RPI's Jeff Brick received a minor for "throwing the puck" late in the third
period of his team's semifinal loss to SLU.  SLU scored on the power play
to pull within one.  I've never heard of this penalty being called in this
manner, although it is clearly a penalty.  Rule 6-17a talks about gloving/
throwing the puck so I suppose it could be possible, but I've never heard
such a penalty be called "throwing the puck".
 
Clarkson coach Mark Morris was quoted after his team's loss as saying, "Jason
(Currie) did a fine job.  Looking back (decision to start Rogles or Currie),
I might have changed my decision."  Is he kidding?  Rogles was pulled for
Currie at the start of the third; Rogles had allowed three goals on eight
shots in the second and stopped 12 of 15 shots in the game.  I had thought
maybe the change was to spark the team.  Currie certainly played great in
the third and the overtimes before allowing the winner when Cornell's
McManus wasn't picked up off the faceoff.  But it sure wasn't Rogles' fault
that Cornell came back to take a 3-2 lead.  Clarkson's defense was absolutely
horrendous - lackluster and they were allowing guys to walk in constantly.
 
On the other side, Cornell can't score a lot of goals (their leading goal
scorer, Jason Vogel, has only 11 in 28 GP), but their defense was disciplined
and played superbly.  It is easy to see why Duffus has put up the numbers
that he has - that's not to slight him, because he also played well, but
Cornell almost always had two guys in front of the net and they rarely got
drawn away.  I was very impressed.
 
Here are scores from the first games of the best-of-three quarterfinals
out West, courtesy of WMPL radio.  All winners lead their series 1-0 and can
clinch Saturday night.  North Dakota and Miami are the only road winners.
If any are wrong, call WMPL and complain.  At least these got announced on
the national late-night sports talk show (along with the ECAC scores).
 
WCHA
North Dakota 5, Minnesota 3
Northern Michigan 9, Michigan Tech 1
Wisconsin 6, St Cloud 5 (ot)
Colorado College 7, Minnesota-Duluth 6 (3 ot!)
 
CCHA
Michigan 4, Ohio State 2
Lake Superior 3, Illinois-Chicago 1
Michigan State 5, Ferris State 2
Miami 3, Western Michigan 1
 
BTW, I was disappointed that all you New Yorkers cheered the scoreboard
announcement of the Celtics' loss to New Jersey. :-)  You are guests!  :-)
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Mike Machnik    [log in to unmask]   mikem@{beanpot,bubba}.ma30.bull.com