Joe Frederick got the hat trick as NMU won the first WCHA semifinal
playoff game.  Frederick's third goal of the game was an empty-
netter, which I guess means it's not a "natural."
 
IMO the final several minutes of the game were dominated by the
Wildcats, although our Wisconsin friends on the net may have a
different opinion.
 
Joe Blake, the Wildcat radio announcer (I finished up listening to
the radio broadcast while watching the TV feed), concluded the
play-by-play with "We're goin' to Providence!"  He obviously feels
NMU will get the 5th or 6th seed in the West for the NCAA tournament.
I'm wondering if they might not slip into the 4th or even 3rd seed
if they can win the championship game tomorrow night.
 
Of course, a really scary thought all along for both the Wildcats and
the Badgers has been the possibility that Colorado College will win
the playoffs.  If so, one of the two (NMU & Wisconsin) are probably in
VERY serious jeapordy in terms of making the NCAA.  I'd have to think
that now the Wildcats are safe, even if that happens, but you don't
know until the fat lady sings (or the committee seed), do you?  The
Badgers are probably a bit more nervous about that possibility than
the Wildcats right now.  This makes for the odd situation of most of
the contending teams NOT rooting for the underdog in these playoffs!
 
Some additional notes on the game just concluded.  Joe Frederick now
has something like 12 goals and 20 points in his last 10 games.  Also,
it turns out the goal I missed by NMU was scored by Mike Harding.
Another also, the glove which deflected the shot which scored the last
Wisconsin goal was evidently one of NMU's, not Wisconsin's.  The shots
on goal favored Wisconsin 45 to 32.  Saurdiff was terrific.  He had 42
saves, and as noted earlier two of the goals he surrendered were impos-
sible situations.  Scott Beattie got an assist and set some kind of NMU
scoring record, but I missed the details.  Also,
just prior to Frederick's empty net goal, the Wildcats missed another
eng when a shot coasted the length of the rink and glanced off the
right goal post.
 
What a final period!  Good game, Badgers!  Way to go 'Cats!
 
                      ***********************************
                     *      Steve Christopher, NMU       *
                    *  "Go 'Cats!''Going for two in '92!" *
                     *        [log in to unmask]         *
                      ***********************************
42 saves for NMU freshman goaltender Corwin Saurdiff, and as I noted
in my semi-play by plays, 2 of the 3 goals he gave up were impossible
situations.