Icemen Build on Tradition

It began in 1898 when the first Crimson team skated onto Boston's Franklin Field to clash with the Brown Bruins in the first collegiate ice hockey game.

While Harvard didn't win that first hockey game, it hasn't done too bad since then.

Almost a century later, the Crimson celebrated its 1000th hockey victory in Bright Arena last Saturday afternoon, by defeating the Union Skating Dutchmen, 7-3.

Harvard became only the second school in the country to reach that collegiate hockey milestone, behind only the Minnesota programs in school wins.

"When we finally did make the 1000, it was pretty special. I realized I was part of Harvard hockey history," senior defenseman Rich DeFreitas said. "We didn't win it only for ourselves. We won it for all the winning programs of the past."

Harvard's lineage of players, including over 30 Olympians and All-Americans, have helped win over 63 percent of all the games the Crimson has played since the birth of Harvard hockey, according to the Sports Information Office.

The tradition of success is evident, but one question still remains: Why has the Harvard remained such a consistent force in collegiate hockey over the past century?

Members of the current Crimson hockey program and athletic department attribute the continuing success to Harvard's ability to attract talented players.

"We've had a history of success in hockey," Athletic Director William J.Cleary, Jr. '56.

According to people involved Harvard's program,the school attracts these players by offering themand opportunity to play for a nationally rankedhockey team and, at the same time, to attend oneof the best universities in the country.

"Harvard strives for excellence in everything,in the field and in the classroom," Harvard HeadCoach Ronn Tomassoni said. "Playerswant to be a part of the hockey tradition here,but mostly, it is Harvard's status as a universitythat draws the best."

Players agree that Harvard's academicreputation helps interest competitive players.

"Harvard is Harvard," junior forward Jim Coadysaid. "If players have strong academics and enoughtalent to play in a good program, Harvard is theone they're gunning for."

Harvard's academic strength, however, is notthe only draw for star hockey players. Extensiverecruiting, a strong local tradition and anemphasis on fun help attract some of the besthockey players to the Harvard program, accordingto members of the athletic community.

"The coaches want players who have proven thatthey're winners their whole lives. That's who thecoaching staff goes after," Coady said.

Recruiting is a long and detailed process thatbegins during the player's junior year of highschool.

"We get on the ball and go on the road toactually see the players first hand," Pawloskisaid.

Boston has long been a hockey hot-bed andtalented players want to contribute to this hockeytradition, Cleary said.

"When you have four schools, BU, BC,Northeastern, and Harvard, so close in the Bostonarea, it's practically inevitable that these teamswould be competitive in hockey," Cleary said.

Although Harvard hockey has consistentlyremained competitive, the program has continued toemphasize that hockey should be fun, players said.

"The program here is in the properperspective," Coady said. "Hockey is not king;it's just another extracurricular activity. We canhave fun and still be successful..

According to people involved Harvard's program,the school attracts these players by offering themand opportunity to play for a nationally rankedhockey team and, at the same time, to attend oneof the best universities in the country.

"Harvard strives for excellence in everything,in the field and in the classroom," Harvard HeadCoach Ronn Tomassoni said. "Playerswant to be a part of the hockey tradition here,but mostly, it is Harvard's status as a universitythat draws the best."

Players agree that Harvard's academicreputation helps interest competitive players.

"Harvard is Harvard," junior forward Jim Coadysaid. "If players have strong academics and enoughtalent to play in a good program, Harvard is theone they're gunning for."

Harvard's academic strength, however, is notthe only draw for star hockey players. Extensiverecruiting, a strong local tradition and anemphasis on fun help attract some of the besthockey players to the Harvard program, accordingto members of the athletic community.

"The coaches want players who have proven thatthey're winners their whole lives. That's who thecoaching staff goes after," Coady said.

Recruiting is a long and detailed process thatbegins during the player's junior year of highschool.

"We get on the ball and go on the road toactually see the players first hand," Pawloskisaid.

Boston has long been a hockey hot-bed andtalented players want to contribute to this hockeytradition, Cleary said.

"When you have four schools, BU, BC,Northeastern, and Harvard, so close in the Bostonarea, it's practically inevitable that these teamswould be competitive in hockey," Cleary said.

Although Harvard hockey has consistentlyremained competitive, the program has continued toemphasize that hockey should be fun, players said.

"The program here is in the properperspective," Coady said. "Hockey is not king;it's just another extracurricular activity. We canhave fun and still be successful..