Inaugural Alumni game was big success
York Ice arena bled Orange and Blue Saturday night as the first ever Gettysburg hockey alumni game took place. Seventeen alumni took part in this inaugural event, ranging from class of 1973, to the class of 2007, and an amazing time was had by all.
The Gettysburg hockey team was unofficially started back in the 1985-86, making the team unofficially just over twenty years old. It wasn't until the 1992-93 season that the club was officially recognized by the college making, this season the Bullets 15th season. A few members of that 92-93 season posed this game to coach Esser and being an alum himself, thought this would be a great idea to bring the alumni back for another game in the Orange and Blue. Working closely with the Alumni House, coach Esser began to compile a list of hockey alums dating back to that 1985-86 team and began sending out the informal 'save the date' invitations and advertising on the website. Almost immediately coach Esser was receiving emails from alums regarding the game, wanting more information.
After all 
the final plans were made with the rink, and with the alumni house to hold a reception, following the game the formal invitations went out to the hockey alums. Even alumni, prior to the 1985-86 team, saw the advertisement on the website and wanted to take part in the game. After receiving so much literature from his alma mater, one alum recalled when he received the invitation, looking over his invitation, that this is a Gettysburg College function I cannot miss. Many felt the exact same way, and for some it would be their first trip back to the college since they had graduated, and for some this was over 10 years.
As the day came when the alumni would lace up the skates against the current team, the excitement only grew. Some alums play regularly in men's leagues across the country. For others, this was the first time stepping on to the ice since hanging up the skates when they played for the orange and blue. Special alumni jerseys were ordered for the occasion and once again dawning the orange and blue the alumni took the ice.
The game was quite exciting as the alumni gave the current team a run for their money. The score was close almost the entire game and even after one period of play it was a 2-1 score. In the end, the alumni allowed the current team to pull ahead and win 11-7, but needless to say everyone had a great time. Some of the alumni highlights included Coach Esser, scoring the first goal for the alumni. Pete Sienkiewicz, '93, was one of the organizers of the 
alumni game and he netted himself a hat trick. Another organizer Jason Smith, '94 scored two on the same shift. Rich Butler '93, who now referees some of the Mason Dixon games, blasted a shot top shelf past the goaltender. Junior Cory Waldron played in net for the alumni and Senior defensemen, Garrett Gaydosh, suited up with the pads to take net for the current team.
Following the game was a reception at the Alumni House on the college campus. The current team and alumni reminisced and shared stories of Gettysburg hockey past and present. Craig Frost, '89, Doug Snyder, '90, and Sean Reilly, '88 talked with fellow Phi Gamma brothers on the current team, while Scott Kenner, '07, harassed Senior Luke Archambault and Junior Phil Deyette for not scoring enough goals. Overall a very special night for everyone and at the end of the night it was unanimously agreed upon that this game would become an annual event.
A special thanks goes to the Alumni House for all their help and support, especially Joe Lynch and Nancy Irvine for helping set this event up. A thanks also goes out to Amy Hunt, director of the Orange and Blue club for her support and help with this event and possible future endeavors. A thank you to alums Pete Sienkiewicz and Jason Smith for getting this event off the ground and becoming a reality. Thank you to Eric Fennell, '95, George Fennell, '61 and Kyle Parisi, '01 for their generous gifts to the team. And a final thanks to all the alumni for making the trip and participating and being a part of Gettysburg hockey history, and we hope to see all and more at the game next year. Go Bullets!!
