By Will Gilson, Currier Times Staff///

Curry community members young and old packed the Canton Ice House stands on January 25th to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the men’s ice hockey program with a game against Johnson and Wales University. After a brief ceremony featuring alumni, their families, and a ceremonial puck drop, the game began, which Curry would go on to win 5-1.

Attendees marveled at the historic milestone being celebrated. Senior Communication major, Josh Bracken, said the current team is one that all the hockey player alums can be proud of. 

“They’ve shown that they’re one of the best teams of this school, and they show that with pride,” Bracken said. “They show that throughout every single game with energy, relentless, and the amount of power and energy that they just bring to Curry as a whole.”

Peter Roundy, the head coach of the current team, said the program has become a national powerhouse.

“I think our belief to compete with the best teams in the country has really evolved,” Roundy said. “The guys have worked so hard the last few years and we’ve had some great results against top teams which has only strengthened our belief.”

Different team members enjoy many aspects of the program. Forward, Eelis Laaksonen, a senior Accounting major, said many games have been unforgettable.

“My favorite moments while being on the Curry Hockey team have been playing in big games in the conference tournaments and NCAA tournaments,” Laaksonen said. “While we haven’t always got the results we wanted in these games, playing and competing in these games have been memorable.”

Coach Roundy said the team culture goes deeper than just games on the ice.

“It’s so much more than wins and losses,” Roundy said. “You spend so much time together and go through ups and downs as teammates and it’s special for me to see the alums relive their time at Curry and share in our success.”

Many such alums made an appearance during the game. Defenseman Bob Balletto, class of 1979, is proud of the legacy left by his class.

“I earned MVP honors my freshman year, served as team Captain my Junior and Senior years, and was a 2005 Inductee into the Curry College Athletic Hall of Fame, but the highlight of my time playing hockey for Curry was being a member of the 1978-79 team,” Balletto said. “That team was made up of a great bunch of guys who played their hearts out for the future of the program.”

Speaking of the future, Couch Roundy is optimistic about the team’s growth.

“We focus on what we can control and for us that means taking the season one day at a time, continuing to improve individually and as a team, and playing a team game,” Roundy said. “We are proving to ourselves and the country that Curry is a top program, and we are excited to continue working towards competing for conference and national championships.”

The Curry College men’s ice hockey program was established in 1974, and has made several NCAA tournament appearances.