by 26287 OCdt James Heard, 2 Squadron, Sunday, 26 January, 2014.
It was a chilly night on Saturday, 25 January 2014 as the cadets of RMC filed across the causeway in their gabardines and astrakhans in order to attend the 78th Annual RMC-West Point hockey game. After a day of vigorously competing in sports and debate with West Point cadets on exchange for the weekend, the Cadet Wing was ready to see the varsity hockey teams of the two institutions clash. Everyone expected that the hockey game would be an exciting spectacle, and they were right.
Before the game began, the RMC Cadet Wing, training staff, and West Point visitors paid respects to Major Danny McLeod who recently passed away. Major McLeod was a Second World War veteran and an important contributor to the sports programs of RMC and other Canadian universities. The ceremonial puck-drop was performed with honourary guest Mrs. McLeod and the commandants and hockey team captains of RMC and West Point.
From the outset, the teams of RMC and West Point played very aggressively. RMC achieved an early lead with a goal eighteen seconds into the first period. The West Point team repeatedly attempted to tie the game and the RMC team to broaden their lead, but both goalies held fast and the period ended with RMC in the lead 1-0.
In the second period, West Point successfully tied the game with an early power play goal, and then took the lead several minutes later with another goal. West Point repelled several offensive plays as the period went on, but in a frantic play in front of the West Point net, RMC scored again and the game was tied 2-2 as the second period came to a close.
In the third period, West Point renewed their offensive efforts and scored a third goal halfway through the period. A fourth goal scored on a power play shortly after expanded West Point's lead to 4-2, and when RMC pulled its goalie late in the third period for an additional forward player, West Point scored again on the open net and thus sealed its victory.
The final score of the game was 5-2 in favour of the West Point Military Academy hockey team. Both teams played well throughout the game; the goalies made many impressive saves, and the intense power skating and skilful puck handling was very exciting for the spectators. As the players shook hands after the game and congratulated each other, the traditional RMC-West Point hockey game was completed for the 78th time in a spectacle of skill and sportsmanship.