Cambridge Blues Triumph in Restored Ice Hockey Varsity Match
Despite having Blues status since 1933, it has been three years since a bona fide University Men’s Blues ice hockey team has played a recognised Varsity Match. Not since the Oxford Blues won by a score line of 17-1 in 2012 has an Oxford University ice hockey player earned an Oxford Blue in the sport. This changed on Friday 13th March 2015.
Since the resurgence of the Men’s Blues team, the men’s contingent of the Oxford University Ice Hockey Club (OUIHC), the scheduling of a Varsity Match with Cambridge has slowly become a reality with the reviewing of the Varsity Match rules following two years of unrecognised Varsity Matches played between Cambridge and an unaffiliated Oxford team.
Following a rule change by the Oxford Men’s Blues Committee, the notion was then passed unanimously by the Cambridge Men’s Blues Committee which clarified that the official Varsity Match in which Blues can be earned will only be played by a University team of matriculated students that is recognised by the University as being registered with the Men’s Blues Committee, the Sports Federation (for Oxford) and the University Proctors. It is worthy of note that as a gesture of good faith, the team offered an olive branch to the new players of the Oxford Blues who were due to graduate that year (the team of the Oxford Ice Hockey Trust which is not eligible to play the official Varsity Match and earn Blues). This provided one last opportunity for them to play for the University and earn their Oxford Blues in the Varsity Match – they declined.
Given the opportunity presented to the matriculated Oxford students of the OUIHC, the 10-man Oxford roster eagerly anticipated a heated affair, travelling to Alexandra Palace in London with a cohort of fans and alumni.
Oxford started the game strong with a clear strategy of solid defence and opportunistic attacking play. To Cambridge’s surprise, it was Oxford on the immediate attack from the face-off, with the Jesus College duo of fresher Ben Verboom and MCR President Damien Frost who opened the scoring. After a great offensive effort by defensemen Frost to beat the Cambridge player to the outside, it was Verboom who directed the cross-crease pass goal-wards past a stunned Cambridge netminder.
The Cambridge Light Blues came back strong with star player Christopher Finch spear-heading the attack. Several minutes later, the Light Blue had tied the game and had quickly added two more, utilising their mobile defence led by Spencer Brennan who notched two assists.
The game quickly turned into more of what the Oxford team had expected with a deliberate Finnish style of hockey shown by the Dark Blue, keeping the opposing players to the periphery forcing low percentage shots. However, Cambridge showed why they had the top two point scorers in the league by exhibiting their shooting accuracy and potting a couple more goals to extend the lead.
However, just like the start of the period it was Oxford who would get the tally. Winnipeg native Dallas Clement split the D after a defensive error and sniped a snapshot high glove side. The score line ending the first period was 6-2 in favour of Cambridge.
Caption: A result of Oxford forcing Cambridge to the outside through the neutral zone
With the first period behind them, coaches Mitch Breisner and Naeem Bardai reiterated the game plan and moved versatile Teddy Hall fresher Josh Hammond from defence to forward. The resulting period was a much more composed one for the Oxford side, playing a deliberate collapsing defensive structure to frustrate the talented Cambridge players. Despite tallies from Finch and Swede Oscar Willsby for Cambridge, the resilience shown by forwards Daniil Butman, Dan Lock and Hammond epitomised what it meant to take a hit in order to make a play. Selfless was the defence of Oxford and clinical was the attack, with Clement driving the puck forward following a restart after Cambridge’s 9th goal. The Aularian split the Cambridge defence for a breakaway and following a sweet fake to the backhand, slotted the puck on his forehand past an out-of-position Cambridge goalie – Roman Tourenne.
Caption: Dallas Clement scoring his second goal of the game on a breakaway
Entering the third period, the score line was 9-3 to the tabs, reflecting the size and the talent of their roster. With almost double the numbers of players compared with Oxford, Cambridge forced the play and the tempo, shunning the Dark Blues into their own zone and exploiting the depth of their bench. With tallies from Michal Barabas, Captain Jaason Geerts and Finch’s hat-trick goal, the Light Blue would have run away with the score if it wasn’t for Oxford goaltender Alan Keeso. After coming out of a NCAA programme to Oxford’s Geography department and Saïd Business School, the Canadian MBA showed why he was arguably one of the better goalies in the league and best imports Oxford has had in a long time. Keeso was sound in his positioning and quick to react, stifling the Cambridge snipers and preventing a Varsity record being set in the number of Cambridge goals scored. In recognition of his stellar performance between the pipes, he was awarded the Man of the Match award for which there was no doubt from either the Oxford or Cambridge camps.
Caption: Oxford’s star goaltender Alan Keeso faced 73 shots during the contest
With the final buzzer, Cambridge were triumphant in a 12-3 victory over their Oxford counterparts. Despite the score line, the Oxford Dark Blues showed outstanding commitment and sportsmanship throughout and had arguably played their best team game of the season despite having only 9 skaters. Thoroughly deserving winners Cambridge showed why they finished 2nd in the league and are favourites for the National Championship title. Credit goes to their players and captain Jaason Geerts after a tremendous year.
Caption: The Oxford University Blues Varsity squad (Top left to top right: Naeem Bardai – coach, Damien Frost (A), Daniel Lock, Dallas Clement, Martin Vesely (A), Joshua Hammond, Michael Breisner – coach, Ben Verboom; bottom left to bottom right: Jordan Thompson, Daniil Butman, Tim Donnison (C), Alan Keeso)
Victories must be taken and celebrated wherever they appear and the restoration of an official Varsity Match is certainly one of them. The awarding of Oxford Blues, like in other Oxford University sports, is an honour and something shared and recognised alike with many great alumni of this ancient institution. It seems only fitting that students can once again earn their Blues and join this distinguished list in the year 2015 – the 130th anniversary of the 1885 Ice Hockey Varsity Match played between these two historic universities.
Prospective men’s players who wish to partake in the Blues Varsity Match and have an opportunity to earn their Oxford Blues are encouraged to contact the Men’s Blues Captain at ouihcmen@gmail.com.
Caption: The Oxford and Cambridge Blues Teams come together for a united photo showing mutual respect for each other and support for their respective women’s teams