Tigers, Tennis Balls, and Tarps, Oh My!

Do tigers have what it takes to brave the woods of New Hampshire? On Saturday, February 1st at least, it appeared as though they can. This was the date of the tennis ball toss game for charity, occurring each year upon Dartmouth men’s hockey’s first home game against the Princeton Tigers. What started out as a retaliatory jab against the actions of a few rowdy Princeton fans has turned into one of the most beloved and anticipated traditions of the Dartmouth winter term, among the historic company of the first snowfall snowball fight on the Green and Winter Carnival. Upon the first Dartmouth goal, students and fans alike hurl a barrage of tennis balls over the glass and onto the ice for all to see. This relatively recent tradition draws some of the biggest crowds of the season, reportedly amassing the sixth largest in history this year, to Thompson Arena—the proud home of Big Green hockey since 1975. 

The origins of the tradition lie in the midst of the 1992-93 season when a lone Dartmouth radio announcer covering an away game at Princeton’s Hobey Baker Rink watched on as a group of home fans lobbed a few balls (whether tennis or lacrosse was unclear) onto the ice er a score against Dartmouth. In a move fitting of The Review’s motto, “nemo me impune lacessit” or “no one provokes me with impunity,” this announcer decided to give it right back to the Tigers at their next appearance inside Thompson Arena. When the announcer and his friends eventually did throw tennis balls onto the rink after Princeton’s first goal, a classic Dartmouth tradition was born. 

Experiencing this tradition for the first time, I can certainly say that it wholeheartedly exceeded my expectations. As someone who considers themselves to be among the more enthusiastic and loyal fans of Big Green hockey, it was truly spectacular to witness a completely sold-out game at Thompson Arena and the energy to go along with it. Seeing so many of my Dartmouth peers rally behind a common cause felt refreshing and exciting. With levels of school spirit surging to dare-I-say Homecoming-esque levels, it was a great evening to be a Dartmouth hockey fan. 

From the moment the first puck dropped at center ice the game was simply electric. The prestige and street cred bestowed upon the Big Green player who scores “The Goal” adds extra motivation behind every movement, if the allure of beating Princeton in front of the entire student body was not enough already. This additional motivating force has a tangible effect on the style of play, as those first minutes of the game were some of the scrappiest and most passionate college hockey you will see in a season. With tennis balls in hand, us spectators waited enthralled at the edge of our seats as we witnessed the scramble every second of Big Green possession was to reach Princeton’s goal. With the sheer level of raw aggression and energy displayed by the Dartmouth Big Green, it surely wouldn’t be long before we buried a puck in the back of Princeton’s netting. And when this glorious moment eventually came off a brilliant wrister from ‘27 CJ Foley, the student section erupted with the gratification such moments of singular focus so often bring as we blissfully dispelled our pent-up anticipation. All that was missing was the Chariots of Fire theme song and a slow motion montage to encapsulate our shared ecstasy. What could be more freeing than the chucking of tennis balls where they don’t belong? 

With the initial excitement of the tennis ball toss behind us, it was time for the Big Green to get right back to work. Unfortunately, Foley’s goal would be the sole Dartmouth score of the night, with Princeton claiming a 3-1 victory in the end to secure their first win over the Big Green in almost two years. Coming off the heartbreaking, albeit perfectly understandable 4-5 overtime loss to the ECAC’s number one ranked Quinnipiac the night prior, it was a disappointing weekend for the Big Green. However, with a home Ivy-League contest against the Harvard Crimson on February 7th of Winter Carnival weekend and the road match ups of Clarkson and St. Lawrence the weekend of February 14 still ahead, Dartmouth hockey fans have much to look forward to.

In closing, while not the outcome I would have hoped for, my first tennis ball toss game was nonetheless an amazing evening filled with laughter, friends, and a wonderful sense of comradery. With the harsh realities of Hanover’s bitter cold and barren wilderness constantly challenging the indomitable human spirit, it is bright nights like these that enliven and invigorate the soul, delivering us from our winter malaise and returning us to the warmth and delight of a midsummer’s day.