For most of us at the East Regional, this was our first glance at
much-discussed, sometimes-maligned Denver goalie Sinuhe Wallinheimo,
and he did not disappoint. A lot of HOCKEY-Lers may have been
wondering what the big deal was about him, as we were until this
evening, so for your edification, here's a review of his show tonight.
In the first period, with DU beginning its breakout with the puck
behind their net, a UNH forechecker took his position in front of
Wally. As the defenseman faked going one way or the other, Wally
moved back and forth in the crease, waving his arms and generally
making a spectacle of himself to try to distract the forechecker.
Throughout the game, Wally would occasionally dance in his crease to
whatever song the UNH band was playing. I thought that they should
have gotten hold of his album and tried to play one of the songs.
On one of Denver's goals in the second, Wally started the play by
moving the puck up ice. After the goal was scored, he skated out to
the blue line and made a few shooting motions with his stick as if to
say, "Hey, I started that one off!" He was awarded the assist.
Another time UNH hit the post, and after the play was whistled dead,
he skated over, reached down and patted it. A goalie's best friend,
indeed.
And then when a DU player was called for a penalty, the goalie skated
over to him, talked to him a bit and nodded his head as if to say,
"Yeah, it was a good call," and then whacked him on the butt as he
started off for the box.
The funniest moment came with a faceoff to Wally's right. We were
seated at center ice behind the benches, and Tony Biscardi (ogre), who
has one of the loudest voices anywhere, took the opportunity with
the rink silent to bellow, "WALLL-EEEEEE!!!" Wally looked over,
raised his stick to salute Tony, and returned to his ready position to
the laughter and cheers of the crowd.
This was somewhat unnerving for Tony, who is used to the reaction to
his yelling at players being either ignorance or some kind of obscene
gesture. Tony asked if his face was red, and I replied that I could
have painted "STOP" on it in huge white letters. :-)
As the game ended and the teams lined up for handshakes, Wally lifted
his mask and went down the line. At one point, Tony's contingent
began chanting, "Wally...Wally," and the goalie looked over with a
huge smile. Upon seeing the BU fans bowing to him in the way that
fans bow to a goalie who is playing well ("We're not worthy"), Wally
turned and bowed back to the fans several times, which got him another
ovation.
Although many of us were disappointed in the game's outcome for UNH, I
think it is safe to say we are looking forward to a chance to enjoy
Wally one more time. I wonder what Shawn Walsh's advice will be to
his team with regards to Wally's antics, if any - I can see how it
could affect a team who isn't prepared for him.
We certainly thought Wally was great, both in the way he played and in
the way he entertained the crowd. He brought us to the realization
that for the most part, there are no real characters in the college
game anymore - no one like him, anyway. College hockey needs more Wallys.
He's worth the price of admission alone. It's not just that the guy
is entertaining - he is also GOOD. It's too bad we will only have one
more year of him (he is a junior).
BTW, according to the Denver media guide, it notes that he is "a lead
singer in his band in Finland that includes two hockey teammates who
are his drummer and guitarist...released first album in June 1993...
compares his music style to Dire Straits and Bruce Springsteen but
sings in Finnish." Other DU players list their boyhood idols as being
people like their family members, pro athletes, etc...Wally says his
was Elvis Presley. And for "A day I will always remember": "When my
album was released."
And this is funny: his birthday is the same as mine (March 9). It
must have something to do with being born on that day. Heather would
probably agree, anyway.
--- ---
Mike Machnik [log in to unmask]
Cabletron Systems, Inc. *HMM* 11/13/93
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