Patrick Shanahan

Alumni pose with the Big Red Bear before the "Frozen Apple" hockey match-up at Madison Square Garden Nov. 29.

Patrick Shanahan

Cornell hockey fans gather in Madison Square Garden to cheer on the Big Red, who defeated the Penn State Nittany Lions, 3-1.

Just days after Thanksgiving, Cornellians were given yet another reason to be thankful as the Cornell men’s hockey team snatched victory from the Penn State Nittany Lions during the “Frozen Apple” match-up Nov. 29 at Madison Square Garden.

Through Penn State seized the lead early in the game, outshooting the Big Red and posting the first goal of the game in the first period, Cornell regained steam in the second period with a goal by junior John Knisley. Cornell echoed that goal in the third period, first with a goal by senior Joel Lowry, and later with another goal by Knisley, delivering a 3-1 victory for the Big Red.

To Cornell alumni, however, the game was about much more than securing a win.

“It’s great to reunite with people we went to school with and people we’ve been in touch with – and some people we haven’t been in touch with,” said Jan Rothman '71, attending the pre-game celebration at Local Café and Cocktails with his wife, Debbie Rothman '73.

“It’s great. I think this is a great time to do this. The game is a great excuse for everyone to get together,” said Deb Gellman '75, who organized the celebration that was attended by more than 70 alumni.

The crowd at Madison Square Garden, dominated by the color red, exemplified the strength of Cornell’s footprint in and around New York City.

“It’s cool to see so many alumni here. We know there are a lot of alumni in the area, but to see it here in one place is pretty cool,” said Mike Goldstein '09.

“There aren’t too many events like this – especially sporting events – in the city where you can go out and you know you’re going to see a lot of alumni from different classes, so it’s a lot of fun,” said Chris Lazzari, MBA '12.

Attendance was not limited to Cornellians based in New York. For many, it provided a reason to reconnect with friends based across the country.

“We meet up every year,” said Justin Finkle '11, of friends gathered from New York, Chicago and Boston. “After the game … everybody goes down the street to Stout, which is a bar around the corner, which has an outrageous line. It’s neat. When you get to Madison Square Garden, everybody is in red. We have eight times as many fans as anybody else,” he said.

For others, walking the halls of Madison Square Garden between periods served as a kind of impromptu reunion. “I literally found eight friends without walking eight feet. It’s pretty cool,” said Helen Giles '13, who saw her Dunbar’s co-worker Ranatta Young '07, DVM '14, for the first time in three years.

Put together, the experience brought back memories of time in Ithaca, said Brian Wolther '05. “It’s so great to come out and see Cornell. I remember my college days. I remember what it was like to go to the games back in Lynah Rink. It’s like a bigger Lynah Rink here tonight, and it’s a lot of fun,” he said.

Claire Lambrecht ’06, MBA ’15, is a freelance writer in New York City.