For the second consecutive season, a confident and prepared Brown team
dealt the (#10 nationally-ranked) Harvard Crimson a shutout tonight at the
Bright Center in Cambridge, MA.  This makes three years in a row that the
Bears have won the ECAC season opener between the two teams.  All three
victories have been backstopped by senior Brown goaltender Yann Danis who
posted his ninth career shutout this evening with 2-0 gem and added further
lustre to an already impressive record against the Crimson by building on a
4-2 win to open the 2001-02 season and a 4-0 blanking to start the 2002-03
campaign.

    But it was much more than Yann Danis this evening as the Bears' veteran
and talented defensive corps throttled the Harvard skaters from the opening
faceoff, allowing a meager total of 20 shots on net, only a few of which
were quality threats.  Clearly, the hallmark of this year's Brown squad will
be a solid team defense which will seek to limit opposition shots on goal
and open the way for Danis to see the puck from long range.

    After a scoreless first period in which Brown had a decisive advantage
in offensive opportunities, the Bears broke through Harvard's senior
netminder, Dov Grumet-Morris, at 10:21 of the middle stanza when senior
forward Chris Swon's skillful shot from outside the right crease sailed over
Grumet-Morris' glove and caught the upper left corner of the net.  Senior
Bear forward Mike Meech was credited with an assist on the play.  Brown
added to its lead by scoring on a 5x3 power play when sophomore forward Cory
Caouette poked home the rebound of a blast by senior captain Scott Ford at
17:47 of the second period.  Senior forward and assistant captain Brent
Robinson earned an assist on the goal.

    Thus, another chapter in college hockey's oldest continuing rivalry is
settled in favor of the Bears in what can only be described as an impressive
overall performance by this year's Brown team against a Harvard team which
is expected to challenge for ECAC leadership.  Needless to say, a most
satisfying road victory to start the 2003-04 season off on the right foot.

SCORING:
Brown       0    2    0  =  2
Harvard     0    0    0  =  0

SHOTS ON GOAL:
Brown       9    10    5  =  24
Harvard     8      3    9  =  20

PENALTIES:
Brown       4 for 8 min.
Harvard     7 for 14 min.

POWER PLAYS:
Brown       1 for 6
Harvard     0 for 3

SAVES:
Danis (Brown)                     8    3    9  =  20  (0 GA)
Grumet-Morris (Harvard)     9    8    5  =  22  (2 GA)


     The Bears will have little time to celebrate their auspicious debut,
for there is more roadwork ahead next weekend when Brown visits Dartmouth at
Thompson Arena on Friday, and the Vermont at Gutterson Arena on Saturday.
Both games should be very emotional contests as Brown's last loss was to the
Big Green, 4-2, in the consolation game of the 2003 ECAC Championship
Tournament at the Pepsi Arena in Albany last March, and Bear Coach Roger
Grillo will be facing the Catamounts for the first time since the retirement
of his one-time colleague, Mike Gilligan.


Bill Corrigan

LET'S GO BRUNO!