The NCAA Tournament kicked with some surprising and thrilling finishes. And oh my, how the mighty fell. Below is a brief rundown of each game.
East Regional:
The tournament opened with Michigan State facing off against Union College. The Spartans dominated much of the opening period with some aggressive forechecking and really taking the body against the Dutchmen. But it would be Union College that would strike first when freshman Max Novak got the Dutchmen on the board at the 15:04 mark. During the 4x4 play, Union College established an odd-man situation thanks to a great effort by junior Jeremy Welsh. Welsh started the play, intercepting the puck and making a nice dish to Novak, who put it by MSU goalie Will Yanakeff for the 1-0 score. Union College would come out with better play in the second period and once again, it was Welsh's hard work and effort that would pay off on the Dutchmen's next goal at the 3:20 mark. Welsh, standing in the slot, received a feed from defenseman Mat Bodie off the boards and Welsh went around a sprawling Yanakeff to increase Union College's lead to 2-0. But MSU wasn't about to go down quietly. MSU's line of Matt Berry-Brett Perlini-Mike Merrifield gave the Dutchmen fits throughout the game and at the 19:22 mark of the second period their efforts would be rewarded on the power play as freshman Matt Berry's shot from the face-off circle beat Troy Grosenick to cut the Dutchmen's lead in half. Union College came out a bit flat to start the third period, allowing the Spartans to create some good scoring opportunities, but they quickly went back to what was working for them. Junior Wayne Simpson would put the frosting on the cake for Union College at the 18:42 mark on the power play off of a nice setup by senior Kelly Zajac. The win was the Ducthmen's first ever NCAA Tournament victory.
Union College will meet UMass-Lowell in the East Regional final later today for a trip to the Frozen Four after the River Hawks defeated powerhouse Miami in what was the best game of the day.
UML came into this game as huge underdogs, but the their relentless forechecking style and ability to capitalize on Miami's mistakes allowed them to dominate much of the game. The River Hawks staked out to a 2-0 lead in the first period on two special teams goals. Sophomore Josh Holmstrom opened the scoring early at the 1:34 mark on the power play when he banked home freshman Terrence Wallin's shot off the crossbar and put it by Red Hawks senior goalie Connor Knapp for the score. Junior Colin Wright made it 2-0 UML after a great effort to pick off a Miami pass while shorthanded and went in alone on Knapp, beating him five-hole for UML's fifth shorty on the season. Junior Riley Wetmore extended the River Hawks' lead to 3-0 at the 2:21 mark, when he and senior David Vallorani created a 2-1. Vallorani made a nice dish to Wetmore, whose hit the post before getting by Knapp. After a dominating first two periods by the River Hawks, Miami came storming out of the gate to open the third period, turning the momentum in their favor. At the 3:06 mark, senior Trent Vogelhuber would get the RedHawks on the board with a shot through traffic that beat sophomore Doug Carr, cutting UML's lead to 2-1. Just 14 seconds later at the 3:20 mark, freshman Austin Czarnik broke up a RiverHawks pass, streaked in all alone on Carr and backhanded a shot to cut UML's lead to 3-2. As the third period progressed, Miami played RedHawks hockey to near perfection and it would result in the game-tying goal by senior Alden Hirschfeld at the 9:56 mark. Hirschfeld got a nice feed from junior defenseman Steven Spinell, who moments earlier had just gotten out of the penalty box, before backhanding home a shot beating Carr. The RiverHawks would start the overtime session shorthanded afterfreshman defenseman Jake Suter (the cousin of Nashville Predator, Ryan Suter) received a 5-minute major and was ejected for a hit from behind at the 16:25 mark. What worked for UML earlier in the contest, re-emerged in overtime. After successfully killing off Suter's penalty, the River Hawks would go back to their relentless forechecking that they seemed to abandon in the third period. At the 2:13, Wetmore would become hero, netting the game-winner off of a funny bounce. In a scramble to the right of Knapp, Wetmore's rebound poke at the puck off of sophomore Derek Arnold's shot look to have gone in off of either the arm of Knapp or off of a Miami defender that somehow got in. Regardless of how it went in, the goal stood and Miami was sent packing.
Both Union College and UMass-Lowell have never reached the Frozen Four before in their respective team histories at the D-I level. So one thing that is guaranteed is that whichever team advances will do so for the very first time.
Midwest Regional:
The other regional that took place on Friday was the Midwest Regional in Green Bay. The opening game saw Ferris State take on Denver. This matchup featured some great goaltending by Ferris State senior Taylor Nelson and Denver sophomore Sam Brittain. Denver was still without the services of regulars Beau Bennett and defensemen David Makowski and Paul Phillips.
The game opened as sort of a chess match as each team was sizing the other up. The Bulldogs were exceedingly strong on the forecheck throughout the game. Ferris State senior Jordie Johnston opened the scoring at the 4:30 mark of the second period when he put home a feed from sophomore Garrett Thompson in the slot. While the Pioneers got some great scoring opportunities throughout the period, Nelson was there standing tall. And despite allowing just a goal, Brittain was also up to the task making some spectacular glove saves on some of the Bulldogs' quality shots. Ferris State began the third period shorthanded. After successfully killing the penalty, the Bulldogs went back to work. And at the 2:54 mark, freshman defenseman Simon Denis would blast home his first collegiate career from the slot to extend Ferris State's lead. The goal would also be the game-winner. But Denver wasn't going to go down without a fight. The Pioneers were given several glorious scoring opportunities, including one by sophomore Jason Zucker standing to the side of Nelson. But the puck wouldn't settle down enough for Zucker to get a good shot off. Junior Drew Shore would cut Ferris State's lead at the 5:22 mark after backhanding a shot past Nelson off of a nice feed from senior Luke Salazar. Denver continued to throw everything at the Bulldogs, but the Bulldogs stood their ground. And when it was all over their efforts would pay off with a hard-fought victory.
Ferris State will meet Cornell in the regional final later tonight after the Big Red pulled off an improbably win over Michigan in the night cap.
The Wolverines came out strong to begin the game. And at the 1:11 mark, senior Luke Glendenning got Michigan on the board first off of a rebound, sliding the puck by Cornell sophomore net minder Andy Iles to make it 1-0. One of the turning points of the game came very early. Shortly after Glendenning's goal, junior Kevin Lynch appeared to have extended Michigan's lead, but the goal was waived off due to junior Luke Moffatt being in the crease and interfering with Iles. The Big Red has struggled in power play situations this season, but their fortunes would turn in this game when freshman Jon McCarron would get Cornell on the board at the 10:10 mark after his shot wet off the post and beat senior Shawn Hunwick. The Big Red would extended their lead early in the second period. At the 40 second mark, freshman defenseman Joakim Ryan fired home a high shot that beat Hunwick. The goal resulted from a great individual effort by senior Sean Collins, who picked off a Wolverines pass to create a 2-on-1 situation for Cornell. The Big Red were given a glorious opportunity to extend their lead to 3-0 when senior Locke Jillson was awarded a penalty shot after being hauled down in from of the Michigan net, but he would be stifled by Hunwick, who quickly closed the pads to deny Jillson. The latter two periods really lacked flow due to the many unnecessary penalties take by both teams. Michigan started the final frame on the power play, but Cornell went into their usual defensive mode to protect the lead. And at the 15:59 make, Lynch would finally be rewarded for his efforts when he put home a feed from a nice effort by senior defenseman Greg Pateryn to get the Wolverines on the board. Michigan would continue to press hard from there, but Iles made a number of grade "A" saves to keep the Wolverines off the board. Cornell came out with some good jump to start the overtime session and began to really attack the offensive zone. And at the 3:35 mark, towering sophomore Rodger Craig became the most unlikely hero when he put home a rebound from the slot. Junior Greg Miller took the initial shot, but Hunwick made a beautiful save only to give up a juicy rebound in the slot where Craig was.
Should Ferris State defeat Cornell in the regional final, they would join either Union College or UMass-Lowell in advancing to their first ever Frozen Four. Cornell will looking to make their first Frozen Four appearance since 1980.
should ferris state defeat cornell in the regional final, they would join either union college or umass-lowell in advancing to their first ever frozen four. Cornell will looking to make their first frozen four appearance since 1980.
So disappointed right now that my Big Red lost to friggen Ferris St. Basically a nobody. Never heard of them til tonight.
Not sure that 1st goal should have counted, Isles was definitely interfered with. Our PP was garbage though, 0 for 7 and missing a 5 minute chance. Then of course they score on 1 and right after our 5 minute PP. This team could have made at least the title game.
The only thing to take out of tonights game is that this was a young team that vastly overachieved this season and they are only gunna get better next year.
So disappointed right now that my Big Red lost to friggen Ferris St. Basically a nobody. Never heard of them til tonight.
Then obviously you didn't pay any attention to the standings throughout the season. They were up near the top for most of the season, and even spend a couple weeks at number one.
So disappointed right now that my Big Red lost to friggen Ferris St. Basically a nobody. Never heard of them til tonight.
Not sure that 1st goal should have counted, Isles was definitely interfered with. Our PP was garbage though, 0 for 7 and missing a 5 minute chance. Then of course they score on 1 and right after our 5 minute PP. This team could have made at least the title game.
The only thing to take out of tonights game is that this was a young team that vastly overachieved this season and they are only gunna get better next year.
Ferris is good.
That first goal was called right. The Ferris player was pushed into the goalie and didn't really make that much contact. Powerplays for both teams were atrocious.
Then obviously you didn't pay any attention to the standings throughout the season. They were up near the top for most of the season, and even spend a couple weeks at number one.
Go bulldogs!
They are having a cinderella run of sorts because that was o0nly their 4th NCAA Tournament game in school history. Just because a name is seen on the standings doesn't mean one has heard of it.
That first goal was called right. The Ferris player was pushed into the goalie and didn't really make that much contact. Powerplays for both teams were atrocious.
It has been for Ferris pretty much all year (actually, longer than a year) but it is offset by Ferris' dominate defensive play. In the last two games you can tell teams are having trouble getting anything near the net. Taylor Nelson has been amazing in goal when they do manage a threat. Fun to watch as a FSU grad!
Last edited by GitcheGumee: 03-25-2012 at 05:31 PM.
They are having a cinderella run of sorts because that was o0nly their 4th NCAA Tournament game in school history. Just because a name is seen on the standings doesn't mean one has heard of it.
But they won't beat Union.
Ferris is a smaller name relative to the other regulars in the tourny, no doubt. My point was that it would be impossible for someone to pay attention to the D1 hockey standings and not have even heard of Ferris State. They have had many occasions being nationally ranked and had a pretty decent run a few years ago.
Ferris is a smaller name relative to the other regulars in the tourny, no doubt. My point was that it would be impossible for someone to pay attention to the D1 hockey standings and not have even heard of Ferris State. They have had many occasions being nationally ranked and had a pretty decent run a few years ago.
Another reason some may not have heard much about Ferris State is that they win a lot of games with strong defense and great goaltending, it's been their style for awhile now. They're not a flashy team and they have some solid players, but not really one or two stars. Defensive teams without flashy style of play or players don't get the media attention of high offensive schools.
Another reason some may not have heard much about Ferris State is that they win a lot of games with strong defense and great goaltending, it's been their style for awhile now. They're not a flashy team and they have some solid players, but not really one or two stars. Defensive teams without flashy style of play or players don't get the media attention of high offensive schools.
True. The last big NHL name out of Ferris was Chris Kunitz and that was 2003.
perhaps a silly question, but are the final Hobey Baker votes cast yet?
Some of the 10 finalists are done for the year but a guy like Troy Grosenick, playing great hockey in Union's two wins so far, may garner more votes.
Which of the other finalists are still active?
