THE 2025 ALUMNI HOLIDAY CLASSIC

Setting the Stage for a Classic

Assistant Coach Marcus’ alumni squad returned home to challenge the 2025 DC Stars roster. Current assistant captains Cox and Handy-Kanegis, as well as rising stars Featherstone, Rosenburg, Peterson and others geared up to accept the challenge. Assistant captain Tracy and JV tendie O’Shaughnessy rotated between the two teams to guard the nets.

The Stars stared out strong, notching up the first two goals of the contest. The initial confidence, however, started to drain as the ‘old men’ started to find their form and began to score. Chirps from both benches rose through the air like sourdough.

In the middle of the second period, as alumni forwards broke to the net for a game tying goal, Handy-Kanegis saw an opportunity to exact a toll on former captain Cooperman. The two collided at center ice and fell to the surface. It was hard for on lookers to tell if they were laughing or wrenching in pain. Tensions mounted and chirps flew. At the ensuing face-off, eager to defend their teammates, DC Stars’ Cox and the Alumni’s Conlon dropped the gloves for a fierce Rochambeau battle. Conlon threw rock, but Cox landed with paper to win the bout.

The thrill of that victory, however, faded fast for the current roster as the alumni took a two-goal lead into the final minutes of the third period. With less than two-minutes to go, Anton Tracy skated out of the net and toward the center line. He earned a rare goalie assist when he shoveled a pass forward that the Stars put in the back of the net. Claims of too many men on the ice in the final seconds when unchecked and the contest ended with the alumni up by a goal…or maybe two.

After the game, both sides also competed in a shootout battle. This time, the current roster emerged with the victory which allowed them to save a little face. All-in-all, the 2025 Alumni Holiday Classic will be remembered as one of the best games in the on-going series.

Big thanks goes out to Brett Goldstein, father of alumnus Jacob Goldstein, for also returning with another of his famous playlists!

The Alumni Holiday Classic is an ongoing example of the camaraderie and positive legacy that the DC Stars aim to build.