The ECAC and Hockey East announced at a joint press conference today that New York’s Madison Square Garden will host a Dec. 22, 1998 doubleheader involving two premier teams from each conference. The first ECAC-Hockey East Holiday Doubleheader will feature Colgate, Maine, New Hampshire and Rensselaer.
“After a 22-year absence, it is very exciting to have college hockey back at Madison Square Garden,” said Paul Munick, vice-president of athletics for Madison Square Garden. “This is the first step in establishing an annual premier college hockey tournament in New York.”
From 1961 through 1976, the Garden hosted the ECAC Holiday Hockey Festival, and currently hosts the Chase Manhattan ECAC Holiday Basketball Festival.
“This is a terrific opportunity for college hockey to gain some exposure in a different market,” said ECAC hockey commissioner Jeff Fanter. “I am excited to rekindle a relationship that the ECAC once had with the Garden in college hockey. I hope this is the first of many joint ventures that we will undertake with Hockey East in the promotion of college hockey.”
“Having played in the 1970 Holiday Festival,” said Hockey East Commissioner Joe Bertagna,” I know firsthand what a terrific experience this can be for players and fans alike. And it is also our hope that this is the first of a series of ECAC-Hockey East events that can play to the natural rivalry that exists between our conferences and our institutions.”
