Valuable points up for grabs for Gaels in Carr-Harris Cup

Valuable points up for grabs for Gaels in Carr-Harris Cup

By Communications Staff

February 6, 2019

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[Carr-Harris Cup]
The ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Gaels celebrate the game-winning goal by Darcy Greenaway in the 2018 Carr-Harris Cup. (Photo by Jason Scourse)

The ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Gaels (18-8-0) are looking to pick up valuable points in their race for second in the OUA East when they battle the RMC Paladins (5-19-2) in the Carr-Harris Cup Thursday night at the Leon's Centre.

Puck drop is set for 7:30 pm and tickets are available at the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ customer service desk and Leon's Centre box office.

The Carr-Harris Challenge Cup was initiated in 1986 by the International Hockey Hall of Fame in celebration of the hockey rivalry between ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Royal Military College which dates back to 1886.  

The rivalry is the longest in the world on record. 

The Carr-Harris Challenge Cup trophy was donated by the Centennial Committee and features the 'Lennie' sculpture by Kingston native Joan Belch. It depicts Lennox Irving, the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ player who scored the lone goal in the March 10, 1886, inaugural game between RMC and ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥. 

The trophy is named in honour of the Carr-Harris family, which has a long-standing connection with both Kingston universities. In addition to the Carr-Harris Trophy, the top player from each team is awarded the Mary Carr-Harris Most Valuable Player Award.

This award is in memory of Mary Carr-Harris, the matriarch of the Carr-Harris family, who, up until her passing in 2006, presented 'Lennie' to each year's winning team.

This year marks the 133rd anniversary for the rivalry and 33rd Carr-Harris Cup game. The Gaels lead the series with a 20-10-2 record but has split the last two years and needed overtime to take down their rivals last season.

The Gaels have just two games remaining in their schedule as they host McGill on Saturday to close out the season. The Gaels currently sit just one point behind Carleton for second in the OUA East and will need every point they can get.

"RMC plays a hard brand of hockey and they work hard and so it's a perfect game for both teams to really get into,"says Gaels defenceman Patrick Sanvido. "You kind of get the atmosphere and electricity of a playoff-style hockey game so it will help get us prepped for the opening round."

Also of note, at 115 points in his Tricolour career, Gaels captain Spencer Abraham sits just one point behind Aaron Fransen on the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ all-time record for points by a defenceman and has two games to either tie or surpass the mark.

Despite missing out on the OUA playoffs, the RMC Paladins will be looking to play spoiler on Thursday halting the Gaels chances of getting into second place for the OUA playoffs.