OK, I bow to Ralph Baer.  The '54 victory may have been the most unexpected--I
wasn't born yet so I don't have any clear memories.  :-)
 
However, in the teams I have seen since  '85, the '95 team would have been the
least likely to win the ECAC's, when you take into account their play over the
last weeks.  Bu unexpected I automatically discount teams that had NO chance of
winning, the fact the parity was so apparent in the ECAC this year gave the
Engineers the chance.  But the things that made this victory unexpected, rookie
coach, rookie goaltender (even though he was a junior), a team following a team
which was supposed to win, a team which had no defensive tendencies during the
regular season, these are the elements in my hyperbole.
 
And regarding Dick's statement about CCHA TV coverage, he's absolutely correct.
The commentators for Lake Placid were the worst hockey announcers I have ever
heard.  Mike Foligno was particularly embarassing, some of his comments could
have been made by my six year old.  Flipping channels to catch BU/Providencethe contra
the contrast between the NESN crew and the Empire guys was glaring.  Even though
the subject of the Lake Placid game was obviously of more interest to me, I
couldn't resist tuning in to the Sportschannel/NESN game just to listen to Bob
Norton, and watch his diagramming of scoring plays.  Aside: what a shame Chad
Quenneville doesn't get a chance to play in the NC$$'s.  The rest of the country
should see what a great hockey player he is.
 
Anyway, the ECAC again shows what a second-rate conference it is in terms of
media coverage.  Fortunately, the level of competition isn't necessarily the
same.
***************************************************************
Brian Morris              Tenth Anniversary of the '85 Championship
[log in to unmask] RPI Engineers--1995 ECAC Champions