Chris Biotti, another defenseman, is just big. He's 6-ft., 2-in. and weighs 200 lbs. He has an aura of his own because he was drafted in the first round of the NHL draft by the Calgary Flames. He's a pro, and he's playing for Harvard.

The crowd, too, has a personality. It is noisy and mean. It delights in opposing teams' mishaps and scorns all opposing goalies.

Last year, Doug Dadswell, a former Cornell goalie now playing in the Flames' minor league system, got the familiar, "Sieve, sieve" chants howled at him.

He also heard this taunt: "We know your dad's well, but how's your mother?"

And someone added, crudely, "Is she a sieve, too?"

Big Al, the guy with the colorful Air Jordan clothes and sun glasses who stands behind the goal on the far end of the rink during every home game, comes with signs which he holds up periodically. They all have messages--most of them funny.

When the Crimson plays Colgate, Al holds up signs that say, "Brush Your Team With Colgate"

Against Cornell, his sign reads, "Better Dead Than Red."

When the crowd is cheering and ranting, Bright isn't so cold. You're not so cold. You like it. Yes, you like it.

And when it's over, and you've stepped back into the cold night, you realize you haven't been to a mere hockey game. You've been to a pageant.