Friday, January 24, 1992 at Volpe Complex, North Andover, MA
HOCKEY EAST GAME
Boston University Terriers (16-5-0, 7-5-0 HE) 0 3 1 - 4
Merrimack Warriors (12-11-0, 3-8-0 HE) 0 3 2 - 5
FIRST PERIOD MC-BU
No scoring.
SECOND PERIOD
1. BU1, David Sacco 7 (Mike Pomichter, Kaj Linna), 0:38. PPG 0-1
2. BU2, Petteri Koskimaki 12 (K. O'Sullivan, Steve Thornton), 3:38. PPG 0-2
3. BU3, Sacco 8 (Pomichter), 5:00. 0-3
4. MC1, Dan Gravelle 14 (Rob Kelley, Wayde McMillan), 8:41. 1-3
5. MC2, Kelley 7 (McMillan), 12:19. 2-3
6. MC3, McMillan 1 (Gravelle, Matt Hayes), 18:48. 3-3
THIRD PERIOD
7. BU4, Thornton 8 (Rich Brennan, Mike Bavis), 2:29. 3-4
8. MC4, Cooper Naylor 2 (Teal Fowler), 6:28. PPG 4-4
9. MC5, Jason Pagni 1 (Fowler), 11:11. PPG GWG 5-4
SHOTS ON GOAL: Boston University 7-11-11 = 29
Merrimack 8-12--6 = 26
GOALIES: Boston University, John McKersie (2-2-0, 59:08, 26 shots-21 saves).
Merrimack, Steve D'Amore (10-10-0, 60:00, 29 shots-25 saves).
POWER PLAYS: Boston University 2 of 4. Merrimack 2 of 2.
PENALTIES: Boston University 4/8. Merrimack 6/12.
REFEREE: John Gravallese. LINESMEN: Matt Good, Bob Paquette.
ATTENDANCE: 1,576 (capacity 3,617).
THREE STARS: 1. Wayde McMillan, Merrimack (1-2--3).
2. Rob Kelley, Merrimack (1-1--2).
3. David Sacco, BU (2-0--2).
Tonight, Merrimack defeated Boston University for the first time in 4.5
billion years.
The Warriors entered the game with a 1-25-0 record against BU dating back
to 1964-65 when the series began. The one win came after BU forfeited a
9-0 win 20 years ago because of an ineligible player. For all intents and
purposes, this was Merrimack's first win ever over the Terriers, who
carried a nine-game winning streak into the game.
Key performances in the game came from sophomores Wayde McMillan and
Jason Pagni. McMillan had no points in 12 career games, but playing on the
Warriors' new first line along with Rob Kelley and Dan Gravelle, he stole
the spotlight with a goal and two assists and was named the game's number
one star. Pagni wasn't even supposed to play until three hours before
game time. F-D Claude Maillet had been moved back to defense with Mark
Cornforth having suffered a broken collarbone against Maine, and Chris Ross
had been pencilled in at fourth-line center. But Ross was unable to play,
and Ron Anderson decided to move Maillet to center and insert Pagni in as
the top right defenseman. Pagni's shot from the point beat John McKersie
with 8:49 left and was the game-winner, his first collegiate goal.
The first period was very physical and evenly played, and it ended
scoreless. McMillan went off for high-sticking on the game's first penalty
with just 17 seconds left in the period, and BU would capitalize on the
power play in the second.
Just 38 seconds into the second stanza, Sacco took a shot from the top of
the left circle that was stopped by D'Amore, but he couldn't cover the puck
on his blocker and it bounced into the net behind him. This set off a
three-goal explosion by BU. Koskimaki made it 2-0 at 3:38 on another power
play when Kevin O'Sullivan's shot went intentionally wide and came to
Koskimaki on the other side of the net, and he easily put it in. Sacco
was sent in by Pomichter at 5:00 and his goal made it 3-0, a deep hole
for Merrimack to climb out of.
But climb they did, as that first line accounted for three goals of their
own to tie the game at 3-3 heading into the third. McMillan sent Kelley
and Gravelle up on a rush, and Gravelle put in the rebound of Kelley's
shot at 8:41. Merrimack carried the play for the rest of the period.
Kelley scored at 12:19 as he took a feed from McMillan and put a shot
on McKersie that the freshman goalie stopped, but he couldn't control the
rebound and Kelley banged it in. McMillan got the first of his career at
18:48, which was a big goal since the Warriors entered the final period
tied instead of down a goal. Gravelle won the draw back to Matt Hayes,
and his point shot was stopped, but the puck bounced in the air and
McMillan knocked it in the net.
The Terriers went ahead at 2:29 of the third when Thornton carried up
the right side and fired a slapshot along the ice that got between
D'Amore's right skate and the post. But when Mike Bavis drew a penalty
for cross-checking at 5:19, it was Merrimack's first power play of the
game after BU had already gone 2 for 2, and the Warriors evened the
score. Teal Fowler, who had been winning faceoffs all night long against
the huge Terrier centermen, kicked the puck ahead off the draw where
linemate Cooper Naylor pounced on it and fired it past McKersie for only
his second goal of the year. The line of Naylor-Fowler-John Barron had
kept the Terriers on their toes early in the game, matching them solid
check for solid check, until the Gravelle line could come up with the
three goals in the second.
Merrimack killed off a penalty after the goal, then went on a power play
of their own and got the winner. Fowler won another draw, back to Pagni
at the right point, and his shot sailed through untouched at 11:11 to
make it 5-4 and send the Merrimack crowd into jubilation. Most of them
seemed to know the magnitude of what they were witnesses to, as BU has
been the one team Merrimack has really wanted to beat since entering
Hockey East.
BU went on another power play but couldn't get the equalizer, and D'Amore
made several great saves to preserve the lead, one where Sacco appeared to
have beaten him for his hat trick but D'Amore somehow got the right pad
there just in time. In the final minute, with the Volpe crowd louder than
I've ever heard it, we saw something we've never seen before: Jack Parker
pulling his goalie in an attempt to tie Merrimack. It didn't work as
the Warrior defense tightened up and protected the net well, and time
ran out to close another important chapter in the history of Merrimack
College hockey.
EPILOGUE
McKersie seemed rattled all night, as Merrimack didn't hesitate to get
in his face from the start of the game, and I think this was a real key.
They were able to do to BU what the Terriers had long done to other teams,
Merrimack included. The two comebacks were also key; you just can't count
this team out. Anderson looks like a genius after putting together the
new first line, but something needed to be done since the old unit wasn't
doing anything at all and the Warriors have had trouble scoring goals in
Hockey East.
Credit also several other unsung heroes for stepping in and playing good
games: rookie D Mike Kelleher was playing in only his second game and
he almost got his first goal in the third when his shot rang off the post.
Rob Kelley, another fourth-liner along with McMillan until last Sunday,
had a goal and an assist. D Alex Weinrich took charge with the loss
of Cornforth and played one of his finest games as a Warrior. And Matt
Crowley returned to the lineup for the first time since having his spleen
removed in late November, and although he was a little short of breath,
he played well and looks to be on his way back which will be key for the
stretch drive.
For BU, David Sacco was everywhere and always dangerous, and linemate Mike
Pomichter also was superb. But the Terriers' defense really broke down
on Merrimack's three goals in the second. Jack Parker was very upset with
his team's play. But it was nice to see the reaction of BU SID Ed
Carpenter and some of the other BU people. They knew how important the
win was to the Warriors, and Ed offered his congratulations to Merrimack
SID Jim Seavey and gave him a hug after the game. Ed came over to me and
said, "What a great game!" It's nice to see that from a man who is always
gracious in defeat as well as victory.
PA announcer Rick Savastano strategically decided not to give the
Northeastern-Maine score until after the game was over, so that it wouldn't
allow the large BU contingent to get back into the game. :-)
The win means that after starting the season 0-6 in HE, Merrimack is now
four wins short of equalling its 7 wins of last season, with 10 games
left. They will have two games each against Lowell and Northeastern. The
goal has been to improve every year, and there is a good chance that they
can still improve upon last season's 7-14 HE record.
It also means that tomorrow night could see an additional milestone to
the two that will be marked at Lowell. It will be the 50th all-time
meeting between the Merrimack Valley rivals. It will also be Ron Anderson's
300th game as Merrimack head coach, and it could be his 175th victory.
Anderson has not coached anywhere other than Merrimack, which he is in
his ninth season of directing.
The Terriers will try to regroup Sat night at home against BC; the game is
already a sellout and will be aired on delay Sunday afternoon on NESN.
---
Mike Machnik [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask]
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