Patrick Shanahan/Provided

Cornell lines up prior to its game Nov. 28 against Boston University in New York City.

The Nov. 28 Red Hot Hockey game at Madison Square Garden featured an on-ice appearance by Cornell President Elizabeth Garrett, a rink-side wave from an Olympic gold medalist and a live marriage proposal from Stu to Jen, broadcast from a giant screen above center ice.

The game ended in a 3-3 tie, although Cornell led Boston University by a score of 2-0 after the second period.

BU, ranked 11th in the nation, has won three of the biennial “Red Hot” games against Cornell at the Garden. The teams tied in one previous Red Hot matchup. Cornell’s varsity squad currently is ranked 15th in the nation.

Cornell freshman Autumn Watt attended the hockey game with her parents, Ronald and Jennifer Watt. Autumn Watt, a chemical engineering student, also is a soprano in the Cornell Chorus. The Watts, who live in the Houston area, said they attended their first Big Red hockey game – the team’s season opener at Lynah Rink – during Parents’ Weekend.

Justin Foreman ’10, who grew up in Manhattan, said he’s attended every Thanksgiving weekend hockey classic since his sophomore year.

Hockey fans were treated to a wave broadcast from Boston University graduate Mike “Rizzo” Eruzione, captain of the “miracle on ice” 1980 U.S. Olympic team that won the gold medal at Lake Placid, New York. Even Cornell’s faithful cheered as Eruzione held up a banner featuring a Terrier, BU’s mascot.

Bob Fischler ’71, a lawyer from Long Island, wore a big smile on his face after the second period when Cornell led BU by a score of 2-0. “I’ve never missed a Thanksgiving (weekend) game,” Fischler said. “This is a good one.”

BU mounted a comeback five minutes into the third period when freshman center Bobo Carpenter scored on a stellar series of passes from A.J. Greer and Nikolas Olsson.

That score ended Cornell goaltender Mitch Gillam’s shutout streak at 213 minutes and 17 seconds – the third-longest in Cornell hockey history. Boston’s Greer tied the game at 2-2 with his first goal of the season – at 8:30 into the third period.

Cornell regained the lead, 3-2, about 11 minutes into the third period. But BU silenced the re-energized Cornell crowd once again by tying the game, 3-3, with less than four minutes left, followed by a scoreless overtime period.

“It was a great college hockey game,” said Cornell coach Mike Schafer.

Cornell fans seemed only slightly disappointed by a ceremonial shootout that decided which team took home the Kelley-Harkness trophy. Each team scored three goals apiece in the first shootout, prompting a second sudden death shootout won by BU.

The fanfare continued nearby at Stout Bar where Ben Wegener ’12, now living in Las Vegas, joined a block-long line of Cornellians. Wegener, a native of the Albany area, said he didn’t care if Cornell won or lost. He was happy to catch up with former classmates and other friends.

The Red Hot Hockey series began in 2007. BU beat Cornell in 2007, 2011 and 2013. Per usual, Big Red fans far outnumbered visitors from Boston.

Jon Craig '80, a writer based in Westchester County, New York, covered college hockey for The Cornell Daily Sun.