Re: Maine v New Hampshire
Gee, thanks …
Seriously though, it's been awhile since I watched the '99 Final. This is a condensed version with most of the highlights and key moments, and probably a great reference point for those young'uns and newbies to the old border rivalry. Some random impressions and observations:
* UNH really needs to go back to those classic traditional block UNH sweaters. Souza, make it happen;
* This was UMaine's first non-asterisk tainted NC ( * '93 - retroactive financial aid, etc.);
* Umile looks younger, but so tense and wired, while Walshy looks cool as a cucumber but fired up;
* I'd forgotten how many quality chances UNH generated in the first half of that game;
* Both goalies made some great saves, but Conklin's rebound control cost him Goal #1 and the winner;
* UMaine probably coasts to a win if the Kerluke goal stands (as it would under current and past rules);
* A young Peter Metcalf was in the thick of this, and would be again (as C) in the '02 HE Final and FF;
* Whatever happened to Niko Dimitrakos? What a terrific all-around player, came up huge in the clutch;
* Souza blasts one inch(es) past the post just before the buzzer, after tying it up earlier in the 3rd;
* John Sadowski came thisclose in OT to never ever having to buy his own meals/drinks for life in NH;
* Walshy was not quite 44 years old and (despite his white/gray hair) almost 7 yrs. younger than Umile;
* Walshy had just over two years left to live, before succumbing to kidney cancer two weeks after 9-11
It's definitely a much different world than the one this classic took place in, almost 20 years ago now. It's hard to describe the impact a guy like Walshy had on UMaine, Hockey East and D-1 hockey overall. For all his faults (and there were many), the guy (and his teams) provided high entertainment value, and were must-see TV. If someone out there has a link to the old TV commercial with Walshy and Umile hawking cars (Tri-City Dodge, maybe?), I'd love to see that one more time. Classic stuff.
Originally posted by BlackI
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Seriously though, it's been awhile since I watched the '99 Final. This is a condensed version with most of the highlights and key moments, and probably a great reference point for those young'uns and newbies to the old border rivalry. Some random impressions and observations:
* UNH really needs to go back to those classic traditional block UNH sweaters. Souza, make it happen;
* This was UMaine's first non-asterisk tainted NC ( * '93 - retroactive financial aid, etc.);
* Umile looks younger, but so tense and wired, while Walshy looks cool as a cucumber but fired up;
* I'd forgotten how many quality chances UNH generated in the first half of that game;
* Both goalies made some great saves, but Conklin's rebound control cost him Goal #1 and the winner;
* UMaine probably coasts to a win if the Kerluke goal stands (as it would under current and past rules);
* A young Peter Metcalf was in the thick of this, and would be again (as C) in the '02 HE Final and FF;
* Whatever happened to Niko Dimitrakos? What a terrific all-around player, came up huge in the clutch;
* Souza blasts one inch(es) past the post just before the buzzer, after tying it up earlier in the 3rd;
* John Sadowski came thisclose in OT to never ever having to buy his own meals/drinks for life in NH;
* Walshy was not quite 44 years old and (despite his white/gray hair) almost 7 yrs. younger than Umile;
* Walshy had just over two years left to live, before succumbing to kidney cancer two weeks after 9-11
It's definitely a much different world than the one this classic took place in, almost 20 years ago now. It's hard to describe the impact a guy like Walshy had on UMaine, Hockey East and D-1 hockey overall. For all his faults (and there were many), the guy (and his teams) provided high entertainment value, and were must-see TV. If someone out there has a link to the old TV commercial with Walshy and Umile hawking cars (Tri-City Dodge, maybe?), I'd love to see that one more time. Classic stuff.
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