In the semifinal of the University of Liggett Holiday Tournament, North turned out to be no match for the explosive Blue Devil Boys Hockey team. After just two periods of play, the game ended due to mercy rule, with a 9-0 final score. Facing a struggling Norsemen team, South eradicated any chances of an upset.
Leading the way for this energized team was goalie Jacob Haack ’24 with a shutout performance. In an emotional rivalry game, Haack says you have to be prepared for anything on the ice. Blocking out the noise was crucial to his and his team’s success in the game.
“You have to treat it like any other game,” Haack said. “There’s going to be a lot more tension, a lot more fans banging on the glass, but you have to get over that and focus in on what your job is, which is to play the hockey game.”
South versus North is a game like no other to the players. When both teams are passionately invested in winning for their school, vehemence can ride high. To Haack, staying calm is key to controlling yourself. Discipline is pivotal to keeping your focus on the end goal, victory.
“It was definitely an intense environment,” Haack said. “You’ve got to make sure you can keep your cool because it gets very heated in the corners and the battles. You’ve got to keep it calm and collected, and not overreact.”
The goals and motivations of the Blue Devil Hockey team stretch beyond this tournament, but it will help them get there. Haack says the difference between a rivalry game compared to a normal one is the expectation and drive to win. He says the lessons these games teach will benefit the team down the road.
“For the North game, you have to be ready for anything,” Haack said. “We dominated them, but you have to be prepared because at any point they could come back. There can always be a crazy bounce and momentum shift, so you have to make sure you keep a level head. You don’t want to have your highs too high and over-celebrate. You’ve got to keep it modest and just play the game.”
