The D-III National Championship - St. Norbert vs. Norwich

[Stormy8174]

Re: The D-III National Championship - St. Norbert vs. Norwich

Just got home...a long drive...

1) Great game and great atmosphere...although I could have done without the screaming Norwich fan that told me to "shut up" and the "my team is not even in it" (Oswego). Funny...since I was sitting with St. Norbert fans and rooting for them. Other then that, Norwich fans were great in support of their team. St. Norbert had a much smaller crowd and some Oswego fans rooting for them (at least I was) and they were great to talk with and hear the support of their hockey team.

2) Deer are dangerous...lets just say I need to get the car in the shop now...

 

[norm1909]

Re: The D-III National Championship - St. Norbert vs. Norwich

...2) Deer are dangerous...lets just say I need to get the car in the shop now...

That is a bummer; it would be insult to injury, had the games not lived up to their hype. Hopefully the damage resulted at least partially from impact with the deer, as then it is under New York law, a comprehensive claim versus a collision (i.e. no rate increase).

On the other side, doing his part at making the roadways safe:

... PS: I have hunted for over 35 years and bagged a number of deer.

 

[dmac1103]

Re: The D-III National Championship - St. Norbert vs. Norwich

First Congrats again to Norwich but the fans that are saying they are going to have a dynasty on their hands might want to remember one thing, while they are losing only 5 skaters (2 Forwards & 3 Defensemen) they are losing 2 goalies including a 1st team All American. So next season baring any type of transfer they are going to start the season with 2 freshman and an unproven sophomore. Looking at the final four teams Norwich and Oswego lose only a few skaters (while Oswego losses hurt bit more) and have their leading scorers back but have question marks in net (sorry Oswego Jones hasn't played and Beckwith seams to get hurt every other hour, but then again with that fire power who needs to stop goals lol) St.Norbert loses 6 skaters 3 were their leading scorer and 1 of the better Defenseman (from what I saw this weekend) but they do return O'Brien. Plattsburgh losses 3 guys (barring anybody deciding they need to turn pro) one of which was in the top 3 in scoring. So there is a good chance that you might see these four teams back next year.

 

[peddler]

Re: The D-III National Championship - St. Norbert vs. Norwich

The biggest difference between the two teams last night appeared to be that, once the commercially-impossed timeouts stopped at the end of regulation, I don't believe that SNC could skate with NU. That having been said, by the end of 99+ minutes you had to feel bad for whichever team came out second.

 

[norm1909]

Re: The D-III National Championship - St. Norbert vs. Norwich

Norwich outlasts St. Norbert (Article from the Plattsburgh Press-Republican March 21, 2010)

By NICK ST. DENIS
Staff Writer


LAKE PLACID — Norwich coach Mike McShane said forward Pier-Oliver Cotnoir was moping in the hallway after failing to bury a good scoring opportunity with five minutes left in regulation.

"I'm telling you, you're going to get another chance," McShane told Cotnoir.

Coach was right.

With 31 seconds left in the second 20-minute overtime Saturday, Cotnoir finally slammed home the decider in Norwich's 2-1 NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey Championship victory over St. Norbert at Herb Brooks Arena.

The 99-minute, 29-second game was the longest in the history of the Division III tournament. The win marked Norwich's third national title.

"This is how hard it is to win a national championship," McShane said.

Cotnoir scored on his own rebound just outside the crease to give Norwich (26-1-4) the victory after Kyle Thomas threw the puck in front of the net from the right corner.

"I saw Thomas going wide, and he beat the defenseman," Cotnoir said. "I thought I might as well drive the net and put my stick on the ice."

Norwich was clearly the better team offensively, but an almost mistake-free game from a stellar St. Norbert defense and an even more impressive effort by goaltender B.J. O'Brien gave the Green Knights (24-4-3) a chance for five periods.

"As the game wore and wore further it was more and more evident Norwich had more jump than we did down the stretch," St. Norbert coach Tim Coghlin said of his team's fourth trip to the championship game in seven years.

O'Brien made 70 saves, earning the tournament's Most Outstanding Player Award.

"For me, what gives me success is controlling my rebounds and challenging shooters by staying out of the crease," O'Brien said. "There were not too many screens. My defense let me see the puck.

"Down the stretch, I kept telling myself, 'We got this far, just make the saves and give us a chance to get one in."

Cotnoir was partly responsible for getting the Norwich offense going in the first period. He came close to scoring multiple times by getting around the St. Norbert defense and to the front of the net.

The forward set up his team's first goal, taking a power-play shot from the top of the slot that bounced off of O'Brien before Norwich's Chad Anderson buried the rebound.

"We went through a lot of adversity this year," Anderson said. "All that stuff through all the games this year got us a lot of experience."

St. Norbert's Sam Tikka tallied the equalizer at 9:36 in the second period.

The Green Knights didn't get many clean chances in the Norwich zone, but their lone goal was scored on a nice odd-man rush. Matt Boyd skated the puck to the hash and passed it across the slot before Tikki burned a top-right wrist shot past Norwich goaltender Ryan Klingensmith.

"I think it was a 3-on-2, and Boyd and I made it a 2-on-1," Tikki said. "(Klingensmith) wasn't that far out, and he's not that tall so I just kind of wound up. I was going top shelf the whole time.

"When we scored there, I thought we were going to start rolling, and we rolled a little bit. But eventually we stepped back into our defensive role."

Klingensmith, who made 33 saves on 34 shots, said the atmosphere of the game made it easy to maintain composure, despite the fact that action was scarce for chunks of time.

"If it was a regular-season game, it would've been extremely tough," he said. "But in the national championship game, it's pretty easy to stay focused."

Norwich 2, St. Norbert 1

St. Norbert 0-1-0-0-0—1

Norwich 1-0-0-0-1—2

First period- 1, N, Anderson ppg (Cotnoir, Bell), 11:30.

Second period- 2, SN, Tikka (Boyd), 9:36.

Second overtime- 3, N, Cotnoir (Thomas), 19:29.

Shots by period:

St. Norbert 5-9-6-9-5—34

Norwich 8-14-15-13-22—72

Goaltenders (shots-saves): O'Brien, SN, 72-70. Klingensmith, N, 33-34.

Power plays (goals-opportunities): St. Norbert, 0-6. Norwich, 1-4.

 

[Wormser-PointRC]

Re: The D-III National Championship - St. Norbert vs. Norwich

Record 70 saves are two too few for title - Green Knights can't match O'Brien effort (Article from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, written by Matthew Webb(yes, that Matthew Webb))

Lake Placid, N.Y. — St. Norbert received an astounding and record-setting 70 saves from junior goaltender B.J. O'Brien, but it was not enough as the Green Knights fell, 2-1, in double overtime to Norwich (Vt.) in the NCAA Division III hockey championship game at Herb Brooks Arena.

Norwich forward Pier Oliver-Cotnoir scored off a rebound with only 31 seconds remaining in the second overtime to give the Cadets the title.

"I think we just need to look back on the season as a whole," said St. Norbert coach Tim Coghlin. "I can't put into words how proud I am of this group of seniors and what they have done this season just to get here. We were relying way too much on our goaltender tonight, and I thought Norwich had all the answers. They made the plays and we did not, and sometimes it's just that simple."

O'Brien's total of 70 saves is an all-time high in a Division III national championship game, shattering the mark of 47. The 99 minutes, 29 seconds it took to determine a champion is also a Division III tournament record, breaking the mark of 93:26 that had stood since 1984.

"He did everything he could to give us a chance to win," Coghlin said. "B.J. made some incredibly big saves along the way."

Norwich put St. Norbert in a 1-0 hole early with a power-play goal by Chad Anderson at 11:30 of the first period. Despite two power-play chances in the period, St. Norbert failed to get on the scoreboard. The Green Knights were outshot, 8-5, in the period.

St. Norbert tied the game, 1-1, at 9:36 of the second period as senior defenseman Sam Tikka finished off a two-on-one with a shot over the right shoulder of Norwich goaltender Ryan Klingensmith.

"It was a three-on-two that Matt Boyd and I turned into a two-on-one," Tikka said. "The goalie wasn't out that far and there was room, so I was going up top all the way."

The third period featured excellent scoring chances for both sides, but neither team was able to score, and regulation concluded with the game still tied, 1-1.

The overtimes were all Norwich, as the Cadets rolled up 35 shots in the two extra periods.

St. Norbert finishes the season at 24-4-3. The championship game appearance was the Green Knights' fourth in the past seven years, and the loss marks their third national runner-up finish in school history.

St. Norbert 0 1 0 0 0 - 1
Norwich 1 0 0 0 1 - 2

 First period - 1, NU, Anderson (Cotnoir, Bell), 11:30 (pp). Penalties - NU, Serino (high-sticking) 7:59; SNC, Nopper (boarding) 10:55; SNC, Allen (boarding) 12:02; NU, Cotnoir (hooking) 12:33; NU, Eskedjian (hooking) 19:13.

Second period - 2, SNC, Tikka (Boyd), 9:36. Penalties - NU, Allen (charging) 5:43; NU, Allen (interference) 10:00; SNC, Nopper (kneeing) 16:50.

Third period - No scoring. Penalties - SNC, Allen (high-sticking) 3:52.

First overtime - No scoring. Penalties - No penalties.

Second overtime - 3, NU, Cotnoir (Thomas), 19:29. Penalties - NU, Anderson (tripping), 13:01.

Saves

O'Brien, SNC 7 14 15 13 21 - 70
Klingensmith, NU 5 8 6 9 5 - 33

 Shots on goal - SNC 5-9-6-9-5-34; NU 8-14-15-13-22-72. Penalties /minutes - SNC 4 for 8; NU 6 for 12. Power play opportunities - SNC 0 for 6; NU 1 for 4. A - 5,100. T - 3:44.

5100 Attendance? That's pretty solid.

 

[The Real Georgia Peach]

Re: The D-III National Championship - St. Norbert vs. Norwich

It shouldn't be forgotten that Norwich played last night's game without their All-American defenseman Eric Tallant. A real tribute to Norwich's team approach.

 

[PSUChamps2001]

Re: The D-III National Championship - St. Norbert vs. Norwich

First Congrats again to Norwich but the fans that are saying they are going to have a dynasty on their hands might want to remember one thing, while they are losing only 5 skaters (2 Forwards & 3 Defensemen) they are losing 2 goalies including a 1st team All American. So next season baring any type of transfer they are going to start the season with 2 freshman and an unproven sophomore. Looking at the final four teams Norwich and Oswego lose only a few skaters (while Oswego losses hurt bit more) and have their leading scorers back but have question marks in net (sorry Oswego Jones hasn't played and Beckwith seams to get hurt every other hour, but then again with that fire power who needs to stop goals lol) St.Norbert loses 6 skaters 3 were their leading scorer and 1 of the better Defenseman (from what I saw this weekend) but they do return O'Brien. Plattsburgh losses 3 guys (barring anybody deciding they need to turn pro) one of which was in the top 3 in scoring. So there is a good chance that you might see these four teams back next year.

HOME vs. PRIMELINK
HOME vs. St.Thomas or St.Johns I forget
HOME vs. Midd/Norwich
HOME vs. ELMIRA (MAYBE)
HOME vs. WILLIAMS
CARDINAL CLASSIC
FORGOT THE TEAMS
HOME vs. NORWICH
HOME vs. MIDDLEBURY
away @ Skidmore

Could be a very good year for Plattsburgh as well....

 

[peddler]

Re: The D-III National Championship - St. Norbert vs. Norwich

Congratulations to Norwich. What an incredible game by both teams! The Cadets could have a dynasty on their hands!

McShane's going to need to recruit a replacement for Klinger before anyone can start talking "dynasty".

 

[NUProf]

Re: The D-III National Championship - St. Norbert vs. Norwich

McShane's going to need to recruit a replacement for Klinger before anyone can start talking "dynasty".

Exactly what I was thinking. Dubois did not get a lot of seasoning this year. You never know who's out there in the Goalie aisle of the recruiting supermarket. Look what Platty found

 

[LakerEagleLover]

Re: The D-III National Championship - St. Norbert vs. Norwich

5100 Attendance? That's pretty solid.

Hmmmmm.....lower bowl was not close to full - I would estimate 60% at best with many Laker and Cardinal fans leaving town Saturday morning...

Call the audit committee...

 

[PrezdeJohnson09]

Re: The D-III National Championship - St. Norbert vs. Norwich

McShane's going to need to recruit a replacement for Klinger before anyone can start talking "dynasty".

I think Norwich's defense was just as important. I'm not familiar with how many of your D corp is coming back but if you've still got four or five of them coming back, I think you'll be a-okay.

 

[hawk]

Re: The D-III National Championship - St. Norbert vs. Norwich

WCAX TV Channel 3 video of the Norwich/St. Norbert game with video of the GWG by Pier-Oliver Cotnoir. The feed from Kyle Thomas to set up the goal was outstanding. Congrats Norwich on a another great game and NCAA D3 title. Having problem with the link so go down to bottom on page and check of Saturday game.

http://www.wcax.com/global/video.asp?clipId=4637365&***************

 

[BauerHockey]

Re: The D-III National Championship - St. Norbert vs. Norwich

What happen?! I thought SNC was the best in the country? They blew out so many teams and had it all going for them. In the game yesterday they didnt take one run at the goalie or swipe at him after the whistle, what happen that was there bread and butter all year. BJ played great but some of the other goto guys on that team came and went. Its too bad that such a well coached team could'nt get it done. But second place at nationals is still something to be proud of! They got there and showed what they can do and how good they really are!

 

[joecct]

Re: The D-III National Championship - St. Norbert vs. Norwich

What happen?! I thought SNC was the best in the country? They blew out so many teams and had it all going for them. In the game yesterday they didnt take one run at the goalie or swipe at him after the whistle, what happen that was there bread and butter all year. BJ played great but some of the other goto guys on that team came and went. Its too bad that such a well coached team could'nt get it done. But second place at nationals is still something to be proud of! They got there and showed what they can do and how good they really are!

I wonder if the (oft maligned) practice of the Interlock of playing on Friday night / Saturday afternoon helped the Cadets. The format of the N*** weekend followed the format they are used to.

 

[CARDS_rule_the_Burgh]

Re: The D-III National Championship - St. Norbert vs. Norwich

Hmmmmm.....lower bowl was not close to full - I would estimate 60% at best with many Laker and Cardinal fans leaving town Saturday morning...

Call the audit committee...

1) Definition of "attendance" is PAID attendance. Thus, everybody who bought a two-day package is counted.

2) I saw what I would estimate to be a couple hundred Plattsburgh fans scattered around the Arena, and likewise (although not quite as much) from Oswego fans. I know I was there!

3) collegehockeystats still lists all three games as "0" attendance.

 

[17'sfanNU]

Re: The D-III National Championship - St. Norbert vs. Norwich

Oh give me a break.

The game lasts almost 100 minutes, and you can clearly say one team was 'definitely the best'? Really?

One_to 7, for the first time all season, I partially agree with you about this. Both teams definitely deserved to be in the finals, and both teams played their best hockey. It was a shame that one team had to lose, I am just glad that the winning goal was not caused by an "error" on the other team. O'Brien played like a wild man, and was the best goalie for stopping over 70 shots. (Although I thought Klinger saw his biggest challenge against SNC and did awesome). Norwich had the better offense, keeping the puck in the SNC zone especially during the OT"S. (Although SNC had some nice breakaways and passing for scoring chances especially in the 2nd and 3rd periods). Obviously two different game plans and we know that Coghlin was hoping to capitalize on a Norwich mistake. I think these two teams were pretty evenly matched and the only way you can determine who was better is by the score board. There were no lucky goals, fluke deflections, etc. Norwich put one more puck in the net then SNC, hence the winner (and better team) of the game. And when it all boils down to the end, Norwich can say with pride that they proved they were good by beating the best of the West, and SNC can say they proved they were good by taking the best of the east to two OT's. Both teams were incredible.
As I sat at center ice, behind both benches, it was obvious that both teams were exhausted and hurting in the 2nd OT. Forget the bragging rights, forget the hype, these kids played their hearts out for the sport they love to play and the game we fans love to watch. And what a game it was Thank you SNC and Norwich players, we appreciate your effort.

 

[peddler]

Re: The D-III National Championship - St. Norbert vs. Norwich

WCAX TV Channel 3 video of the Norwich/St. Norbert game with video of the GWG by Pier-Oliver Cotnoir. The feed from Kyle Thomas to set up the goal was outstanding. Congrats Norwich on a another great game and NCAA D3 title. Having problem with the link so go down to bottom on page and check of Saturday game.

http://www.wcax.com/global/video.asp?clipId=4637365&***************

Hawk - this is a link to the WCAX coverage of the NU/PSU semi-final game.

 

[peddler]

Re: The D-III National Championship - St. Norbert vs. Norwich

http://www.wcax.com/global/video.asp?clipId=4638697&***************

This is the link to the finals coverage on WCAX. The replay of the GW goal is particularly clear.

 

[aatwood]

Re: The D-III National Championship - St. Norbert vs. Norwich

I don't know if this has been asked already, but anyone know of an archived video of the game or if CBS College Sports is going to re-broadcast? I was away for the weekend and missed an all-time classic. ugh....

Thanks,
Alan