(All info from BC Game Summary Sheet):
Tuesday, 03/07/95 At Kelley Rink, Conte Forum, Chestnut Hill, MA
HOCKEY EAST playoff game, #9 seed at #8 seed, winner to play at #1 seed,
MAINE, on Saturday 03/11/95, 8 P.M., broadcast via NESN.
#9 UMASS-AMHERST 1 3 1 - 5 3-21-0 HE 6-27-2 overall
#8 BOSTON COLLEGE 2 2 0 - 4 8-14-2 HE 11-22-2 overall
Shots on goal: UM 8 11 7 - 26
BC 11 7 6 - 24
PERIOD ONE
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BC1 Toby Harris 3 (Haggerty, O'Leary) 5:44
UM1 Tom Perry 7 (Evans) 7:42
BC - Hymovitz (hooking) 8:22
BC - Laferriere (interference) 11:26
UM - Rissling (interference) 15:09
UM - bench minor (too many men) 15:41
served by Evans
BC2 Jamie O'Leary 6 (Chase, Haggerty)PPG-5x3 16:00
PERIOD TWO
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UM2 Jon Jacques 4 (unassisted) 2:24
UM - Jacques (tripping) 2:52
BC3 Rob Laferriere 6 (Krayer, Masters) 4:58
BC - Harris (charging) 6:32
BC - G. Callahan (tripping) 10:02
BC - Laferriere (10-min misconduct) 10:02
UM3 Mike Evans 6 (Manganaro, Perry) PPG-5x4 11:36 (incorrect 5x3 on summary)
UM - Corcoran (hit from behind) 12:11
BC4 Tom Ashe 5 (O'Leary) PPG 12:25
UM4 Rob Bonneau 14 (Corcoran) 12:39
UM - Rissling (holding) 13:22
PERIOD THREE
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BC - O'Leary (elbowing) 17:07
(UM timeout) 17:07
UM5 Dale Hooper 3 (Jacques, Norris) PPG 18:09
(BC timeout - pull goaltender) 18:40
Power Plays: UM - 2 for 5, BC - 2 for 5 (incorrect 1 for 5 on summary)
Penalties: UM - 5 (10 Min.), BC - 6 (20 Min.)
Goalies: UM - Brian Regan (60:00) - 9 5 6 - 20 saves
BC - Greg Taylor (58:40) - 7 8 6 - 21 saves
Three Stars: 1. Jon Jacques (UM rw, 1G, 1A)
2. Jamie O'Leary (BC c, 1G, 2A)
3. Dale Hooper (UM d, 1G)
Attendance - 723 (capacity 7884)
Referees - Steve McBride, Rich Fowkes
Linesman - Paul Scleparis
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UMass-Amherst takes another step forward in their inaugural Hockey East
season by winning their first HE playoff game with a late power play
goal. BC plays a listless game in front of a very sparse crowd (students
are on break at BC, the UMass fans were more vocal), continuing their
poor play late in the season as they drop their 7th out of their last 8
games. UMass seemed more motivated and got stronger as the game wore on,
while BC could not raise their play when needed. BC may have been affected
by the loss of Jerry Buckley, who left the game injured at the 3:47 mark
of the first period. BC coach Jerry York was forced to return Tom Ashe to
defense in Buckley's absence, and moved 4th liner Toby Harris to the #1
line with Haggerty and O'Leary. That line was productive, but fatigue may
have been a factor late in the game.
FIRST - Play was slightly dominated by BC, but both teams got some decent
chances. Buckley's injury along the south boards was the first major
event. BC drew first blood when Haggerty and O'Leary were able to pop the
puck free from the left point and Harris picked it up free in the middle,
came in alone, deked, and beat Regan (I believe he slid it thru 5-hole.)
UMass set the tone for the night, though, by scoring shortly afterward on
a long slap shot from the left that beat Taylor low to the far side. This
was probably the weakest goal of the night and one that Taylor would
normally not give up. UMass couldn't take advantage of 2 power plays, but
they certainly showed a much better power play than early in the season,
when they were atrocious. A Rissling interference and a bench minor for
too many men (man came off bench and played puck too soon) gave BC a 5-on-3
advantage, and O'Leary capitalized just 19 seconds later.
SECOND - UMass carried this period as their skating and conditioning seemed
to take over. Jon Jacques gave them a big boost when he controlled the
puck behind the BC net, circled, and shot over Taylor's shoulder as Taylor
dropped low, evening the score at 2-2. Jacques then "gave" that one back
when he was called for tripping, and BC scored just after the subsequent
power play expired. Action continued back and forth, and both teams
protested cases where the referees ignored possible penalties during
collisions. Greg Callahan was then called for a tripping call at the BC
blue line as he went low to check the puck carrier and had his stick low
as well, and McBride ruled that the check was illegal (after seeing the
UMass player go flying head over heels.) Rob Laferriere picked up a 10-
minute misconduct protesting that call and the fact that he was tripped
only seconds earlier and that one was not called. BC was not playing
well at this point and the coaches were trying to restore spirits on the
bench. UMA took advantage of the power play with good pressure that
ultimately resulted in a goal by Evans, tying at 3-3. Less than a minute
later BC regained the lead with their own PPG; O'Leary kept the puck in
the zone when UMA failed to clear, worked the puck to the front of the
net, and slid it to Ashe who scored low to the left side. UMass got that
back and tied it at 4-4 just 14 seconds later when Bonneau broke clear
down the right side and beat Taylor with a sharp wrist shot from the
right circle. UMass carried the play late in the period; Taylor was forced
to make 2 good saves on a Bonneau steal and break at the 15 minute mark.
As UMass left the ice at the end of the period, coach Joe Mallen was heard
to emotionally tell his players, "You won that period! Now let's win the
next one!" UMass was pumped up; BC was quiet and (apparently) unmotivated.
THIRD - This period was played more conservatively than the first two, not
surprisingly, and both teams tried to avoid making any mistake that could
give the advantage to the other team. The teams switched ends at the
10-minute mark due to the asymmetry of the rink. Regan made a couple of
nice stops, and Taylor seemed almost bored as there were few threats at
his end. The game turned when freshman Jamie O'Leary was called for an
elbowing penalty at 17:07. (There were some bitter comments about this
penalty being called so late in the 3rd period of a tie playoff game later,
and my own feeling is that they let many possible calls like this go all
through the game, so they should not have called this one. But, ....)
UMA took their timeout to organize the power play, and Hooper was able to
find the low left side with a slap shot from the left point for the game-
winner. The shot was taken with BC forward Clifton McHale partially
screening the goaltender's view, and it may have been deflected, but I'm not
sure if Taylor would have stopped this one in any case. With the upset
at hand, UMass was able to keep BC from getting any really good chances
after Taylor was pulled, and the game ended quietly for BC. The UMass
fans whooped it up and the team was very excited at the victory.
These were two teams going in opposite directions late in the season, and
UMass showed how much they have improved over their early-season struggles.
While their youth sometimes manifests itself in silly passes or weak
defensive play, they skate hard and have shown remarkable improvement in
their special teams play. BC, on the other hand, ends the season with a
whimper, with only last week's strong effort at Merrimack to admire in the
last month of the season. The suspension of 10 players a couple of weeks
ago may have affected the team, or the wearying effect of another losing
season may have provided an excuse to relax. UMass fans and players alike
were very happy with the game they played tonight, and it was an entertaining
game. BC fans, on the other hand (including myself), were very disappointed
in the effort given by BC. Whether it can be laid at the feet of the
coaching staff or not, it was apparent that this team was not ready to play.
Late in the game, when they needed to step forward and prove themselves
superior, they were unable to do so, and what is worse, seemed UNWILLING to
do so. The lack of a crowd was also a factor, with no student section at
all and hardly anyone else there making any noise (except UMass fans.)
There was no band at the game; can you imagine the basketball team having
a home playoff game with no band? In large part the school, the students,
and the public fans treated this game with no respect, and the team played
like it also did not respect the opponent. UMass-Amherst deserved to win
this game; the fact that they were able to do so is to their credit.
I spoke briefly to several people after the game to get their reaction, and
they all reacted the same way: This was a fitting end to the BC season.
The most common statement: "I'm getting tired of losing seasons." BC's
Hockey East regular season placements since 1984 go this way (starting at
1984 and ending this year): 1st, 1st, 1st, 5th, 1st, 1st, 1st, 5th, 7th,
6th, and 8th. The trend is rather obvious. It has been previously
discussed on HOCKEY-L why BC is in a down period; the fans are growing a
bit restless. Finishing a season in 8th place is bad enough, but to not
at least play well and fight hard is difficult to take.
I feel bad for co-captain and senior Jerry Buckley, who was injured in his
final game and could not be there to help his team to victory. This year's
senior class leaves with an overall record in 4 years of 49-80-15 (taken
from stats in the BC game notes; I don't know if it counts playoffs.)
All-in-all, a disappointing finish to a dismal year for BC. Congratulations
to UMass-Amherst, and we will be rooting for another upset of Maine. :-)
Former coach Len Ceglarski was present for this BC finale (to his dismay,
I'm sure.) Broadcaster Sean McDonough was also spotted, along with other
general hockey fans (including many Hockey-L'ers, Mike M., etc.)
I will post a season summary for BC with the final stats (as I have them) in
the near future. Thanks to all who encouraged me to post these results; I
only hope there are some BC fans out there who will stay with the team until
the fortunes take a turn upward again. Now to the rest of the playoffs!
See you at the Garden, the Centrum, and the Providence Civic Center.
--------------- ----------------------
Rick McAdoo [log in to unmask]
BC will return! GO EAGLES!
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