With all the exciting series all over the college hockey world this past
weekend, several of which were won by road teams, I ask you -- is there any
better feeling than taking a hard-fought series in an opponent's building?
That was certainly the feeling in the wake of the Cornell win at RPI. Just
a few comments -- everyone has posted voluminously about the controversial
aspects of the series. At least it all evened out in the end, and the bone
of contention did not choke the ultimate outcome of the series. Cough...
RPI played an impressive three games -- they were a couple bounces away
from putting Cornell out. Joel Laing was marvelous in net, and Brad Tapper
was nothing short of extraordinary, following up his hat trick at Lynah by
contributing 75 percent of the RPI goals in their 4-5 first game loss. He
was all over the place the last two games, as well -- as has been pointed
out in other posts, Cornell's main forecheckers and defensive efforts were
taken up all weekend on keeping Eric Healey--Alain St. Hillaire--Matt
Garver off
the board, and that left Tapper some space to strut his stuff. He did.
Marvelous job all year by a man with a Future. His brother? Well, the
world
needs ditch-diggers, too.
The Fieldhouse was quiet, and not for lack of attendees. There were 2500
people there, but it felt like an NHL crowd. Wild, thunderous applause for
a goal -- else: nil. I felt a little sad for the RPI team when they
mounted their incredible, intense, 21-shot effort scrambling madly for a
goal in the third period of the final game (they must have held the puck in
the Cornell end for 5 of the last 6 minutes), as they performed before an
almost entirely reactive audience.
The bookend games were amazing, the middle one, frustrating -- I don't
think that was simply from the result, but hey it is a heckuva
coincidence... On Saturday, Joel Laing had that wonderful combination of
luck and timely perfection that makes shut-outs happen. He did steal the
game with several other-worldly stops. As for the tying goal, I had a
perfect view and yes, it was a goal, no question. But so what? It changed
nothing.
Mike Noeth's officiating style is lousy, but he was at least consistent
within that style during this series -- a blessing of sorts. He gets my
vote for the much-coveted "Pierre" this year. I know -- he's just
misunderstood.
Stars of the Series:
#3 The Cornell freshmen
Every dang one of em was awesome -- they were the engine when, again and
again, things seemed to go dreadfully wrong. In a way, this was exactly
like the Placid runs of the last two years, except the young defense is
still
letting rushes and good chances develop. But the freshmen always hopped to
it, hit some people, made things happen, and rejuvenated the team. And it
worked! Anyway, to list them:
Danny Powell, Dan Svoboda, David Hovey, Tyler Sutherland, Larry Pierce, and
Neils
"Nails" Heilmann (he plays like Len Dykstra, so that's his new nickname)
were the heart and soul of this effort. Welcome to The Winning Tradition,
guys --
this trip, it's because of you!
#2 Brad Tapper
I haven't been so scared of an RPI guy carrying the puck since Joe Juneau.
This freshman is great, and I hope there's a nice, fat, pro offer just
waiting in
the mail when he gets back to Scarborough, ON this Spring...
#1 Jeff Oates
After nearly being beheaded by a cheap shot in the first game, Oates merely
came back to score four goals and ensure his team's advance to Lake Placid.
Anne has compared him to Dave Shippel (for all you old timers out there)
for his fortuitous combination of raising his game level both with the
importance of the game and the situation. His first game breakaway goal
was one of the prettiest I've seen in years, and his third period in the
third game is one of the best single performances I've ever witnessed.
Thanks, Jeff -- it's like the Nike ad -- "Sometimes it's someone you'ld
never expect. Sometimes, it's you."
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