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The Greatest Games ever played

Fighting Sioux 23

Fighting Sioux 23

New member
As most of you know I love formulas to rank certain things, and I have built one to determine how great a game was. At this point, I am asking the board for nominations for the greatest games of all-time. If you have the box score (or a link to the box score) that would be great, especially for older games. Obviously, pretty much anything from the past 10-12 years is on here, so no need to post box scores for recent games (unless you want to). I thought I would throw out some of my favorites, and please note that only the formula is done at this point in time. I have not plugged games into it. Anyway, here are some of my favorite games of all time...

2004 Regional Final: North Dakota v. Denver
2004 WCHA Final Five Championship: North Dakota v. Minnesota
2007 WCHA Final Five Championship: North Dakota v. Minnesota
2007 Regional Final: North Dakota v. Minnesota
2011 National Championship: Minnesota Duluth v. Michigan
1991 National Championship: Northern Michigan v. Boston University
1993 National Championship: Maine v. LSSU
2002 National Championship: Maine v. Minnesota
2004 National Championship: Denver v. Maine

These are just a few of my favorites. Comments and questions are always appreciated, and please post games that you think should be included in the Greatest Games ever played.
 
Re: The Greatest Games ever played

I'm not sure how it might rank in this formula... but it must be up there with one of the greatest comebacks.

2009 National Championship: Boston University vs Miami
 
Re: The Greatest Games ever played

I was at a North Dakota at UMD game in '86 where UND came back from 4 or so down with five minutes left in the third to tie the game and later win in OT.

The UMD - Princeton regional in 2009 was a hell of a game.

There was not a national title game in 1989. ;)
 
Re: The Greatest Games ever played

Maine V Michigan semi-final in 93 was a great game
Bowling Green and Duluth National championship game in 84
 
 
Re: The Greatest Games ever played

One of the greatest I remember seeing was the UNH game against North Dakota in the opening round of the NCAA's in 2009. UNH scored the tying goal with a tenth of a second on the clock and won it in OT. Just a phenomenal game by both teams, and neither deserved to lose.
 
Re: The Greatest Games ever played

1989 Harvard v. Minnesota.

Unbelievably heartbreaking, but that was an awesome game. Friggin' Skarda.
 
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Re: The Greatest Games ever played

UW vs. Cornell 2006 1-0 3OT
UW vs. BC 2006

UW vs. Nodak (1999?) twin OT games both won by UW w/David Hukalo netting the winner each night

BU vs. Mich 1997 - BU upsets

pretty much any Mn vs nodak game of the last decade, jesus there's been some great hockey there
 
Re: The Greatest Games ever played

Really, that 2006 title game? I know BC almost tied it, but UW "dominated" that game as much as possible in a 2-1 final.

I'd have to include the 2001 national title game...BC over UND in OT on a sweet goal
 
Re: The Greatest Games ever played

I am not sure how you are scoring, but these are two of my favorites, both from the same year. I leave it to others for more recent games.

12/4/68 RPI 4 - Cornell 3 (OT) (The game that saved RPI hockey according to an article in a later game program, as the admin were seriously considering downgrading the sport to ECAC D-II. RPI beat Cornell with Dryden when they never lost.)
1/14/69 RPI 7 - BU 0 (RPI only had one goalie, and he was suspended for "an incident". A center who had not played goalie since Pee Wee (IIRC) played goal. RPI's D essentially did not allow BU a clean shot on goal all game.)

I don't know of online boxscores, but I have score cards for both games.

Add the following.
3/5/74 1st round of the ECAC playoffs RPI (8th seed) 7 -- UNH (1st seed) 6 (OT) at Snively. There must be a box score somewhere. UNH has saved the wrong part http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUEHAUJsKDE. :p
 
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My memory isn't particularly clear on what year it took place (maybe 1983), but the second game of the Wisconsin vs. North Dakota two game total goal series in the WCHA playoffs. Wisconsin scored what seemed to be the game winning goal in OT, but it was called back for the stick having too much curvature. Wisconsin then won it for real with a shortie during the ensuing penalty.
 
Re: The Greatest Games ever played

Minnesota versus Brock Hall, 9-1, winning the AAU National Championship, and ending the 1939–40 season undefeated at 18-0. the Minnesota team had 2 All-Americans, John Mariucci and Harold Paulsen.
 
Re: The Greatest Games ever played

2004 Denver - Maine final was a dull trying not to lose game - until the last 2:00. Then it was the greatest two minutes of college hockey.
 
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BC vs Miami, March 30, 2008, Northeast Regional final at Worcester, MA
Box Score

Down 2-0 with 3:12 to go in the 2nd period, Boston College scores 3 goals in 1:58 to take a 3-2 lead into the locker room. Miami ties the game at the 9:02 mark of the 3rd, but BC wins it on Joe Whitney's hilite reel goal in OT.

Boston College advanced to the Frozen Four, dismantling North Dakota (6-1) and Notre Dame (4-1) for the 2008 National Championship.
 
Re: The Greatest Games ever played

LynahFan said:
Some interesting ones for Cornell:
Mar 11, 1977 (ECAC semifinal): 18 regulation goals, but makes it to 2OT.
Click to expand...

That was the greatest night of hockey I ever saw. It was held in the old barn (Boston Garden) and it was the LOUDEST I have EVER heard the building (pro or college), and I have been to that venue well over 100 times. UNH scored 19 seconds into the THIRD overtime when Bobby Gould came over the blue line and rocketed a shot past the Cornell goalie. The place was packed with UNH fans (only an hour's drive away) in the balcony, which hung right over the ice. The ensuing eruption shook the building! But what many people forget about was the second game of the doubleheader (which admittedly was an anti-climax to those who were not fans of either team). In another unbelievable ending, BU trailed Clarkson 6-3 with less than five minutes to play and then scored three goals (the final one by Olympian Dave Silk) to win 7-6. This was the "old" ECAC before the inception of Hockey East. I was a 22 year-old grad student at the time and I'll never forget that night!
 
Re: The Greatest Games ever played

gounhwildcats said:
One of the greatest I remember seeing was the UNH game against North Dakota in the opening round of the NCAA's in 2009. UNH scored the tying goal with a tenth of a second on the clock and won it in OT. Just a phenomenal game by both teams, and neither deserved to lose.
Click to expand...

I was at that game too and totally agree with you that is probably the greatest game i have every saw in person.
 
Re: The Greatest Games ever played

Seems difficult to define in a formula what makes a game great, since there are so many influences.

- Game Implications: Did the game mean something? Was a win required for the team to make the playoffs? Was it a tournament game? Was it for the National Title?

- Non-Game Cultural Implications: The US beating Russia (1980 Olympics) was great for more than just beating a seemingly unbeatable team. This was also an unstable time between the two countries politically.

- Non-Game Sports Implications: Not directly related to that particular game, but still something that was being played for. The Gophers finally winning a National Title after 20+ years for example, or like the Red Sox winning the World Series after 86 years. The games outcome meant more in a sense then the individual game ever could.

- Game Quality: Was it a great game because the two teams played well? Did a goalie stand on his head, or one of the players record a hat trick? Or was it simply great based on how long the game went (5 OT)? Maybe it was a last second goal that changed the game.

- Rivalry: Rivalry games certainly mean more to the players. They always have a chance to be great games, because everyone is giving their top effort. Rivalry games, even when not good games, tend to stick in peoples minds.

I am sure there are many more factors you could list. I'm not sure how you can cram these things into a formula.
 
Re: The Greatest Games ever played

JF_Gophers said:
Seems difficult to define in a formula what makes a game great, since there are so many influences.
Click to expand...

I agree. To be honest, I didn't even read the stuff about "formulas" - I just looked at the name of the thread and gave my input based on that!
 
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