Re: Boston College '12-'13: Gaudreaubey Baker
Always remember though, its not about the teams, players and coaches,
Toot and Fenway
While Cahoon has already commented in the preceding section on the event, he holds a special place among hockey people and Fenway Park. He’s thrown out a first pitch, coached UMass to Saturday’s overtime win, and …
… well, let’s let him tell it.
“I know there are 70,000 people that have said they were at Ted Williams’ last game when he hit a home run, but I actually was,” Cahoon said. “I was 11 years old and my dad brought me in. There might have been 14,000 people there because I know it was half empty.
“I can remember when Ted Williams hit [the home run], my dad jumping out of his seat, [yelling], ‘He did it! He did it!’
“I love this park. I love this city. It’s exciting for the team first and foremost and for the school, but on a personal level it’s very exciting.”
When asked once more about his Fenway notoriety, Cahoon turned humorous.
“It’ll be something they put on my gravestone, I suppose,” he said. “But I’d rather stay alive and not have that written real soon.”
The game between Harvard and Union on January 13 at 7 p.m. will now be played outdoors at Fenway Park as part of Sun Life Frozen Fenway 2012.
The game, originally scheduled for the Bright Hockey Center, will now be played as part of a doubleheader, following a Division III game between Babson and Norwich at 3:30 p.m.
“We’re excited about the opportunity to play at Fenway Park with all its history and tradition,” said Harvard head coach Ted Donato in a statement. “We’re looking forward to an incredible environment and the experience of a lifetime for our players.”
“It is an honor for our team to be involved in the first outdoor ECAC Hockey game at an historic venue such as Fenway Park,” Union head coach Rick Bennett added. “This will be an unforgettable experience for our student-athletes, staff and fans.”
I’m ecstatic,” UNH senior Micaela Long said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and great for women’s hockey. The adrenalin will be pumping, so I’m not sure how much we’ll be thinking about the crowd or the ice surface. I think we’ll be just focusing on the game. The opportunity is unbelievable.”
Although the men are more accustomed to large crowds, they seemed no less awestruck about the opportunity. “Growing up in the Boston area and being a Red Sox fan, I don’t think words can express how excited I am about being part of this atmosphere,” BU sophomore defenseman David Warsofsky said.
“I think we’re all excited,” Eagles goalie John Muse said. “Growing up in Boston as a huge Sox fan, playing at Fenway has always been something that you’ve heard about, so to have it happen is a dream come true.”
The sunny, muggy weather for a morning news conference — held in foul territory on the first-base side of the field — matched the fever pitch of all parties involved. “Growing up here, I always thought I’d make it here as a shortstop,” BC coach Jerry York said. “But the pitchers got a lot better, and I’m awful glad to be here coaching. When I speak to [Boston Herald writer] Jocko Connolly and other sportswriters, I always say that BU and BC could play on Victory Field in Watertown and have a great crowd. I never quite envisioned that we’d come here to Fenway Park. We’re very excited about it. It’s a terrific opportunity for our coaches, fans, and players to take part in this spectacle. It’s going to be outstanding.”
Read more:
http://www.uscho.com/2009/08/20/fenway-games-set-dreams-become-reality/#ixzz2EwliIqXB
