Red Hot Hockey will return for a sixth edition to Madison Square Garden this Thanksgiving weekend as Boston University and Cornell will play Nov. 25, 2017.
Tickets for Red Hot Hockey will be on sale directly through Ticketmaster.com and the Madison Square Garden website. Fans have the opportunity to buy tickets in either the Boston University or Cornell fan sections beginning on June 23 at noon. Student tickets will be available at a discounted rate at the box office at Agganis Arena (Boston University) and at the Cornell Athletic Ticket Office in Bartels Hall.
“Red Hot Hockey at Madison Square Garden is five months away, but alumni and fans of Cornell Hockey are already making plans to attend,” Cornell director of athletics and physical education Andy Noel said in a statement. “At reunion weekend, many alumni specifically mentioned the annual battle at MSG and I was delighted that enthusiasm is building so soon.”
The inaugural Red Hot Hockey event, staged in front of 18,200 students, alumni, parents and fans, was a resounding success. Held on November 24, 2007, it featured members of the 1980 gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic team, including Mike Eruzione, Jack O’Callahan and David Silk from Boston University, as well as NHL Hall of Famer and Cornell alum Joe Nieuwendyk.
BU is undefeated at Red Hot Hockey, winning in 2007, 2011 and 2013 while skating to ties with the Big Red in 2009 and 2015. The Terriers have never relinquished the Kelley-Harkness Cup, which honors legendary coaches Jack Kelley (BU) and Ned Harkness (Cornell), since it was introduced four years ago.
“All of us at Boston University are looking forward to another great weekend in New York City for what has truly become a ‘bowl game’ for Terrier Nation,” said BU director of athletics Drew Marrochello in a news release. “Now 10 years since its inception, Red Hot Hockey was the perfect way to reignite this rivalry, and it continues to be a highly anticipated fixture on our calendar.”
The BU-Cornell rivalry began on Jan. 10, 1925, with a 7-2 victory by the Terriers, and includes two matchups in the NCAA title game (1967, 1972). However, the schools met only sporadically since BU left the ECAC to join Hockey East in 1984-85 before the initial Red Hot Hockey event.
“When I look back to past Red Hot Hockey games, I remember special nights for our team and BU alumni and fans,” said BU coach David Quinn in a statement. “Playing on this stage is incredible and we are grateful that Madison Square Garden has invited us and Cornell back once again.”
“We are very excited to return to Madison Square Garden for another year of this fantastic event,” added Cornell coach Mike Schafer. “Red Hot Hockey is something that everyone around our program awaits with great anticipation, and it’s amazing that it’s remained such a prominent event in college hockey for 10 years.”
