Instead of the usual maroon and white, the crowd at the Memorial Centre on Thursday evening was a sea of green, with over 300 Trent students, staff, faculty and alumni in the stands as part of the second annual Trent Night at the Peterborough Petes event. Sporting Trent sweaters, green feathered boas and matching boom-boom sticks, Trent members joined more than 3,000 local fans as they cheered the home team in their game against the Kingston Frontenacs. 

Trent's involvement in the evening went well beyond the stands. Vice-president of Administration at Trent, Steven Pillar, came out on the ice to thunderous applause for the ceremonial puck drop alongside Carolyn Rodd, president of Community Living Peterborough's Board of Directors, Leslie Parnell, city councillor for the Otonabee Ward, and Petes Superfan Quentin Over.

The national anthem was performed in rich harmony by the Trent International Student Association (TISA) choir, after which the entire stadium remained standing for a tribute to the late Stompin' Tom Connors, who passed away on Wednesday, March 6. Fittingly, the crowd joined their voices in a spirited rendition of “The Good Old Hockey Game” to honour the beloved Canadian singer-songwriter.

The much-anticipated rematch for Trent's College Cup trophy took place on the ice during intermission. To the excitement of the spectators, representatives from each college raced across the rink to shoot a puck into the net. Reigning champions Otonabee College claimed the prize yet again when Jim Maxwell-Campagna, proudly wearing a themed flag as a cape, fired the winning shot to bring the trophy- and the bragging rights- back to Otonabee for yet another year.

Throughout the game, players zoomed past rink boards plastered with advertisements celebrating Trent's fiftieth anniversary. The arena buzzed with school and community spirit, culminating in enthusiastic uproar at the game's final moments for the Petes' 4-1 victory over the Frontenacs. It looks as though Trent pride is a good luck charm for the Petes: they achieved the same winning score against the Belleville Bulls at last year's Trent Night!