NEW YORK — The Cornell men's hockey team will return to New York City this Thanksgiving weekend for the seventh edition of the biennial Frozen Apple series, where it will play Maine on Saturday, Nov. 28, at Madison Square Garden, it was jointly announced Monday afternoon (July 20) by Cornell, Maine, and Madison Square Garden.

Since the inaugural Red Hot Hockey game against Boston University in 2007, Cornell will take to the ice at Madison Square Garden for the first time in the afternoon slot to accommodate a New York Rangers game in the evening, with puck drop between the Black Bears and Big Red set for noon EST. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.

The meeting between Cornell and Maine will mark the second time in three years that the Big Red and Black Bears will face each other, following Cornell's 2-1 win over Maine in the regional semifinals of the 2024 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Championship in Springfield, Mass. All eight previous meetings between the programs have been held at neutral sites.

"The Frozen Apple is more than a hockey game — it's a celebration of Cornell, our alumni, and the traditions that bring the Big Red community together," said Dr. Nicki Moore, Cornell's Meakem & Smith Director of Athletics and Physical Education. "There's no more fitting place to gather than New York City and Madison Square Garden, where generations of Cornellians have come together to cheer on the Big Red. We're excited to welcome our alumni, fans, and friends for a Thanksgiving weekend matinee while showcasing one of college hockey's premier programs against an outstanding opponent in Maine on one of the sport's most iconic stages."

"We are thrilled to bring Cornell back to Madison Square Garden on Thanksgiving Weekend," added Casey Jones '90, the Jay R. Bloom '77 Head Coach of Cornell Men's Ice Hockey. "Playing at MSG has become one of the premier events in college hockey, and facing Maine in that environment will be a tremendous opportunity for our program. There is nothing quite like competing at The World's Most Famous Arena in front of our alumni and the Lynah Faithful — it energizes our players and connects our community in a truly special way. We expect Maine to bring a tough, physical brand of hockey, and we look forward to the challenge."

Tickets for the contest will go on sale Wednesday, July 22, at noon EDT through bigredtix.com. Fans will be able to select their preferred section, with specific seats assigned by the Cornell Athletics Ticketing Office based on availability at the time of purchase. Additional ticket options will be available through Madison Square Garden and Ticketmaster at a later date.

"Madison Square Garden has a proud tradition of hosting college hockey at the highest level, and we are thrilled to welcome Cornell back to The Garden on Nov. 28 as they face Maine, who will be making their Garden debut," said Joel Fisher, Executive Vice President, Marquee Events and Operations, MSG Entertainment. "The Big Red faithful have packed MSG time and again, and we look forward to once again opening our doors to their enthusiastic fans and delivering a world-class experience for everyone in attendance."

Cornell will play at Madison Square Garden for the 31st time in program history and the 23rd time at the venue's current location. The Big Red has fared well at the venue of late, posting an 8-3-2 record in their last 13 games on the storied ice in Manhattan.

The Frozen Apple series began in 2012, when Cornell defeated Michigan, 5-1. The Big Red also defeated Penn State, 3-1, in 2014; New Hampshire, 3-1, in 2016; and UConn, 6-0, in 2022. Cornell's only setback in the series was a 4-1 loss to Harvard in 2018. In the most recent Frozen Apple game in 2024, Cornell claimed a shootout victory over Quinnipiac after the teams tied 3-3.

Maine, which will play at Madison Square Garden for the first time in program history, is coming off an 18-14-3 campaign in 2025-26, going 12-11-1 in Hockey East play. The Black Bears fell to Boston College, 5-0, in the 2026 Hockey East Championship quarterfinals.

"This is one of those college hockey experiences that is really special," said Maine head coach Ben Barr. "We are thrilled to play a great team in a great venue in a great city."

"We are excited for the opportunity to play Cornell at an iconic venue like Madison Square Garden," said Maine vice president and director of athletics Jude Killy. "This is a wonderful opportunity for Black Bear Nation and the University of Maine to come together and share their enthusiasm for Maine's only Division I athletics program and our men's ice hockey team in New York."

The rest of Cornell's non-conference schedule will be announced at a later date.