Shari writes:
 
> In the early 80`s the Gophers' Aaron Broten launched a rocket shot towards
> the goal in a playoff game against Michigan Tech (I think!). The puck hit
> the back of the net at such speed, and at a 'perfect' angle, that it went
> clear through the back of the net and hit the back board behind the goal.
> Broten and others started to cheer, as they saw the puck go in, but the
> goal judge and the refs ruled a no-goal. TV replays in slow-motion showed
> the puck crossing the goal line and coming out the back of the goal.
 
> I can't remember the ramifications of this game, but I'm pretty sure it
> was an important one.
 
I'll tackle this one, because I was there.  In fact it was the first Gopher
hockey game Paula and I ever attended, in March 1980.  The game was a one
game playoff between CCHA Champion Northern Michigan and WCHA runner-up
Minnesota, with the winner to go to the NC$$ tournament.
 
As Shari remembers, in the second period Gopher forward Aaron Broten launched
a screamer of a slapshot which went into the goal, through the netting and
out the other side.  The goal judge turned on the red light, and the crowd
went wild.  Soon, however, we realized that the referee was signalling "no
goal."  He had apparently not seen the puck go in, and when he skated to
the net found the puck lying behind it.  No goal.  Between periods the hole
in the netting was found, but of course it made no difference.
 
Northern went on to win the game, I think by a one-goal margin.  The outcome
was a great disappointment, but it was one of the most exciting hockey games
I had ever seen.  Paula and I have had tickets for every Gopher home game
since that one.  Thus began our love affair with college hockey.
 
-- Erik