>I wonder
>if someone closer to the action could comment on these. I believe that
>some stemmed from players angered at being disallowed to take a face off
>(by the way, what is that rule anyway. WHat gives linesmen that right
>and in what situations).
>
>All in all, despite a lot of very clean play, it was a very dirty game
>at points. I think there were eight men in the penalty box at the final
>buzzer: five of whom were cornell players who conceivably could have lightened
>up with thirty seconds to go and a two goal lead.
>
>Greg Friedman
 
        Most of the ugliness in this game began in the second period after
Brown's second goal.  Following the goal one of the Brown players decided
that it was a good time to attempt a conversation with Cornell goaltender
Jason Elliot.  I can't say whether any physical contact was made between
the players, but Cornell captain Brad Chartrand didn't like the devloping
situation, and skated over to rectify the conflict.  A full sclae brawl
ensued and the only reason the game didn't get out of hand was an
extrordinarily tightly called game by the referees.  (As an aside, with the
exception of the last 1:00 of the Brown game I found this weekend's
referees to be exceptional - Noeth was at both games, Dell was the other
Referee at the Harvard game).    As things continued to heat up the final
straw was the Cooney-Mulhern 'fight' near the end of the third.  I use the
term fight loosely, since Cooney took the brunt of the punishment and
Mulhern finished by ripping Cooney's helmet right off his head.  This one
happened no more than 10 feet from my front row seat, so I had a pretty
good view.  The penalties at the end of the game during the Cornell penalty
kill were solely a function of the referees desire to prevent a bench
clearing brawl.  Anything and everything that resembled a penalty, namely
much of your standard penalty killing behavior, was called.  The game ended
in a potentially disastorous situation for Cornell, with Brown having 2 men
up and the ability to retain this advantage after scoring one and possibly
even two goals.  A quick goal with 40 seconds left would have things very
shaky for the Big Red, and an overtime period with all those players in the
penalty box could have spelled defeat.  So, despite the two goal lead, the
game was very much not over.
 
        I will admit that Cornell does play a very physical game and that
will, and has, frustrate most opponents to the point of causing some
extra-curricular activity.  However, I feel that the description of the
game I've presented is pretty accurate and objective.  Feel free to
disagree if you like.
 
Lawrence C. Weintraub
Let's Go Red!!!!
Ivy Champs '95-'96; ECAC?
 
Larry Weintraub,
Cornell University
Let's Go BIG RED!!!!!
 
Quote of the Week:
                "If a technology is distinguishable from magic, it is
insufficiently advanced."
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