Lynah Rink has always been a den of iniquity. Cornell's fans are characteristically loud, obnoxious and raucous. Behind its fish-hurling minions, the Big Red plays a rough, physical game against the Crimson and pulls off a 2-2 tie.

Harvard, however, could take comfort in the result. The Crimson contained the potentially explosive Red offense even though top defenders Sneddon and Brian McCormack were sidelined.

December 27

Twenty-day layoff. Sneddon out. Nationally-ranked opponents.

Harvard opens up the Great Lakes Invitational with the cards stacked against it. Both Harvard and Michigan--which squared off in the opening round--look out of synch all game long, but the talented Wolverines manage a 3-1 victory behind stellar goaltending from sophomore Steve Shields.

December 28

Michigan State Coach Ron Mason summed up the game against Harvard best: "It was a typical consolation game." Yep. That's about it.

Harvard looks alive at the beginning, taking a 1-0 lead, but Michigan State begins pounding away at the Crimson cage midway through the second and eventually secures the game, 3-1.

The Crimson leaves the Motor City with some well learned lessons. Watch stupid penalties. Forecheck aggressively. And never spend more than three days in Detroit.

January 3

Harvard staves off a last minute Vermont charge to take a 3-1 victory in Burlington. Goalie Allain Roy turns in a masterful performance, recording 20 saves against an aggressive Catamounts squad.

Win #1 of a three-game, three-state roadtrip.

January 4

Thompson Arena is bitingly cold and painfully empty, but Harvard doesn't mind. The Crimson handles the sluggish Big Green, 6-3, with balanced scoring (six different players) and solid defense.

In marked contrast to last year, Harvard begins to look comfortable on the road. Two down, one to go.