Steven Rockey posted an interesting set of criteria for the best college
teams ever (Fri 7/29).  In that case, I want to add Harvard '89 to his
list.
 
The Crimson won the NCAA Championship, finishing with a record of 31-3-0.
None of the losses were at home; all were to ECAC opponents (Yale (3-1),
Colgate (6-5 in ot), and UVM (3-2 in ot)). They were ranked #1 from almost
the beginning of the season to the Yale loss in January and never fell
too far after that.  In regular season nonconference games, they beat BC
(twice), UNH, and BU in the Beanpot final.
 
In the NCAA tournament, the Crimson swept the defending champions, Lake
Superior, at home in the quarterfinals.  In the semis, they turned back
Michigan State 6-3, the top seed in the West.  In the finals, they won
4-3 in overtime against Minnesota, which had the benefit of Robb Stauber
(the 1988 Hobey Baker winner) in goal and a decidedly partisan crowd at
the St. Paul Civic Center.
 
As for the style of play, the offense was wide open and prolific, with
Hobey Baker winner Lane McDonald leading the way.  On defense, the
Crimson played the whole year alternating two freshman goalies, and as
for checking hard, I seem to recall some shattered glass during the
NCAA tournament ...
 
Now, THAT was old time hockey,
 
Andrew Samwick