WEB UPDATE: Crimson Nabs First Win (And Loss) of 2011

Some say the new year brings new fortune, and that looked like it just might be true for the Harvard men’s hockey team.

After a seven-game losing skid to close out 2010, the Crimson (3-9, 2-7 ECAC Hockey) returned to the ice on Saturday afternoon to defeat Army (5-12-1, 4-6-1 Atlantic Hockey) 4-2 in its first game of the Sheraton/TD Bank Catamount Cup at Gutterson Fieldhouse in Burlington, Vt.

But the triumph would be short-lived, as Harvard was handed another loss by Vermont (3-10-4, 1-6-3 Hockey East) in a 3-1 decision last night.

All three teams have struggled in early season play and were looking to boost the latter part of their schedules with a successful tournament run.

Ohio State won both of its games against Vermont and Army to capture the Sheraton/TD Bank Catamount Cup title. Killorn, who has now registered points in 10 of Harvard’s 12 games, was the lone Crimson player named to the six-member All-Tournament Team.

VERMONT 3, HARVARD 1

The Crimson and the Catamounts share unique common ground—both are coached by two former Harvard hockey captains and teammates: Ted Donato ’91 and Kevin Sneddon ’92, respectively.

But the two squads looked like they may have had more than just coaching in common at the beginning of their matchup Sunday. The first frame was scoreless, with both teams limiting their opponent’s shots—despite two Vermont power plays.

Harvard looked to get on the scoreboard late in the first period and early in the second with dangerous shots from senior Michael Biega and sophomore Marshall Everson, but Catamount junior netminder Rob Madore denied every opportunity.

Just past the game’s halfway mark, Vermont struck with a slap shot that made it past senior Crimson goalie Kyle Richter to put the Catamounts up 1-0. And before the close of the second period senior Vermont defenseman Kyle Medvec added another goal to give his team a two-score margin.

At the beginning of the final frame, Medvec and Catamount freshman Connor Brickley combined to bounce a shot off Richter to bring the score to 3-0.

Amidst some controversial and physical play, a Vermont penalty gave Harvard the man advantage and junior Alex Killorn, Harvard’s leading scorer, put away a slap shot just out of Madore’s reach.

Minutes later it looked like the Catamounts had struck once again, but the late goal was disallowed after video replay revealed Brickley had tripped Richter.

The Crimson tried to recover in an aggressive last few minutes of play, but the effort proved futile, and the game ended in a 3-1 loss.

HARVARD 4, ARMY 2

Before Saturday, it had been almost 20 years since the Crimson and the Black Knights last met on ice. But before tha, Harvard had dominated the series with a 29-5-1 overall advantage.

The Crimson continued its runn in the two teams’ most recent meeting this weekend.

Harvard came out looking strong, controlling the puck and getting shots off early in the opening period. Aggressive play kept the Crimson on the offensive attack, but Army found the back of the net first. The Black Knights scored on their first shot of the game during an Army power play.

The Black Knights kept their momentum, taking a 2-0 lead just four minutes later. As a result, Harvard went into the first intermission facing a two-goal deficit, despite outshooting its opponents 9-5.

But when the Crimson returned for the second period, it took control of the ice and of the scoreboard.

Early in the frame Harvard freshman Danny Fick set up a good look for sophomore Brendan Rempel, who sent a tough shot towards the Army goal. Senior Michael Biega got his stick on the puck just enough to deflect the shot past the Black Knights’ goaltender.

Halfway through the period, sophomore David Valek scored his first goal of the season, with help from junior Rence Coassin and freshman Dan Ford, to tie up the score at 2-2.

It wasn’t long into the third frame when Killorn got Harvard its first lead of the game when he put away a backhand shot off the rebound of a try from Biega.

Sophomore Luke Greiner scored the Crimson’s final goal five minutes later when he deflected another shot by Fick, giving the Harvard freshman two assists on the day.

But with more than half the period left to play, there was still time for Army to attempt a comeback. The Black Knights racked up seven shots in the final period, almost as many as they had all game, but Richter kept the puck out of the net, accumulating 13 saves—even with almost two minutes of 6-on-4 play.

The Crimson defense prevailed and locked up the 4-2 victory for a positive start to 2011 play.