Cornell to Face BU Once Again at MSG

ITHACA, N.Y. -- Following the sold-out tradition of 2007 and 2009, Boston University Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics Mike Lynch and Cornell University's Meakem*Smith Director of Athletics and Physical Education Andy Noel announced today that Red Hot Hockey will once again heat up the ice at Madison Square Garden on November 26, 2011, as Boston University and Cornell resume an 86 year-old rivalry in a non-conference NCAA Division I men's ice hockey match-up.

Tickets for the third incarnation of Red Hot Hockey are now on sale directly through Cornell's athletic ticket site (http://www.cornellbigredtickets.com) or through Ticketmaster (http://www.thegarden.com/events/red-hot-hockey-1111), with the best selection for Cornell fans available through CornellBigRedTickets.com. Fans will have the opportunity to buy tickets in any of the following categories: Best Available, Boston University Fan Section, or the Cornell University Fan Section beginning on April 12, 2011 at 10:00am. 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.

"Boston University is thrilled to be back for a third year of Red Hot Hockey at our home away from home, Madison Square Garden," said Mike Lynch, Boston University Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics. "Cornell and The Garden have been tremendous partners in helping bring this highly anticipated hockey match-up to the many BU alumni in the New York area. There is no better showcase for our men's hockey program than the World's Most Famous Arena."

The inaugural Red Hot Hockey event, in front of 18,200 passionate students, alumni, parents and fans, was a resounding success. Held on November 24, 2007, it marked the first time a collegiate hockey game had sold out the “World's Most Famous Arena,” and featured the attendance of prominent alumni from both schools, including members of the 1980 gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic hockey team Mike Eruzione, Jack O'Callahan and David Silk from Boston University, as well as former NHL great and Cornell alum, Joe Nieuwendyk.

Not to be outdone, the schools' collective hockey-enthused fan bases produced another sell out on November 28, 2009, creating a tradition for fans to be at Red Hot Hockey in New York in November. The 2009 game was highlighted by a thrilling contest which saw the then-defending NCAA Champion Terriers rally for a 3-3 tie with just under a minute to play in regulation.

“We are excited to bring another edition of our great rivalry with Boston University back to New York City and Madison Square Garden,” said Andy Noel, Cornell University's Meakem*Smith director of athletics and physical education. “Our terrific fans and alumni have demonstrated their unmatched support for this series, and we are anticipating another spirited competition this Thanksgiving.”

Both schools are perennial college hockey powerhouses. Boston University has won the national championship five times (1971, 1972, 1978, 1995 and 2009), while Cornell has claimed the title twice (1967, 1970). Combined, the two schools have seen over 90 former players forge careers in the National Hockey League, including the likes of current Rangers captain Chris Drury, Keith Tkachuk and Tony Amonte (Boston University), as well as Douglas Murray, Ken Dryden and Joe Nieuwendyk (Cornell).

“Madison Square Garden is excited to host two of college hockey's most successful programs for the third time in five years,” said Joel Fisher, executive vice president, MSG Sports. “The two prior Boston University / Cornell hockey games sold out in 2007 and 2009, showing that there is an appetite for college hockey in New York City. We look forward to hosting this great college hockey rivalry at The Garden."

The BU–Cornell rivalry began on Jan. 10, 1925, with a 7-2 victory by the Terriers, and includes two match-ups 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 in 2007. Madison Square Garden, home to the NHL's Rangers and NBA's Knicks, will once again serve as the venue to showcase the next chapter in this storied rivalry.

“Obviously, we're very excited about again playing Boston University at Madison Square Garden. This event has turned out to be one of the top events in all of college hockey during the years we've played the game,” said Cornell head coach Mike Schafer. “We're excited to again play in the country's biggest media market in a historic venue against one of the traditional powers, and we're looking forward to getting a win in front of our fans and continuing this great rivalry.”

“It goes without saying that we're excited to once again play our historic rival in such a storied building. We've sold it out twice before and the atmosphere there is as good as it gets in college athletics,” said BU head coach Jack Parker, whose 853 career wins rank second among active NCAA Division I college hockey coaches. “Both teams should be highly ranked next season, making this one of the most anticipated non-league games of the year.”