A number of events are planned for this weekend as Hamilton College helps celebrate 100 Years of Hockey starting Friday, Feb. 9.
The weekend kicks off with the Hamilton men’s hockey team’s practice inside Russell Sage Rink at 4 p.m. on Friday. A reception in the Fillius Events Barn begins at 5 p.m. and the evening will include recognition of the men’s team that won the 1998 Eastern College Athletic Conference East Region title on the 20th anniversary of that accomplishment. Phil Grady, who was that team’s head coach, will be the master of ceremonies. The first night concludes with a hockey gathering at Little Pub at 9.
A busy Saturday begins with Hamilton alumni hockey games at 9 and 10:10 a.m. at Sage Rink. A “100 Years of Hamilton Hockey” display will be available from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. in the Burke Library Commons. Coach Grady, College Archivist Kathy Collett and Hockey Historian Fred Addis will give remarks at 11:30 a.m. and light lunch will be available. The presentation includes the creation of the first hockey goalie mask. Fans can watch another Hamilton men’s hockey practice at Clinton Arena at 10:30 a.m.
The weekend’s keynote program starts at 2:30 p.m. at the Clinton Central Schools Performing Arts Center where the invited speakers include hockey legends Guy Hebert ’89, Stan Fischler and Pat Kelly. Hebert will receive an honorary degree and highlights from the Hamilton-Clinton ‘Breaking Bread” initiative will be shown. Hebert was a standout goaltender for four years with the Continentals before he went on to play for Team USA and three National Hockey League organizations from 1991 to 2001. He’s currently a broadcaster for Fox Sports West, where he offers in-depth analysis for Anaheim Ducks pregame and postgame shows.
The Hamilton men’s hockey team hosts Connecticut College for a NESCAC game at Clinton Arena on Saturday night at 7. A ceremonial puck drop prior to the start of the game will feature the program’s all-time leading scorers in Tim Norbeck ’60, Peter Kennedy ’70 and Mike Marta ’84.
On Sunday the Continentals play Tufts University in another men’s hockey conference game at 3 p.m. at Sage Rink. It’s the final home game of the season for the Hamilton men and they will recognize seniors Tyler Bruneteau ’18, Evan Buitenhuis ’18, Neil Conway ’18, T.J. Daigler ’18 and Brandon Willett ’18 before the contest. A banner honoring Albert Prettyman, who brought hockey to Clinton 100 years ago, will be on display. Fans can join the hockey team and their families for a postgame get-together at Little Pub at 3 p.m.
