Watchdog

Due to an apparent scoreboard malfunction or typographical error, Boston University was credited with a 6-3 victory over Cornell Saturday night in the first major-college hockey game at the Garden in nearly 31 years and what was believed to be the first college hockey sellout in MSG history.

It was an extraordinary event, although an early streak of blind luck by B.U. that produced three quick goals took the steam out of a crowd that was about 70 percent Cornell-oriented.

Among the luminaries on hand were Ned Harkness, 86, who coached Cornell's 1967 and '70 national championship teams, and members of those teams including John Hughes, Class of 1970, a co-captain and the father of Long Island's skating Hughes girls.

Emily Hughes herself was on hand during an intimate pre-game Cornell party for 1,700. So was Joe Nieuwendyk. No sign of Dryden. Maybe he was busy running Canada or something.

During the second intermission B.U. honored three of its alumni who played for the 1980 Olympic team: Mike Eruzione, Jack O'Callahan and Dave Silk.

The game orginally was the idea of B.U., but it might make more sense to turn it into a Thanksgiving weekend tradition for Cornell, which could use the event to generate alumni goodwill (and cash) and as a recruiting carrot for players.

If B.U. can sell 5,000 tickets to its fans, surely Boston College, Michigan and other hockey powers could do the same.

Next time, let's get that scoreboard problem straightened out, though.