1996

Sports Statistics

Record: 11-18-3, 9-11-2 ECAC

Ivy Finish: Eighth

Coach: Ronn Tomassoni

Key Players: Captain Ashlin Halfnight; Juniors Henry Higdon and Jeremiah McCarthy; Sophomores Rob Millar and Craig Adams

1997

As the final seconds ticked off of the clock, and as the rowdy Lynah Rink faithful began chanting, "End of season," the Harvard hockey team finally faced the bitter truth that dreams don't always come true. For in many ways, the season had been over for some time.

Last year, after capping off the regular season with a nine-game losing streak and managing only sixth place in the league, the Crimson sneaked into Lake Placid on its way to the ECAC finals.

And again this year, Harvard rode out a painful sub-.500 regular season, hoping for a Cinderella finish come March. But the magic, the fairy tale finish and the sweet redemption for a season gone awry was not meant to be. Youth and inexperience proved too much as it plagued and exhausted the Crimson ranks, leading to a quarterfinal playoff exit against the Big Red.

"I definitely think it had a lot to do with inexperience," said Harvard coach Ronn Tomassoni about the disappointing finish. "We were the youngest team in college hockey. I'm not using that as an excuse, but with that youth we weren't as physically developed as other teams."

And to think it all started off so well.

The bus ride back from the first game at Brown on Nov. 2 was nothing short of sublime. Coaches and pundits had picked Harvard to finish third among the ECAC powerhouses, which included top ten teams such as Vermont, Cornell and Clarkson.

Any questions surrounding the nine freshman on the squad were temporarily answered as three of them nabbed points in their first official collegiate contest, and eventual ECAC Rookie of the Year J.R. Prestifilippo looked solid with 21 saves.

Sophomore Rob Millar, one of last year's surprise offensive weapons, continued his barrage with two high-light-worthy tallies, while the three seniors--captain Ashlin Halfnight, Joe Craigen and Marco Ferrari--were playing with an intensity and presence unseen before. Indeed, the team walked away from Meehan Auditorium that night not only with a punishing 5-3 win, but also with grand expectations for the next 22 league games.