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UPDATED: March 22, 2015, at 5:02 a.m.

LAKE PLACID, N.Y.—Harvard’s Colin Blackwell scaled the boards, lifting his chin above the short glass of Herb Brooks Arena. The fourth-year forward’s head was finally in the right place.

After nearly two seasons lost to concussion-related symptoms, Blackwell could celebrate an empty-net insurance marker in the ECAC tournament final. Fifty-five ticks of the 1980 Olympic scoreboard later, the real celebration began.

With a 4-2 win over fourth-seeded Colgate (22-12-4, 11-7-4 ECAC) on Saturday, the sixth-seeded Crimson (21-12-3, 11-8-3 ECAC) clinched its first conference championship and automatic NCAA tournament bid since 2006. Junior forward Jimmy Vesey scored twice and set a tournament scoring record to capture All-Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors.

For Harvard’s class of 2015, Friday’s win marked the realization of a dream years in the making. Injuries and eligibility issues kept much of the highly-touted class’s talent off the ice as the Crimson struggled through the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 seasons.

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On Saturday, the fourth-years delivered. Goaltender Steve Michalek recorded a game-high 30 saves, and defenseman Patrick McNally scored the game-winning goal and added two assists. Blackwell topped things off with his empty-netter from the neutral zone.

“I’m particularly proud of the way they’ve handled themselves through a number of different circumstances, whatever came their way,” said Harvard coach Ted Donato '91, who captured his second conference title in 11 years behind the bench. “Just looking at the score sheet tonight gives me chills.”

Vesey, meanwhile, provided a dominant performance in the most important game of his college career. His second goal of the night and ninth of the postseason broke the ECAC all-time goal-scoring record for a single tournament, set by Cornell’s Doug Marrett in 1973. He also drew two key penalties, including a tripping minor with under five minutes to play.

Vesey scored the game’s first goal at 12:22 in the first period, punching in a rebound from junior co-captain Kyle Criscuolo at the right side of the crease, but Colgate junior forward Darcy Murphy evened the score less than three minutes later.

Seconds after officials reviewed and waved off an unsuccessful attempt by sophomore forward Derek Freeman, Murphy trapped a rebound off a faceoff win in the Harvard zone and batted the puck past Michalek.

Vesey’s record-setting goal put the Crimson back on top 1:29 into the second period. Working with the puck from the right side of the cage on a power play, the junior forward eluded a poke check by Colgate goaltender Charlie Finn before sliding one past his far pad.

“[Vesey] is one of the best players we’ve seen in our league in a long time,” Raider coach Don Vaughan said. “He has unbelievable control over his game. He seems effortless in his stride; I’ve never seen him break a sweat.”

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