Annapolis

Out & About

Hoisting the Crab Pot | Annapolis February 2010

James Houck

The Crab Pot trophy bears the 32 winning teams’ names from previous tournaments.

Each February, for the past 32 years, an Annapolis-hosted ice hockey tournament takes place offering as much brew ha-ha excitement as the National Hockey League games played in D.C. The tournament was founded by the Naval Academy in the same tradition as Boston’s Bean Pot. Four of the state’s best collegiate hockey teams are pitted against one another, playing for pride, each other, and fun. Ultimately, the winner takes possession of the most crustaceous of all trophies; the Crab Pot.

Founded in 1978 by then-Navy Hockey Coach Steve Gordon, the Crab Pot Tournament was so popular in its first year that the upper balcony of the Academy’s Dahlgren Hall was filled to capacity; somuch so that fans were asked to move down to the first floor out of fear of it collapsing. Reflecting on the earliest games played at Dahlgren in the ’70s, former Navy player/captain Richard Moore (Class of ’76) says laughing, “They packed the place with Mids. I’d like to think it was because of the team, but I suspect that, since the Drydock [restaurant in Dahlgren Hall] served beer and Mids could drink at 18, being the only sport in the yard that served alcohol might have been a factor. It made for some very rowdy crowds.”

Of course, the balcony never collapsed at raucous games and the tournaments continued to be held in Dahlgren Hall for many years thereafter, settling into a more familial atmosphere. Prior to becoming Navy’s hockey coach and founding the Crab Pot, Gordon attended Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, cheering on the Huskies in the annual Bean Pot hockey tournament, which pits Northeastern, Boston University, Boston College, and Harvard against each other. Gordon enjoyed the Bean Pot so much, he brought the idea south to Maryland. “Marylanders don’t eat beans, they eat crabs, so Boston has a Bean Pot and Maryland has a Crab Pot,” he says. And like Boston’s tournament, the Crab Pot features state schools exclusively. This February, Navy will square off against Salisbury University in the opening round and the University of Maryland (College Park) will face Towson University.

UMBC claimed the Crab Pot title with a 7-4 victory.

County hockey fans itching to watch the action can enjoy the weekend tournament (February 13–14) at McMullen Hockey Arena in the new Brigade Sports Complex (BSC) in Annapolis. Opened in fall 2007, the BSC is a 150,000-square foot, $18.5 million dollar development housing the Naval Academy’s ice rink, tennis courts, and state-of-the-art exercise facilities. McMullen Hockey Arena, also the home of Navy’s regular season games, offers great sightlines no matter where you sit. During last year’s championship game, the bleacher seats filled to capacity and standing room around the glass boards was scarce, but everyone was all smiles. “Supposedly we were the fourth largest draw in attendance of any [Navy] sport,” says Navy’s Head Coach Michael Fox. “If that’s the case; not bad for a sport that’s not getting weekly press coverage!”

Navy and UMBC faced off in the Crab Pot Tournament’s championship game last February.

Last year’s tournament featured three of the four teams competing in this year’s tourney (Navy, Maryland, Towson), and the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), who captured first place. Of the 32 Crab Pot tournaments, Navy has captured the title only 10 times; it’s very challenging, but also very amicable among the players. Over the course of many players’ four year collegiate careers they get to know each other well on the frozen pond. Rarely do the gloves come off and fisticuffs on during tourney play; not bad for a sport with a traditionally brutal reputation. However, the action is nonetheless swift and mighty as players crisply pass pucks, dish body blows into the boards, and squirt shots past goalies. And when a goal is scored, there’s nothing quite like the thrill of the hockey horn thundering through the cavernous rink. For children and adults, the Crab Pot tourney—and Navy’s regular season games—is a very accessible sports entertainment alternative to D.C.’s professional team, the Washington Capitals, who have sold out every game this season to date. “It was a great family day!” says Cape St. Claire resident Joaquin V. Callaghan, who attended last year’s event with his family. “My son and daughter enjoyed the game and all the action involved in hockey. The facility is very family friendly. We are planning to support Navy again this year.”

Navy Head Coach Michael Fox coaches up his team between periods in last year’s championship game. .

And children of all ages were treated to an extra special guest at the 2009 opening game, when NASA Astronaut Stephen Bowen (Captain, USN) dropped the ceremonial first faceoff puck. Bowen, who flew into space aboard the shuttle Endeavour in November 2008 was a standout goaltender for the Navy Hockey team from 1982–1986. Saturday’s opening game this year begins at 4 p.m., which should allow families time to lace-up their skates for an open public skate session beforehand (pending). In fact, the McMullen Hockey Arena is open to the general public for ice skating on most weekdays; a welcome departure from the limited membership policy in place at the old Dahlgren Hall ice rink. So if you’re looking to spark your child’s interest (and your own) in the sport of ice hockey, or just want to glide gracefully on the ice, the Naval Academy’s Crab Pot Tournament and McMullen Hockey Arena at the Brigade Sports Complex is a winning combination that’s hard to beat.

The Skinny

What: 33rd Annual Crab Pot Tournament
When: February 13–14, 2010
Where: McMullen Hockey Arena at the Brigade Sports Complex, 64 Greenbury Point Rd., Annapolis

Crabpot schedule:

2/13/10, Saturday, 4:00 p.m.: Maryland vs. Towson
2/13/10, Saturday, 7:30 p.m.: Navy vs. Salisbury
2/14/10, Sunday, 12:00 p.m.: Consolation game
2/14/10, Sunday, 3:30 p.m.: Championship game

The two winning teams on Saturday will play for the championship on Sunday and the two losing teams will play in the consolation game.

Open Public Ice Skating Schedule:

Every Tuesday and Thursday, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Every Saturday and Sunday, 4:30–6:30 p.m.
$6 admission, $3 skate rental