasons in 1930-31 and 1931-32, as well as a 12-win season in 1935-36, and leading the Crimson to a 15-1 record in 1936-37.
The Quadrangular League was created for the 1933-34 with Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Dartmouth, the league is considered the predecessor to the Ivy League
. In 1936, the Council of Ivy Group Presidents agreed on the formal formation of the League, however the agreement did not go into effect until the 1955-56 season.
, the program was reactivated for the shortened 1945-46 season. In 1950 Ralph "Cooney" Weiland became head coach, Weiland was a former NHL scoring champion who won Stanley Cup
s as both a player and a coach with the Boston Bruins
. With the hire, Weiland became the first non-alumnus to become head coach of the program.
Weiland guided Harvard to win the inaugural Beanpot hockey tournament on December 27, 1952 when the team defeated Boston University
7-4. A few seasons later Weiland's Crimson team competed in the 1955 NCAA Ice Hockey Tournament. It was the first Frozen Four appearance by the university. The 1954-55 season was highlighted by William J. "Billy" Cleary
leading the nation in scoring with 89 points in 21 games, his point total still stands as the Harvard single-season record. Cleary and classmate Chuck Flynn become Harvard's first All-Americans. The team returned to the tournament in 1957 and 1958. All three tournament appearances under Weiland saw the Crimson exit in the semi-final round.
In 1956 Harvard moved into the 2,000-seat Donald C. Watson Rink
bringing hockey back on campus from the Boston Arena. The rink was located north of Harvard Stadium
.
Harvard became a founding member of the ECAC Hockey League
in 1961. That same season, on January 4, 1962 Harvard defeated Northeastern
6-1 for the program's 500th win. In its second season in the ECAC, Harvard won both the league regular season championship and, with a 4-3 overtime win over Boston University, won the league championship.
At the conclusion of the 1970-71 season Weiland left the program after 21 years. He compiled a record of 316-172-17, six Ivy League championships, two ECAC championships, and five NCAA appearances. Weiland was named coach of the year by the American Hockey Coaches Association
in 1955 and 1971. In 1971 he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
and received the Lester Patrick Award for contribution to hockey in the United States in 1972.
, former Crimson All-American, took over coaching duties for the 1971-72 season after serving as an assistant coach under Weiland. On March 7, 1975 - Harvard defeated Cornell
6-4 to win the 23rd game of the season, the first 20-win season in program history. Unfortunately, the Crimson would lose in the finals the next day to Boston University and finish fourth in the NCAA Tournament with defeats to Minnesota and the same BU squad. The team was captained by All-American Randy Roth '75, who the previous year was named the Crimson's first ever ECAC Player of the Year.
By the mid-1970s the Donald C. Watson Rink was becoming outdated and the university made plans to construct a new hockey facility. A decision was eventually made to extensively upgrade the facility and in 1978 the walls were removed and the roof was extended before the new arena was installed at a cost exceeding $5-million. During the renovation the Harvard's men's and new women's
teams played out of various local rinks in 1978-79. Following the renovation the facility was named after former Harvard hockey player Alec Bright '19. The Bright Hockey Center
increased seating by more than 800 people The ice surface was extended by five feet to 204 feet by 87 feet under the direction of coach Cleary.
Cleary lead the Crimson to their third conference tournament championship by beating Providence
4-1 in the ECAC Championship, sending the Crimson to the 1983 NCAA Tournament. Harvard first defeated Michigan State
in the two-game quarter-final series by a combined score 9-8.
The Crimson advanced to the Frozen Four in Grand Forks, North Dakota
and defeated Minnesota
5-3 to send Harvard to the program's first NCAA Championship appearance. The Crimson was defeated in the NCAA final 2-6 by Wisconsin
. Despite the loss in the final, Mark Fusco
became the school's first Hobey Baker Award
winner. Three seasons later, his brother, Scott Fusco
became the second player and first ever pair of brothers to win the Award.
Despite a 2-3 overtime loss to Vermont
in the ECAC semifinals, the 1988-89 team received an at-large bid to the 1989 NCAA Tournament
, the team's fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Harvard swept Lake Superior State
in the two game quarter-final round by a combined score of 9-4. The team advanced to the Frozen Four in St. Paul, Minnesota and defeated Michigan State 6-3 before facing the hometown Minnesota Golden Gophers
in the championship. Harvard won their first NCAA Championship on April 1, 1989 when senior forward Ed Krayer score in overtime to give the Crimson a 4-3 overtime victory. Following the game, Lane MacDonald
became the third player in program history to earn the Hobey Baker Award.
In 1993 the team returned to the NCAA Tournament
for the first time since their championship in 1989. The Crimson lost in double overtime to Northern Michigan
2-3. Harvard returned to the NCAA the following season in 1994 and advanced to the Frozen Four with a 7-1 win over New Hampshire
. In the NCAA semifinal the Crimson fell to Lake Superior State 3-2 in overtime. finishing the year a record of 24-5-4. The appearance in the 1993 Frozen Four was the last of the program to date.
Mark Mazzoleni became the tenth coach in program history on July 16, 1999. Under Mazzoleni the Crimson reached the NCAA Tournament three straight seasons in 2001-02, 2002-03, and 2003-04. The streak was extended to five straight seasons, tying a program high, by Ted Donato
in 2004-05 and 2005-06. The 1-6 loss to Maine in the NCAA Tournament marked the last appearance in the tournament
Champions:
:
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA) Division I college ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
program that represents Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. The Crimson
Harvard Crimson
The Harvard Crimson are the athletic teams of Harvard University. The school's teams compete in NCAA Division I. As of 2006, there were 41 Division I intercollegiate varsity sports teams for women and men at Harvard, more than at any other NCAA Division I college in the country...
are a member of ECAC Hockey. They play at the Bright Hockey Center
Bright Hockey Center
The Alexander C. Bright Hockey Center is a 2,850-seat ice-hockey arena in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is home to the Harvard University Crimson men's and women's ice hockey teams. It is named for Alec Bright '19, a former hockey player. Known as Lynah East for Cornell's dominance in...
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
. The Crimson hockey team is one of the oldest college ice hockey teams in the United States, having played their first game on January 19, 1898 in a 0-6 loss to Brown
Brown Bears men's ice hockey
The Brown Bears men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents Brown University. The Bears are a member of ECAC Hockey. They play at the Meehan Auditorium in Providence, Rhode Island.-External links:*...
. The team won the NCAA Division I Championship on April 1, 1989, defeating the Minnesota Golden Gophers
Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey
The Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team at the Twin Cities campus of the University of Minnesota. They are members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I ice hockey...
4-3 in overtime for their first and only championship.
Early history
The Crimson hockey team was founded in 1898 making the team one of the oldest college ice hockey teams in the United States. The team played on a local pond and played their first recorded intercollegiate game against BrownBrown Bears men's ice hockey
The Brown Bears men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents Brown University. The Bears are a member of ECAC Hockey. They play at the Meehan Auditorium in Providence, Rhode Island.-External links:*...
on January 19, 1898 at Franklin Field in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. The rivalry is the oldest continuing college hockey series in the country. The Crimson lost that game 0-6 but the Brown-Harvard rivalry would continue and later become US college hockey's oldest rivalry.
The two teams would play again the following winter, with Brown again taking the victory, by a score of 2-1. The Crimson would get their first recorded win in program history in 1900 with a 10-1 win over MIT. That same season Harvard beat Brown in back to back games. On February 26, 1900 Harvard played Yale for the first time. The game was held at the St. Nicholas Rink
St. Nicholas Rink
The St. Nicholas Rink, also called the St. Nicholas Arena, was an indoor ice rink, and later a boxing arena in New York, New York, from 1896 until 1962. The rink was the second ice rink utilizing mechanically frozen ice for its surface in North America, , enabling a longer season for skating sports...
in New York and the 4-5 loss was the Crimson's only loss of the 1899-1900 season.
In 1903 Alfred Winsor became the team's first official head coach. The team previously used captains
Captain (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, each team can designate an official captain for each game. The player serving as captain during the game wears a "C" on his or her jersey...
in a player-coach
Player-coach
A player-coach, in sports, is a member of a sports team who simultaneously holds both playing and coaching duties. The term can be used to refer to both players who serve as head coaches, or as assistant coaches....
role, including Winsor who served as the Crimson's captain from 1901-1902. Under Winsor the team recorded a 22 game winning streak that spanned five and a half seasons and lasted from January 10, 1903 to Jan 19, 1907.
After beginning the program on a pond and playing on various outdoor rinks constructed on campus over the seasons, the university constructed two ice rinks inside Harvard Stadium
Harvard Stadium
Harvard Stadium is a horseshoe-shaped football stadium in the Allston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, in the United States. Built in 1903, the stadium seats 30,323. The stadium seated up to 57,166 in the past, as permanent steel stands were installed in the north end of the stadium in 1929...
for the 1904 season and move some old bleachers to the side of the rink. The university also began charging admission for select important games for the first time. The Crimson later moved home games to the Boston Arena, the first indoor ice rink in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
and one of the oldest in the United States. A few years after moving into the Boston Arena, on March 14, 1913, the Harvard University Athletic Committee voted to make ice hockey a major sport in the university's athletic department. Following the 1917 season Alfred Winsor stepped down as the head coach after compiling a 124-29 record in 15 seasons as Crimson head coach. The following season was suspended because of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
with the team resuming play in 1919.
1919-1944
From 1919-1921 the team went back to playing at outdoor rinks after the Boston Arena caught fire in the fall of 1918. The Crimson returned to the arena after it was rebuilt in the fall of 1921. Following three seasons again with no official coach, William H. Claflin became the second coach in program history in 1921 On March 7, 1923 William H. Claflin and captain George Owen '23 substituted entire forward lines instead of individuals, in the first recorded use of a line change. The idea proved successful as Harvard defeated Yale 2-1 in overtime.On March 12, 1930 Harvard and Yale played the final game of a three-game series to end the 1930 season. The two teams split the first two games of the series. The game was called off at midnight due to blue laws
Blue Laws
The Blue Laws of the Colony of Connecticut, as distinct from the generic term "blue law" that refers to any laws regulating activities on Sunday, were the initial statutes set up by the Gov. Theophilus Eaton with the assistance of the Rev. John Cotton in 1655 for the Colony of New Haven, now part...
despite the teams being tied in the third overtime and a record crowd in excess of 14,000. The resulting tie caused the two rivals to share the 1929-30 intercollegiate title.
Joseph Stubbs became the fourth head coach in program history starting with the 1927-28 season. He stepped down after the 1937-38 season with a record of 95-43-6 record in 11 seasons. Stubbs led the team to four seasons of double-digit wins, including two back-to-back 11-win seasons in 1930-31 and 1931-32, as well as a 12-win season in 1935-36, and leading the Crimson to a 15-1 record in 1936-37.
The Quadrangular League was created for the 1933-34 with Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Dartmouth, the league is considered the predecessor to the Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
. In 1936, the Council of Ivy Group Presidents agreed on the formal formation of the League, however the agreement did not go into effect until the 1955-56 season.
1945-1960
The program was suspended from two seasons during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the program was reactivated for the shortened 1945-46 season. In 1950 Ralph "Cooney" Weiland became head coach, Weiland was a former NHL scoring champion who won Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
s as both a player and a coach with the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
. With the hire, Weiland became the first non-alumnus to become head coach of the program.
Weiland guided Harvard to win the inaugural Beanpot hockey tournament on December 27, 1952 when the team defeated Boston University
Boston University Terriers
The Boston University Terriers are the nine men's and twelve women's varsity athletic teams representing Boston University in NCAA Division I competition. The men compete in basketball, cross country, ice hockey, rowing, soccer, swimming, tennis, indoor and outdoor track, and wrestling...
7-4. A few seasons later Weiland's Crimson team competed in the 1955 NCAA Ice Hockey Tournament. It was the first Frozen Four appearance by the university. The 1954-55 season was highlighted by William J. "Billy" Cleary
Bill Cleary
William John Cleary, Jr. is a former United States ice hockey player, coach, and athletic administrator. He played on the U.S...
leading the nation in scoring with 89 points in 21 games, his point total still stands as the Harvard single-season record. Cleary and classmate Chuck Flynn become Harvard's first All-Americans. The team returned to the tournament in 1957 and 1958. All three tournament appearances under Weiland saw the Crimson exit in the semi-final round.
In 1956 Harvard moved into the 2,000-seat Donald C. Watson Rink
Bright Hockey Center
The Alexander C. Bright Hockey Center is a 2,850-seat ice-hockey arena in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is home to the Harvard University Crimson men's and women's ice hockey teams. It is named for Alec Bright '19, a former hockey player. Known as Lynah East for Cornell's dominance in...
bringing hockey back on campus from the Boston Arena. The rink was located north of Harvard Stadium
Harvard Stadium
Harvard Stadium is a horseshoe-shaped football stadium in the Allston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, in the United States. Built in 1903, the stadium seats 30,323. The stadium seated up to 57,166 in the past, as permanent steel stands were installed in the north end of the stadium in 1929...
.
Harvard became a founding member of the ECAC Hockey League
ECAC Hockey League
ECAC Hockey is one of the five NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey conferences that compete in NCAA Division I ice hockey. The conference used to be affiliated with the Eastern College Athletic Conference, a consortium of over 300 colleges in the eastern United States. This relationship ended in...
in 1961. That same season, on January 4, 1962 Harvard defeated Northeastern
Northeastern Huskies men's ice hockey
The Northeastern Huskies men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents the Northeastern University. The Huskies are a member of Hockey East...
6-1 for the program's 500th win. In its second season in the ECAC, Harvard won both the league regular season championship and, with a 4-3 overtime win over Boston University, won the league championship.
At the conclusion of the 1970-71 season Weiland left the program after 21 years. He compiled a record of 316-172-17, six Ivy League championships, two ECAC championships, and five NCAA appearances. Weiland was named coach of the year by the American Hockey Coaches Association
American Hockey Coaches Association
The American Hockey Coaches Association was formed in 1947 in Boston. The founding members coached college ice hockey but membership has grown to include coaches at every level of the sport from youth hockey to professional ice hockey, although the organization maintains a focus on the collegiate...
in 1955 and 1971. In 1971 he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
and received the Lester Patrick Award for contribution to hockey in the United States in 1972.
1971-1990
Bill ClearyBill Cleary
William John Cleary, Jr. is a former United States ice hockey player, coach, and athletic administrator. He played on the U.S...
, former Crimson All-American, took over coaching duties for the 1971-72 season after serving as an assistant coach under Weiland. On March 7, 1975 - Harvard defeated Cornell
Cornell Big Red men's ice hockey
The Cornell Big Red men's ice hockey team represents Cornell University, located in Ithaca, New York, in NCAA Division I men's competition. Cornell is one of eight members of the academically prestigious Ivy League conference and the hockey team plays in the ECAC Hockey conference.The 1970 Cornell...
6-4 to win the 23rd game of the season, the first 20-win season in program history. Unfortunately, the Crimson would lose in the finals the next day to Boston University and finish fourth in the NCAA Tournament with defeats to Minnesota and the same BU squad. The team was captained by All-American Randy Roth '75, who the previous year was named the Crimson's first ever ECAC Player of the Year.
By the mid-1970s the Donald C. Watson Rink was becoming outdated and the university made plans to construct a new hockey facility. A decision was eventually made to extensively upgrade the facility and in 1978 the walls were removed and the roof was extended before the new arena was installed at a cost exceeding $5-million. During the renovation the Harvard's men's and new women's
Harvard Crimson women's ice hockey
The Harvard Crimson women's ice hockey team represents Harvard University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I women's hockey. Harvard competes as a member of the ECAC Conference and plays its home games at the Bright Hockey Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts.-History:In the...
teams played out of various local rinks in 1978-79. Following the renovation the facility was named after former Harvard hockey player Alec Bright '19. The Bright Hockey Center
Bright Hockey Center
The Alexander C. Bright Hockey Center is a 2,850-seat ice-hockey arena in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is home to the Harvard University Crimson men's and women's ice hockey teams. It is named for Alec Bright '19, a former hockey player. Known as Lynah East for Cornell's dominance in...
increased seating by more than 800 people The ice surface was extended by five feet to 204 feet by 87 feet under the direction of coach Cleary.
Cleary lead the Crimson to their third conference tournament championship by beating Providence
Providence Friars men's ice hockey
The Providence Friars men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents the Providence College. The Friars are a member of Hockey East. They play at the 3,030-seat Schneider Arena in Providence, Rhode Island.-External links:*...
4-1 in the ECAC Championship, sending the Crimson to the 1983 NCAA Tournament. Harvard first defeated Michigan State
Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey
The Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team that represents Michigan State University . The team plays at the Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing, Michigan, on the MSU campus. The current head coach is Tom Anastos, who took over coaching duties on March 23, 2011,...
in the two-game quarter-final series by a combined score 9-8.
The Crimson advanced to the Frozen Four in Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 52,838, while that of the city and surrounding metropolitan area was 98,461...
and defeated Minnesota
Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey
The Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team at the Twin Cities campus of the University of Minnesota. They are members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I ice hockey...
5-3 to send Harvard to the program's first NCAA Championship appearance. The Crimson was defeated in the NCAA final 2-6 by Wisconsin
Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey
The Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in Madison, Wisconsin. The team plays at the Kohl Center and is coached by former Badger and NHL player Mike Eaves...
. Despite the loss in the final, Mark Fusco
Mark Fusco
Mark Edward Fusco is a retired professional ice hockey player who appeared in 80 NHL regular season games for the Hartford Whalers in 1984–85. As an amateur, Fusco won the Hobey Baker Award in 1983 while playing for the Harvard University men's ice hockey team...
became the school's first Hobey Baker Award
Hobey Baker Award
The Hobey Baker Award is an annual award given to the top National Collegiate Athletic Association men's ice hockey player.It is named for hockey player and World War I veteran Hobey Baker, who played collegiately at Princeton University and learned the game at St...
winner. Three seasons later, his brother, Scott Fusco
Scott Fusco
Scott Michael Fusco is a retired ice hockey player, who attended the Belmont Hill School. He won the Hobey Baker Award in 1986 while playing for Harvard. He was also a member of the American 1984 Winter Olympics ice hockey team...
became the second player and first ever pair of brothers to win the Award.
Despite a 2-3 overtime loss to Vermont
Vermont Catamounts men's ice hockey
The Vermont Catamounts men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents the University of Vermont. The Catamounts are a member of Hockey East. They play at the Gutterson Fieldhouse in Burlington, Vermont...
in the ECAC semifinals, the 1988-89 team received an at-large bid to the 1989 NCAA Tournament
1989 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament
The 1989 NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey Tournament was the culmination of the 1988–89 season in men's ice hockey for teams in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association . The Harvard Crimson defeated the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the championship game, held in St. Paul,...
, the team's fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Harvard swept Lake Superior State
Lake Superior State Lakers men's ice hockey
The Lake Superior State Lakers men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents Lake Superior State University. The Lakers are a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association . They play at the Taffy Abel Arena in Sault...
in the two game quarter-final round by a combined score of 9-4. The team advanced to the Frozen Four in St. Paul, Minnesota and defeated Michigan State 6-3 before facing the hometown Minnesota Golden Gophers
Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey
The Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team at the Twin Cities campus of the University of Minnesota. They are members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I ice hockey...
in the championship. Harvard won their first NCAA Championship on April 1, 1989 when senior forward Ed Krayer score in overtime to give the Crimson a 4-3 overtime victory. Following the game, Lane MacDonald
Lane MacDonald
B. Lane MacDonald is a retired ice hockey player. Born in Tulsa as the son of former NHL player Lowell MacDonald, Lane was a prep star at the University School of Milwaukee, and grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
became the third player in program history to earn the Hobey Baker Award.
Recent history
Bill Cleary ended his tenure as head coach at the conclusion of the 1989-90 season to become the director of athletics. In his 19 seasons as head coach for the program he won 324 games and took the Crimson to the NCAA Tournament nine times, the Frozen Four on seven occasions, and the first National Championship for Harvard. The ECAC regular season championship, the Cleary Cup, is named in honor of the former Harvard player, coach, and Olympian for his efforts to form the conference. Longtime assistant Ronn Tomassoni was named head coach for the following season. In his first season as head coach in February 1, 1992, Tomassoni guided Harvard to the program's 1,000 win when it defeats Union, 7-3.In 1993 the team returned to the NCAA Tournament
1993 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament
The 1993 NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey Tournament involved 12 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college ice hockey. It began on March 26, 1993, and ended with the championship game on April 3...
for the first time since their championship in 1989. The Crimson lost in double overtime to Northern Michigan
Northern Michigan Wildcats men's ice hockey
The Northern Michigan Wildcats men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents Northern Michigan University. The Wildcats are a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association . NMU has won one national title and has...
2-3. Harvard returned to the NCAA the following season in 1994 and advanced to the Frozen Four with a 7-1 win over New Hampshire
New Hampshire Wildcats men's ice hockey
The New Hampshire Wildcats men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents the University of New Hampshire. The Wildcats are a member of Hockey East...
. In the NCAA semifinal the Crimson fell to Lake Superior State 3-2 in overtime. finishing the year a record of 24-5-4. The appearance in the 1993 Frozen Four was the last of the program to date.
Mark Mazzoleni became the tenth coach in program history on July 16, 1999. Under Mazzoleni the Crimson reached the NCAA Tournament three straight seasons in 2001-02, 2002-03, and 2003-04. The streak was extended to five straight seasons, tying a program high, by Ted Donato
Ted Donato
Edward Paul Donato is a retired American ice hockey player who played in the NHL. Since he retired from professional hockey as a player in 2004, he has served as the head coach for the Harvard University hockey team.-Career:...
in 2004-05 and 2005-06. The 1-6 loss to Maine in the NCAA Tournament marked the last appearance in the tournament
ECAC Hockey
- 8-time ECAC men's champions: 1963, 1971, 1983, 1987, 1994, 2002, 2004, 2006
- 10-time ECAC men's regular-season champions: 1963, 1973, 1975, 1986–89, 1992–94
Beanpot championships
- See: The Beanpot
Champions:
- 1952-53
- 1954-55
- 1959-60
- 1961-62
- 1968-69
- 1973-74
- 1976-77
- 1980-81
- 1988-89
- 1992-93
Hobey Baker Award
To date, three Crimson players have won the Hobey Baker AwardHobey Baker Award
The Hobey Baker Award is an annual award given to the top National Collegiate Athletic Association men's ice hockey player.It is named for hockey player and World War I veteran Hobey Baker, who played collegiately at Princeton University and learned the game at St...
:
- Mark FuscoMark FuscoMark Edward Fusco is a retired professional ice hockey player who appeared in 80 NHL regular season games for the Hartford Whalers in 1984–85. As an amateur, Fusco won the Hobey Baker Award in 1983 while playing for the Harvard University men's ice hockey team...
- 1983 - Scott FuscoScott FuscoScott Michael Fusco is a retired ice hockey player, who attended the Belmont Hill School. He won the Hobey Baker Award in 1986 while playing for Harvard. He was also a member of the American 1984 Winter Olympics ice hockey team...
- 1986 - Lane MacDonaldLane MacDonaldB. Lane MacDonald is a retired ice hockey player. Born in Tulsa as the son of former NHL player Lowell MacDonald, Lane was a prep star at the University School of Milwaukee, and grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
- 1989
Notable alumni
Over 150 former Beavers have gone on to play professional hockey, including in the NHL and other major professional leagues internationally, including:- Craig Adams
- Chris BalaChris BalaChris Bala is an American former professional ice hockey player....
- Dan BolducDan BolducDaniel George "Danny" Bolduc. is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League and World Hockey Association between 1976–84...
- Greg BritzGreg BritzGregory J. Britz After completing high school in Buffalo, New York, forward Greg Britz enrolled at Harvard University where he played for the school's hockey team. During his freshman season in the NCAA, Britz played in 26 games, scoring eight goals and 13 points...
- Tom CavanaghTom Cavanagh (ice hockey)Thomas Garrett Cavanagh was an American professional ice hockey center who most recently played with the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League. He was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the sixth round, 182nd overall, of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft...
- Peter CiavagliaPeter CiavagliaPeter Anthony Ciavaglia is a retired American professional ice hockey center. After graduating from Nichols High School in Buffalo, NY in 1987, Peter was selected in that year's NHL Entry Draft by the Calgary Flames...
- Bill Cleary
- Ted DonatoTed DonatoEdward Paul Donato is a retired American ice hockey player who played in the NHL. Since he retired from professional hockey as a player in 2004, he has served as the head coach for the Harvard University hockey team.-Career:...
- Ted DruryTed DruryTheodore Evans Drury is a retired American ice hockey player. He is the older brother of former NHL star, Chris Drury....
- Mark FuscoMark FuscoMark Edward Fusco is a retired professional ice hockey player who appeared in 80 NHL regular season games for the Hartford Whalers in 1984–85. As an amateur, Fusco won the Hobey Baker Award in 1983 while playing for the Harvard University men's ice hockey team...
- Scott FuscoScott FuscoScott Michael Fusco is a retired ice hockey player, who attended the Belmont Hill School. He won the Hobey Baker Award in 1986 while playing for Harvard. He was also a member of the American 1984 Winter Olympics ice hockey team...
- Jack Hughes
- Dave HynesDave HynesDavid Hynes is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 22 games in the National Hockey League for the Boston Bruins in 1973–75 as well as 22 games in the World Hockey Association for the New England Whalers in 1976–77. He was also a member of the United States national team at the...
- Ryan LannonRyan LannonRyan Lannon is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who plays for the KalPa Kuopio of the Finnish Elite League .-Playing career:...
- Louis LeblancLouis LeblancLouis Leblanc is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre. He is currently playing with the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League...
- Craig MacDonaldCraig MacDonaldJames Craig MacDonald is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who currently plays for the Adler Mannheim in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga.-Playing career:...
- Lane MacDonaldLane MacDonaldB. Lane MacDonald is a retired ice hockey player. Born in Tulsa as the son of former NHL player Lowell MacDonald, Lane was a prep star at the University School of Milwaukee, and grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
- Steve MartinsSteve MartinsSteve Martins is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Martins attended Harvard University, graduating in 1995. Martins played professional hockey from 1995 until 2009 primarily in minor leagues. He was able to play 267 games in the National Hockey League with the Hartford Whalers,...
- Bob McManamaBob McManamaRobert Spang McManama is a retired professional ice hockey player.He played 99 games in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Penguins and 37 games in the World Hockey Association for the New England Whalers in 1973–76...
- Robert McVeyRobert McVeyRobert Patrick "Bob" McVey is an American ice hockey player. He won a gold medal at the 1960 Winter Olympics, bringing home the US's first Olympic Hockey Gold Medal. He went to Harvard and then onto the Olympics...
- Dominic MooreDominic MooreDominic Michael Moore is an Canadian professional ice hockey centre who currently plays for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League. Moore attended both St. Michael Catholic Elementary School and St. Anthony's Catholic Elementary School in Thornhill, Ontario; St...
- Steve MooreSteve MooreSteven Dean Moore is a former Canadian professional ice hockey center, best known for receiving what turned out to be a career-ending injury as a result of an illegal hit by then Vancouver Canucks forward Todd Bertuzzi....
- Kirk NielsenKirk NielsenKirk Nielsen is a retired American professional ice hockey player. He played 6 games in the NHL with the Boston Bruins during the 1997–98 season. He is the younger brother of Jeff Nielsen.-External links:...
- Dylan ReeseDylan ReeseDylan Paul Reese is an ice hockey defenseman currently playing in the New York Islanders organization.-Playing career:Reese was drafted 209th overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Rangers. He played collegiate hockey with Harvard of the ECAC where he won two conference championships...
- Allain RoyAllain RoyAllain Roland Roy is a retired Canadian ice hockey goaltender. He won a silver medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics. Roy was named to the 1994 Olympic roster, but he did not play in any games....
- Neil SheehyNeil SheehyNeil Kane Sheehy is a retired American ice hockey player with dual citizenship. He grew up in International Falls, Minnesota....
- Don SweeneyDon SweeneyDonald Clarke Sweeney is a former ice hockey player for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League. He is presently with the Bruins as the assistant general manager.-Playing career:...
- Ted Thorndike
- Noah WelchNoah WelchNoah Paul Welch is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who currently plays for HV71 in the Swedish elite league Elitserien while under contract to the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
- C.J. Young
External links
- Men's Ice Hockey webpage. Harvard University Athletics official website