Well, it was an up-and-down season for the 1993-94 Clarkson Golden
Knights. They roared back from their usual slow start to finish strong,
but fell just short of an NC$$ bid.
The season started with a 4-3 OT win over Boston College. They visited
Kalamazoo MI to play the Western Michigan Broncos. They tied the first
game 4-4 but were edged 4-3 in the second. ECAC action started with an
exciting 5-4 loss to RPI followed by a similarly wild 8-7 win over Union.
They were surprised the next weekend when they tied Princeton and lost
4-2 to Yale on the strength of Todd Sullivan's 52 saves. Their season
seemed lost with a 7-3 rout vs UNH in the Great Western Freezout. They
needed a late comeback to beat Toronto U in OT. An interesting note was
that throughout the season so far, Clarkson had been at least 2-0 in every
game. Then, they played a pair
against archrival St. Lawrence. SLU was undefeated in the league and off
to a strong start while Clarkson was floundering. But the Golden Knights
swept the Saints 5-3 in Potsdam and 4-2 i Canton thus turning around the
seasons for both teams.
1994 started with a 10-1 rout of Concordia. Clarkson visited Providence
to play the Brown Bruins, whom they tied 2-2. Despite a Craig Conroy hat
trick, Harvard beat Clarkson, the next night, 7-5. They hosted Maine,
the next weekend. Goalie Blair Allison withstood a late charge from the
Knights as Maine held on for a 3-2 win. The Knights rebounded with a 6-4
win over Providence the next night. Next weekend, the Knights blew a 5-1
lead and ended up tying Dartmouth. This typified Clarkson's early season
trouble holding leads. However, that was no such problem the next night
when the Knights owned Vermont, 5-2. Thus started Clarkson's late season
run. The next Friday, Clarkson used a solid all around effort to beat
Colgate, 3-1. They held off a late rally by Cornell to win, 6-4. An
overtime win at Union sent them off to their rematch with RPI in good
shape. But RPI scored a controversial late goal to beat Clarkson, 5-4.
It was the first time since 1985 that RPI had swept Clarkson. Clarkson
returned home for a pair of easy wins over Yale (4-1) and Princeton (6-1).
They blew a 3-0 lead and lost at Cornell, 4-3 on a flukish PC Druin goal.
This was a big loss that seemed to put Clarkson out of contention for 2nd
place. The Knights rebounded with a 5-1 win at Colgate's Starr rink. Jason
Currie made 40 saves in winning in Vermont (4-2) and 48 in a fabulous 4-2
win at Dartmouth. The final weekend of the season began with a thrilling
2-2 tie in what was one of the best played games in recent memory. In the
season finale, Clarkson beat brown, 4-2 to clinch 2nd place. Clarkson
finished the regular season 11-2-2/
Clarkson nearly blew a huge lead but Colgate's rally ran out of time
as the Knights won Game 1 of the ECAC quarterfinals, 7-6. Clarkson looked
much more composed, the next night, in finishing off the sweep, 5-2. The
Knights traveled down to Lake Placid to battle RPI in a rematch of last
year's semifinals. It was over before it started. RPI was up 3-0 less than
4:00 into the game. The Engineers looked awesome in the 6-2 win. Clarkson
looked more like their usual selves with a 6-2 rout of Brown in the consolation
game. But it was not good enough for an NC$$ bid. Probably the loss to
RPI sealed it.
However it was still a pretty decent season for Clarkson. A 14-3-2 finish
was good enough for its 5th straight 20-win season but not enough for
its 5th straight NC$$ bid.
The Brown game marked the final collegiate contest for seniors Craig
Conroy, Ed Henrich, Patrick Theriault and Jason Currie. Best of luck
to Craig in the Hobey voting and to all in their future endevaors.
Now a look at some of the younger players.
STEVE PALMER- Evolved into one of Clarkson's most exciting players. His
speed and puckhandling ability assure him of an excellent future.
CHRIS LIPSETT- Looked awful last year and not so good this year but has
developed very nicely. He has become an excellent power forward.
His ability to retain the puck while going through people will
help him a lot next year. Should replace Conroy as the team's
top power forward.
DAVE SEITZ- Was once strictly a penalty killer/checking line player
but his passing skills have improved a lot recently.
KEVIN MURPHY- Should be an excellent penalty killer. Good in the corners.
TODD WHITE- Although Jean-Francois Houle got all the glory from the fans,
White was just as important to the team. Not afraid to go up against
bigger men in the corners, and often wins those battles. White's
biggest asset in toughness.
J-F HOULE: Exciting player to watch. Could be the next Marchant. Similar
to White in toughness but also has dazzling speed.
DEFENSE
ADAM WIESEL- Much improved in puckhandling and lateral movement. Needs
to be a little more physical, though.
PHIL LECAVALIER- I must admit that, early in the season, whenever he touched
the puck, I shuddered. Now, he is one of the most solid defensemen
on the team, IMO. Does puckhandle a little too much, now, but is
MUCH improved defensively.
MATT PAGNUTTI- Not much of an offensive contributor but adds a dimension
of toughness to the backline.
GOALIE
GREGG MALICKE- Didn't see much action this year. Hopefully will improve with
more playing time.
With the trade of Todd Marchant to Edmonton, there are some questions
about if junior Marko Tuomainen will remain with the club or join to
Oilers and become re-united with his former linemate. Tuomainen seemed
to have a sub-par year and some attribute it to the departure of the
speedy and excellent passer Marchant.
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Bri Farenell Clarkson '95
[log in to unmask] Glens Falls High '91
AHL and NCAA contact for rec.sport.hockey Go Erin Whitten (GFH '89)!
Adirondack Red Wings, AHL Calder Cup Champs: '81 '86 '89 '92
Bri's (revised) Hoops Final Four picks: Arizona, Florida, Michigan and Duke
Bri's Hockey Final Four Picks: BU, Lake Superior St, RPI and Mass-Lowell
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