Saturday afternoon was a day that many Golden Knight fans were waiting
for. This was the first time Clarkson was seeded 1 or 2 in the NCAA's
since they went to the current format, and (IMO) they deserved it.
 
However, the bus carrying the players broke down on its way to the
Centrum and didn't show up until about 11 minutes left in the second
period. For the first half of the game, Mark Morris dressed a group
of replacement players.
 
OK - I'm not serious, but I think you get my point. Clarkson didn't
show up to play their biggest game of the year and I'm still wondering
why. This is clearly one of the best teams in the country and had a
shot at the national title. They just haven't been able to take the next
step to be recogized like BU, MIchigan, Minnesota, et al.
 
Take nothing away from the Tigers. They took advantage of Clarkson's
sloppy defense and converted 4 odd-man rushes into goals. Then they
didn't let Clarkson back into the game. Tight checking and taking
the man off the puck, CC controlled the game. I agree with everything
Mike Machnik said about CC (and Denver for the matter). They showed
the world that just because they are a #5 seed, they're no slouch.
 
Clarkson finally scored midway through the second period. However,
even though they were down 4-1 with a lot of hockey left to play,
it looked like they had given up. Their passes weren't crisp, there
was no spring in their step, and they just didn't look like they
felt like playing.
 
About 7 minutes into the third, Clarkson was granted a power play.
The entire power play was anemic, totalling about 15 seconds of
attack zone time. They did score on a nice centering play as Jordan
Grant was left alone next to the crease with 5 seconds left on the PP.
 
Then a lightning bolt hit. Clarkson decided to play again. Within
a minute, Hobey Baker candidate Todd White muscled a shot towards the
net. It seemed to be deflected and popped over the head of Judd
Lambert and into the net. So, with about 9 minutes left, it was a
5-3 game.
 
Then they died again!! Did they think they had plenty of time to
get two goals and tie the game?? I have no idea, but they couldn't
muster much of anything again. They had a few chances, but they
were either deflected shots away from the net or easy saves for
Lambert.
 
With under 2 minutes left, Morris pulled Dan Murphy for the extra man.
JF Houle then somehow found the puck on his stick at the crease and lifted
the shot above Lambert's shoulder to make it 5-4. Down one goal with
1:39 left. Plenty of time for Clarkson to pressure and tie the game.
It didn't happen, though. CC's strong defense was up to the task and
never let Clarkson get real close.
 
5-4 was the final.
 
At this point last year, I was very proud of Clarkson's accomplishments
in the NCAA tourney. They weren't supposed to beat Western Michigan,
but they stoned them, 6-1. They were outplayed (for the most part) by
BU for 50 minutes in round 2, but turned it on and made it a game, losing
in a close one, 3-2.
 
Right now, I am still very proud of what Clarkson has done this year.
A fabulous run at the end of the season to clinch the ECAC regular
season championship, a good ECAC tournament with a mildly disapppointing
loss in the championship game, and a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament.
 
What I'm disappointed in is their showing yesterday. This was an
excellent team - a team I never expected to do this at the end of
last year - with three Hobey considerations. With the pressures that
this team has had to face and their postseason experience, you'd
think they know what it takes to win. They didn't show that at all
yesterday, until it was too late.
 
I can see why Clarkson has not received the respect that they
deserve. If they can't win in the postseason, why should anyone
resect them? I'm not saying that they didn't deserve the #1 seed.
(Unlike whoever wrote the recap on ESPN's web page - more on that
later) Clarkson absolutely deserved this seeding.
 
All I'm saying is that this was the type of game they need to win
to earn the top-notch status of the Michigans, Minnesotas, and BUs.
Until they do that, they probably won't get the respect from the
doubters.
 
Regarding the ESPN web page author....
 
I know it's ESPN, but what perturbed me was the opening line in their
recap of the game. It went something like, "As many believed, Clarkson
showed that it didn't deserve the #1 seed as Colorado College wins...".
 
This annoys me to no end. Like I said, I know it's ESPN, but I thought
that their college hockey correspondent was one who covers hockey for
a major Division I school. If this person knows anything about NCAA
Division I hockey, their statement didn't deserve to be printed.
 
Trust me, I don't go running to ESPN's web page for game recaps, this
was something that I just happened to notice. I certainly find more
objective information on US College Hockey Online and USA Today and
I now have even less respect for ESPN's college hockey coverage.
 
Andy Weise
SUNY Potsdam '93
Union College '95
 
 
HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey;  send information to
[log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.