OT - NCAA Hockey Championship

[JonInMiddleGA]

Helluva finish. Denver beat Maine 1-0.

Maine on power play 6-3 for the final 2 minutes (they'd pullled their goalie along with the two-man advantage). 2 shots off the posts, 1 shot off the crossbar and a great save by the Denver 'keeper.

First ever 1-0 championship game for the NCAA.

I don't really follow college hockey, but caught the 2nd game of the Frozen Four earlier in the week & decided I'd try to catch the final too.

Decent little human interest story with the Denver goalie too. Cut from his bad h.s. team as a sophomore, got dropped to the j.v. squad. Didn't quit, got a chance due to injury, developed into a prospect & now he's got a nat'l championship.

Anyhow, great game to watch, serious playoff tension throughout.

[Dutch]

I just happened to catch the last 2 periods of play. That was an awesome finish! Say what you want about games that don't have a lot of scoring, but the tension that builds while they are trying to score, especially in a situation like this, is unreal.

I don't know how the goalie saw that slapshot that he gloved, it looked like there were at least 3 guys in his way....amazing game!

[yacovfb]

It was a great and exciting game, especially at the end but Maine got robbed. They had a goal disallowed in the first period because one of their players had a toe in the crease. This had no affect on the goalie's ability to make the save and it is just a stupid rule that the NHL did away with a few years ago. The rulemaking body for college hockey should look to change the rule during the offseason.

-yacovfb

[RPI-Fan]

The DU goalie has another aspect to his story. He was a Minnesota kid, and it's every MN young talent's dream to play for the Gophers. The Gophers waited until the last minute, though, and he had already verbally committed to DU.

Instead of walking away from his DU committment, he honored it, and look how it worked out for him.

As you said, great story.

[Ryche]

I don't think it's 'every' Minnesota hockey players dream to play for the Gophers.

[RPI-Fan]

Well, yea', but it was his, like it is most.

[tucker342]

Fantastic finish. It seems like every year there's a great finish in the College Hockey Championship game

[timmae]

It was a great and exciting game, especially at the end but Maine got robbed. They had a goal disallowed in the first period because one of their players had a toe in the crease. This had no affect on the goalie's ability to make the save and it is just a stupid rule that the NHL did away with a few years ago. The rulemaking body for college hockey should look to change the rule during the offseason.

-yacovfb

Skate in the crease = disallowed goal. Seeems fairly straightforward to me. It definately stops the 6 player pileups in front of a goalie who's trying to find the puck. I like the rule... seems like it's in the same vien as the immediate icing calls and no fighting in the college game. This season is the first that I have actually liked the college game better than the NHL. Good thing because I bet next year the college kids will still be playing games while the overpriced and overhyped NHL fellas are wanking off at home.

[Cards4ever]

The DU goalie has another aspect to his story. He was a Minnesota kid, and it's every MN young talent's dream to play for the Gophers. The Gophers waited until the last minute, though, and he had already verbally committed to DU.

Instead of walking away from his DU committment, he honored it, and look how it worked out for him.

As you said, great story.

Hmmm, if that is true, that would be a NCAA violation. The Gophers were stocked with Goalies when Berkhoel was ready to play college hockey with Hauser, Weber and Johnson. Lucia doesn't do that stuff, he even reported it when Sonmor and Nanne tried to get Zach Parise change his mind and come to Minnesota instead of North Dakota.


Anyways, props to Denver and Berkhoel, I remember him playing for Anoka in the State Championship game a few years ago.

BTW, don't listen to Ryche, he sounds like a bitter SCSU fan.

[RPI-Fan]

Hmmm, if that is true, that would be a NCAA violation. The Gophers were stocked with Goalies when Berkhoel was ready to play college hockey with Hauser, Weber and Johnson. Lucia doesn't do that stuff, he even reported it when Sonmor and Nanne tried to get Zach Parise change his mind and come to Minnesota instead of North Dakota.


Anyways, props to Denver and Berkhoel, I remember him playing for Anoka in the State Championship game a few years ago.

BTW, don't listen to Ryche, he sounds like a bitter SCSU fan.
Cards4ever! Been waiting for you to make your annual appearance.:)

Well, MN and Lucia don't ever do anything wrong, do they?;)

Seriously, though, I read that from an RPI insider, who obviously doesn't have great info on Western hockey. Maybe I misunderstood what he was saying, or something. Note that it was a _verbal_ commitment - nothing official.

As for Ryche, RPI probably had something to do with his and SCSU's bitterness.:D

RPI should have a good hockey team next year - we bring back all of our offensive core, and while we lose a good goaltender we have a good prospect coming in from the AJHL. In addition, we're adding a big kid up front from the BCHL, as well as a speedster, and a sniper from the MWJHA (one of those Ontario Jr. A leagues). The last kid is only 17 years old and led his team in scoring - he could be a good one.

[Ryche]

BTW, don't listen to Ryche, he sounds like a bitter SCSU fan.

Bitter SCSU AND Colorado College fan, thank you very much. Minnesota had to steal CC's coach before they could win anything. ;)

[Cards4ever]

Well, MN and Lucia don't ever do anything wrong, do they?;)

Seriously, though, I read that from an RPI insider, who obviously doesn't have great info on Western hockey. Maybe I misunderstood what he was saying, or something. Note that it was a _verbal_ commitment - nothing official.

As for Ryche, RPI probably had something to do with his and SCSU's bitterness.:D



Let me present a couple of things to you, here, read this article first:

http://www.greenbaynewschron.com/sports/sportest.html?article=125168

Then this quote:

"There has got to be a change in how some coaches in this league deal with their recruits and players. More need to follow the classy way Don Lucia runs the Gophers. That's how we try to be."


That's from Troy Jutting of Mankato or MSU-Mankato, a rival WCHA school.

I think Ryche is bitter from the ass kicking the Gophers put on SCSU the last 4 games of their season and the annual swoon that team has! Well, at least they didn't lose in the NCAA's again, hey, hang another Pizza Hut banner in your barn, it'll make you feel better! hehehe

[Ryche]

I think Ryche is bitter from the ass kicking the Gophers put on SCSU the last 4 games of their season and the annual swoon that team has! Well, at least they didn't lose in the NCAA's again, hey, hang another Pizza Hut banner in your barn, it'll make you feel better! hehehe

No bitterness there, SCSU was seriously outplayed and outmanned. But I wasn't impressed enough with the Gophers to think they could threepeat. They surprised me winning the Frozen Five though.

No illusions about Husky hockey here, they'll always be at least a step behind the Gophers as long as Lucia is around. He is god.

[JeeberD]

Way to go Pioneers...I guess...