Russ Anderson was not a spare, but he was a goon.  That is not to say that
goons have not had their place in the college and pro game.  Chris Nilan of
Northeastern and the Canadiens is a classic example.

The Gophers lost nothing when Anderson lured Meagher into the box with him.
BU lost its best player.  Many in attendance that night (and I was not
there) will tell you that was the plan.  The grisly behavior of the UMTC
trainer only served to punctuate one of the most unseemly moments in NCAA
playoff history.  While this occurred the Gopher band played the Battle Hymn
of the Republic.  Old-time BU fans like myself still have hard feelings
about it.

Today Terry Meagher is the head coach at Bowdoin College.

Edward N. Moller
Controller
Mount Ida College
777 Dedham Street
Newton Centre, MA  02459-3323
Tel (617) 928-4515
Fax (617) 928-4746
[log in to unmask]


-----Original Message-----
From: Pam Sweeney [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, April 01, 2002 9:57 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: NCAA Ice Hockey Championship Memories


I can't give eyewitness info, so I don't dispute your account of what
happened.  However, Russ Anderson played 66 games for the Pittsburgh
Penguins in 1976-77 (and went on to play over 500 games in the NHL),
according to hockeydb.com.  I find it hard to believe he was just a "spare"
on the Gophers in 1976.  I suspect the characterization of Herbie sending
out a "spare" to get rid of an All-American is slightly exaggerated, though
certainly Herbie enjoyed a little gamesmanship.

-Pam Sweeney
Go Gophers!!!

On Sun, 31 Mar 2002 13:12:25 -0500 [log in to unmask] wrote:

    As for the B. U.-Minnesota fray at D. U. Arena in '76, the details have
been recounted many times, but suffice to say, I will always blame Coach
Herb Brooks for intentionally (with malice aforethought a.k.a win at any
cost) having one of his spares (Russ Anderson) incite a brawl with the
Terriers' best forward, All-America Terry Meagher, resulting in both players
being ejected in the first five minutes of play.