Red Hot Hockey Is Back: BU Faces Cornell in 100-Year Rivalry
Terriers celebrating a goal during 2023’s Red Hot Hockey. Cornell defeated BU 2-1. Photo by Jon Ratner/BU Athletics
Red Hot Hockey Is Back: BU Faces Cornell in 100-Year Rivalry
Madison Square Garden game is a rematch of the 2025 NCAA regional final; alumni pregame event beforehand in NYC
The 10th edition of Red Hot Hockey will play out at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Saturday, November 29. Puck drop is at 8 pm. Fans can follow the action on X @BUGameDay, and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+. The BU Alumni Association is hosting a pregame party at Tara Mor NYC, from 6 to 8 pm. Tickets for the pregame party ($20) are separate from game tickets; purchase game tickets here.
For the Boston University men’s hockey team, its 100-year-old rivalry with Cornell University is alive and well. The 10th edition of Red Hot Hockey will commence Saturday, November 29, at 8 pm.
When the puck drops at New York City’s Madison Square Garden (MSG), it will be exactly seven months since the Terriers last faced the Big Red—a 3-2 BU overtime victory in the 2025 NCAA regional final. Red Hot Hockey, a biennial tilt between the two storied programs, began in 2007.
“It’s just a great experience,” says Jay Pandolfo (CAS’96), Terrier head coach. “There’s not a better arena in all of pro sports. Madison Square Garden is a special place to play.”
MSG is home of the New York Rangers, and Red Hot Hockey is a rare opportunity for college hockey players to play in National Hockey League arenas. It will also prepare the Terriers for February’s Beanpot at TD Garden, home of the Boston Bruins. And if the Terriers reach their fourth consecutive Frozen Four, they’ll play at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, home of the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights.
Saturday’s matchup marks the 20th meeting between the Terriers and the Big Red, a rivalry dating back to January 1925, when BU beat Cornell 7-2. In Red Hot Hockey history, BU is looking for its fourth win and first since 2013. Cornell won the ninth edition, 2-1, in 2023. The Terriers are 10-7-2 all-time against the Big Red.
Playing at what’s known as “the World’s Most Famous Arena” will be a new experience for the majority of the BU players. Only four on the current roster competed at Red Hot Hockey in 2023.
“It’s a special opportunity every time you can play in a pro rink,” Gavin McCarthy (SHA’27) says. “You just gotta enjoy the moment with your guys because it comes around only a couple of times a year.”
BU took a step in the right direction against Northeastern University last Saturday, when Cole Hutson (CAS’28) lifted the Terriers to a 4-3 overtime victory. The win pushed 19th-ranked BU’s record to 6-7-1. The Terriers have struggled with consistency in what’s been a rocky start to the season.
The Big Red, ranked 17th nationally, are off to a faster start, boasting a 6-2-0 record that includes four straight victories.
“They’re always a strong team—they play hard, they’re hard to play against. It’ll be a good challenge for us,” BU forward Jack Harvey (SHA’27) says. “We’re excited. I know they’re probably excited after how things ended up last year.”
The Terriers have aspirations of capturing the program’s sixth national championship, and a matchup with the Big Red offers a prime opportunity to measure where they stand against top competition. Cornell is 2-1 against ranked opponents this season.
“The rivalry goes back long before any of us were born,” Pandolfo says. “It’s a great rivalry of college hockey. Two out of the last three years, playing them in the NCAA tournament has brought the rivalry back.”