Ingalls Rink is mighty cold today.

In fact, it is even colder than usual.

The rink's large-capacity central heating system, gauged to keep the ice at a constant temperature, has broken down, says a source close to the Yale men's hockey team.

The source went on to say that the chances for the Elis' return to the ECAC tournament have been seriously damaged because of the now lightning-fast ice.

The new ice might have accounted for the fact that the Bulldogs dropped their first two home games to Dartmouth and Harvard last weekend. The Crimson had not won at Ingalls since 1977.

Yale police refused comment on the fact that a male Caucasian wearing a blue hockey jersey, a blue bandanna, blue sunglasses, and blue sneakers was seen exiting the rink in broad daylight yesterday with the entire heating system and a blowtorch in tow.

"If that's true," said police captain Rizzo O'Grady, "then he's a superman."

Robert Kudeiski '87, now playing with the Los Angeles Kings, said from his hotel room in Winnepeg last night that he liked the slow ice that a heating system offered.

"Ice is slippery; you can fall so easily," said the former Eli. "I like slush. You can get a good footing on it."

Daren Puppa, formerly of RPI, has a different perspective.

"When they had the heat on, I couldn't bear it," said the goalie for the Buffalo Sabres. "It got so hot, I just wanted to take off all my equipment right in the middle of the game. Thank goodness the heat's off for the enjoyment of future generations."

A source close to the Yale manager says that the maintenance crew of the rink is relieved that the heating system is out of commission.

"I hated it when we had to go out and repair the ice two, three, four times a game," said the source, who was quoted on the condition that he not be named. "With a hard ice surface, there won't be any holes to fix."

Head Coach Tim Taylor wouldn't comment on the heat breakdown, except to say that "Las Vegas would have a field day with this one."