Semis (Friday, 12/29): Dartmouth 3, Boston College 1
UMinn-Duluth 5, Vermont 2
Consolation (12/30): Boston College 1, Vermont 1 (overtime)
Championship (12/30): UMinn-Duluth 3, Dartmouth 2
All-tourney team: G Taras Lendzyk (UMD), D Owen Hughes (Dartmouth),
D Laird Lidster (UMD), F David Hymovitz (BC), F Eric Perrin (UVM),
F Marc Ciccarello (UMD)
MVP G Scott Baker (Dartmouth)
(Boxes posted to list INFO-HOCKEY-L).
Dartmouth certainly showed that they are capable of winning games with
their showing in this tournament, as they played very well. Their
victory over BC broke a 9 game losing streak and was their first win of
the season. Goaltender Scott Baker won the tourney MVP award with a
solid but ordinary effort against BC followed by a spectacular effort
in the championship game. BC and UMD didn't take them too seriously,
I think, and the Big Green almost put the final into overtime when a
bid for the tying goal hit the post behind Lendzyk and bounced out
with 18 seconds left in the game. Dartmouth skated hard all weekend
and played with the most heart -- Dolesh and Hughes on defense and
Whitworth on offense played well.
UMD was the class of the tourney, playing very strong against Vermont
with solid forechecking and powerful defense, then finishing off their
offensive chances. I think Dartmouth surprised them in the final with
their perseverence, but UMD was larger, stronger, and managed to hang
on for the title. It took some fantastic saves by Dartmouth goalie
Baker to make this one close. I was impressed with the Bulldogs, and
can see why they have played so well for most of the season. The killer
goal in the semifinal against UVM was the 4th one. With the score 3-1
UMD, Vermont had put on heavy power-play pressure, with Lendzyk making a
spectacular glove save to rob a UVM forward. Shortly after that, a
pass went to Vermont's Pavel Navrat at the point; he dodged around a
diving Marc Christian and was about to take a short-range slapper when
Christian reached back while flat on the ice and deflected the puck
to teammate Joe Rybar. Rybar passed back to a breaking Christian (after
he had gotten up) and Christian broke in alone to roof a short-side
wrister to make it 4-1 and kill any Vermont comeback ideas.
BC played very weakly the first night, one of their worst efforts of
the season. They had offensive problems all weekend, possibly due to
the absence of Marty Reasoner (playing for the USA Juniors in the WJHC.)
Dartmouth consistently outskated and outplayed BC, and deserved their
win. The Eagles shook off the cobwebs and played better in the
consolation against Vermont, and might have taken this game with some
better luck. UVM's tying goal came late in the game when Greg Taylor
was totally screened on a seeing-eye shot from the point that slid
inside the near post (Contrary to what Howie Mansfield had posted
earlier, Taylor did not see this shot; we were right behind the goal
and saw it all the way; Taylor was totally screened.)
Vermont may have been suffering from scorer withdrawal, as sparkplug
Martin St. Louis missed the tournament due to his play for Team Canada
in the Spengler Cup in Switzerland. The UVM fans were not happy with
their team's play on either night, but at least grudgingly recognized
that UMD played very well in the semifinal. They expressed a good deal
of concern about the upcoming ECAC stretch, given the way the Cats
played this weekend, and probably are justified in their worries. UVM
continues to show that they only have one consistent offensive line,
and when Perrin-Ruid-St.Louis can be shut down the team does not score
well. (Matt Stelljes took St. Louis's place on the line for this
tournament, and obviously is not the same caliber player.)
Attendance: Both nights were official sellouts at 4035, and most seats
were filled for the Vermont games. But after the consolation game,
only about 2000 fans stayed for the final between Dartmouth and UMD,
and many of them left before the game was over.
Gutterson Fieldhouse: Another curved roof shell building, with some
modernization. Not bad, but it's the fans and the noise that makes
the building, and UVM just couldn't get things going this weekend.
We looked at the photos of past UVM teams (including Travis Roy's dad),
enjoyed the people, and really enjoyed the cookies with the M+M's! (We
recommend the chocolate version if you have a choice. :-)) I thought
Vermont did a nice job with the parking lot shuttles and the walkway
through the basement tunnels of the athletic complex to get us to
our seats; if only BC could do that as efficiently when they use
satellite parking for basketball!
We enjoyed the weekend, the town, and the games. If any of you have
teams in the tournament next year, a trip is highly recommended.
--------------- ----------------------
Rick McAdoo [log in to unmask]
Read the FAQ!!! A patient BC fan. GO EAGLES!
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