In last night's game Harvard got stingy defense, great goaltending and
maintained constant pressure on Boston College.  Oh, and by the way, BC won.
 
It was really that kind of game.  Looking at my impressions of the game all my
notes are about Harvard players and their heroics.  Aaron Israel had a HUGE
game, maybe bigger than Tripp Tracy's in last year's final.  The ending was
almost tragic--did Israel simply run out of gas?  The goal seemed to be almost
a replay of the Ciavaglia goal in the US/France game.  It wasn't even a hard
slapper, just a nice straight wrist shot from just in front of the blue line.
Wierd.  My notes read: (second period) "Conley stoned by Israel at 2:00 mark.
HUGE save by Israel on Chase, etc. etc."  Not to take anything away from BC's
Taylor.  He obviously had an equally great game.  And he won.  But for half
the game it seemed Harvard's offense was left in Cambridge.  Midway through the
second period the Channel 38 announcer said Harvard had only made something
like 6 shots.
 
Along with Israel, Lou Body played a superior game.  He can play for my team
anytime.  When he was on the ice he seemed to smother everyone in his path.
I thought the entire Harvard defense played a great game.  This was certainly
not the same defense I saw at the Houston Fieldhouse in December.  The Harvard
offense seem a little tentative.  Steve Martins never seemed to be much of a
factor (was he shadowed by BC's third forward?)  And the BC defense never
allowed Harvard's big guys a chance to camp out in front of the goal.
 
The dearth of scoring gave announcer Norton the opportunity to analyze each
scoring play intimately, and he is truly a delight to listen to.  On Harvard's
first (and only goal) he used the telestrater (sp) to show the Crimson set
up, and how Martins used the puck to draw the defense to him.  The dish to
McCann was cool, and McCann's top shelfer was no routine shot either.  On the
tying goal from BC Norton did another great job of analysis.  Norton exclaims
"La Ferriere is wide open!  He holds it holds it,  he gets rid of it too late.
Score Chase!"  If that isn't textbook commentary, I'll listen to the Time-Life
recording of Tom Mees' Greatest Calls.
 
Finally, so this post doesn't seem too one-sided, what a superior game plan by
BC.  This win undoubtedly will be the highlight of their season.  It was
interesting to watch that third forward hang back, constantly waiting for the
expected Harvard rush.  Then the time-out in the third, the change in strategy,
and the sudden tying goal.  Great drama.  And of course the game would be won
by a guy who had only scored 2 previous goals; I assume Tommy Ash must play on
BC's fourth line.  Listening to him being interviewed after the game really
brought out the essence of college hockey: the little known player who slaves
in the shadows all those years and suddenly has one great moment in the
spotlight.  It was almost amusing to listen to his awkward responses to
Thorne's inquiries.  The perfect ending for a Cinderella story.
                    _
            "NYS   // Hockey"
        Go 'Gate  //   Brian Morris
          Go RPI //      Albany, NY
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