This email has been sent to you by Deron Treadwell ([log in to unmask]).
Comments from Sender:
This story can be found online at:
http://www.pressherald.com/sports/college/hockey/040328umlead.shtml
==============================================================================
Sunday, March 28, 2004
Frozen in time
By KEVIN THOMAS, Portland Press Herald Writer
Copyright 2004 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
UMAINE HOCKEY
UMAINE HOCKEY
<img src="http://sports.mainetoday.com/images/blackbears50.gif" height="50" width="50" align="right"><a href="http://sports.mainetoday.com/college/blackbears/">BLACK BEAR HOCKEY
The UMaine Black Bears are in the NCAA Division I hockey tournament. Follow the team's progress as they attempt another Frozen Four appearance. MaineToday.com's UMaine Black Bear section includes the latest Black Bear news, brackets, message board and more.
ALBANY, N.Y. -- The University of Maine hockey team continues to live on the edge. And the Black Bears are loving it.
Mike Hamilton bulldozed through the crease, then muscled the puck by goalie Bernd Bruckler after 3:27 of overtime to give Maine a 2-1 win over Wisconsin in the NCAA quarterfinals Saturday night at the Pepsi Center.
The victory sent the Black Bears (32-7-3) to their ninth Frozen Four, which will be played April 8 and 10 at the FleetCenter in Boston.
They will play Michigan or Boston College, who meet today in the Northeast Regional final at Manchester, N.H.
Maine has won nine straight games, the last seven by one goal, two in overtime.
"We do seem to elevate our game a little bit when our backs are against the wall," Maine Coach Tim Whitehead said. "As coaches, we've been really impressed how they've played in the tight one-goal games."
Hamilton, a freshman, has scored big goals lately (the 1-0 Hockey East semifinal victory against Boston University last week; a goal in Maine's 5-4 comeback win Friday night over Harvard in the first round of the NCAAs).
"When you're confident, things are going to go your way," Hamilton said. "You're going to get the bounces and you're just going to play at a higher level."
Colin Shields gave Maine a 1-0 lead after only 1:32 with a blast from atop the left circle. Wisconsin tied it in the closing minutes of the second period.
The Badgers (22-13-8) stifled Maine for most of the game with a pesky, neutralizing defense. But the Black Bears also held off Wisconsin, which held a 37-28 advantage in shots.
Maine goalie Jimmy Howard, who got the start despite being pulled Friday after trailing Harvard 4-1, made 36 saves, and a couple were spectacular. Whitehead decided Saturday morning to go back to Howard instead of Frank Doyle.
"Jimmy's been playing at such an elite level that we figured he would be our best move," Whitehead said. "We decided to trust our gut feeling. I'm so proud how Jimmy played. I think the difference is how we protected him."
With Howard and the defense keeping Maine in it, Hamilton finally ended it, grabbing a loose puck at the boards and making his move.
"The puck went off a defenseman's shin pad and I got it," Hamilton said. "I just drove it. (Jon) Jankus and (Dustin) Penner drove to the net hard and I just got it in there. Coach has been trying to work with me to use my strength and go to the net."
The puck slipped through a mob, and suddenly referee Tim Kotyra was pointing to the net and Maine was celebrating.
"I made the initial save," said Wisconsin goalie Bruckler. "The puck just got past me to the right and trickled across the line."
The goal came 62 minutes, 55 seconds after Maine's first score.
Shields gave Maine a sudden 1-0 lead. With the Badgers about to enter the Maine zone, Black Bears defenseman Prestin Ryan stole the puck and Shields skated in and took possession.
Shields slowed and, just short of the left circle, snapped a shot that sailed over Bruckler's shoulder at 1:32.
"They just had their one defenseman back so I had some time," Shields said. "I just picked some speed up and backed him up and let a quick wrister go."
A minute later, Howard got his first test, stopping a shot and gathering in the rebound. Two teammates stood guard as the Black Bears appeared determined to protect Howard better than they did Friday.
Maine got three power plays in the first period but came away empty. Maine finished 0 of 7 on power plays; Wisconsin went 0 of 5.
Wisconsin finally tied it at 17:38 of the second after winning a faceoff in Maine's zone.
Howard knocked away a slap shot at the last second, but Rene Bourque broke free from his defender, gathered the rebound and skated to the far side, where he buried it.
The Badgers, who won a 1-0 overtime game Friday against Ohio State, were getting confident.
"We've won these kind of games all year," Wisconsin Coach Mike Eaves said.
But Maine has won them, too. And the Black Bears will keep playing.
Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:
[log in to unmask]
|
