DREAM GAME
On the night of March 12, local sports followers were regaled by perhaps the most talented group of amateur hockey players ever seen on a college rink. That is a broad statement, but the supporting evidence is also strong. The occasion for this display of talent was a game between the current varsity and a group of Dartmouth AllStars, most of whom were veterans of the recent Olympic wars. The contest was played for the benefit of the Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital Building Fund and gave the varsity a final workout before the Toronto game and the NCAA tournament. It was won by the All-Stars by the score of 8-4.
The big news of the contest was, of course, the personnel of the Old Greens. The first line was the famed A.H.A. aggregation of Warburton-Cunliffe-Mather; the second line was the" immortal pre-war group of Rondeau-Harrison-Riley (who also starred in the Olympics); the third line went back into the misty-eyed past and came up with Danny Sullivan-Harpo Walsh-Junie Merriam. Defense was handled by George Pulliam of the AAU Olympic squad, Stan Priddy of the AHA Olympics, and Charlie Holt, Captain in 1945-46. Manny Benero was in the nets for the oldtimers, and he did an outstanding job.
Most contests of this kind, which pit a group of erstwhile greats against a contemporary varsity end in humiliating defeats for the former. Reasons: (a) They are usually out of condition; (b) They may never have played together as a unit, despite their individual brilliance. Neither of these difficulties applied on this occasion, for the simple reason that most of the visitors had played together in the recent Olympics (as well as for several years before, wearing the spangles of the Green). Hence they were in good shape and highly skilled as a unit.
Bruce Mather of the All-Stars was the star of the contest, with three goals to his credit. Dick Rondeau came out of the past to score twice, with Jack Riley, Warburton, and Cunliffe each contributing a goal to the cause. For the varsity Bill Riley scored twice, Brother Joe once, and Arnie Oss once. The game was played with gloves off, and the defense men graciously handed out all manner of mayhem. Campbell, Thayer, and Pulliam all spent several sessions apiece cooling off in the penalty box as a result of their enthusiasm. This game was, in several senses, a Donnybrook between brothers, and the boys made the most of it. The Hospital received a couple of thousand dollars.
