Re: Top 100 Greatest Teams of the NCAA era Tournament
#32 – 1948-1949 Boston College Eagles vs. #97 – 1953-1954 Minnesota Golden Gophers
Northeast Regional – First Round
Boston Garden – Boston, MA
February 7, 2014
The ’48-49 Boston College Eagles led by Snooks Kelly took on the ’53-54 Minnesota Golden Gophers squad coached by John Mariucci in the First Round here in the Northeast Regional. Maroon and gold filled the seats at the Boston Garden, and the crowd was treated to an excellent display of hockey. The Eagles dominated play in the first period, getting goals by Jack Mulhern and Fran Harrington en route to a 2-0 lead after twenty minutes of play. The Gophers would strike back in the second with an early goal by John Mayasich to pull within one, but BC answered with a goal from John Gallagher and a second from Mulhern to take a commanding 4-1 lead into the third period. Eagle goalie Bernie Burke shined in the third, stopping Mayasich twice on point blank opportunities to keep BC up by 3, and with just under 5 minutes left in the game, Len Ceglarski scored for BC to put the Eagles up 5-1. That would be the final score here in Boston, as the ’48-49 Eagles advance to the Round of 64 where they will square off against the 1967-1968 Cornell Big Red.
#49 – 1987-1988 LSSU Lakers vs. #80 – 2001-2002 Denver Pioneers
Northeast Regional – First Round
XL Center – Hartford, CT
February 7, 2014
It was an instant classic in Hartford as the ’87-88 LSSU Lakers and the ’01-02 DU Pioneers squared off in the Northeast Regional First Round contest. DU came out on fire, as coach George Gwozdecky masterfully motivated his squad. Aaron MacKenzie put the Pios on the board first with a laser from the blue line, and Kevin Ulanski made it 2-0 DU moments later with a beautiful powerplay goal from the slot. However, the Lakers, under the watchful eye of coach Frank Anzalone stormed back with goals from Jim Dowd, Mark Vermette, and an unlikely source in Karl Johnston to take a 3-2 lead into the first intermission. The Lakers continued where they left off to start the second when Vermette scored his second goal of the game to put LSSU up 4-2. DU would respond though, and midway through the second frame, the Pioneers’ Connor James scored to put DU back within one. James nearly scored again towards the end of the period, but his wrister from the slot rang off the crossbar. Through two periods it was 4-3 LSSU. The Pioneers came out strong in the third, but Bruce Hoffort held strong in net for the Lakers. With the clock ticking down, Hoffort made a tremendous kick save on James, but the puck went right to Ulanski’s stick who put the biscuit in the basket to knot the score at 4. When the buzzer sounded to end the third, the score remained tied, and the game headed to overtime. An intense, yet defensive period of extra time ensued, and neither team was willing to push for the winner, and a second extra period was needed. Finally, with just 1:31 left in the second overtime, Mike DeCarle scored for the Lakers to send LSSU to the Round of 64 with a 5-4 2OT victory. LSSU will take on the undefeated ’55-56 Clarkson squad in the Round of 64.
#48 – 1991-1992 LSSU Lakers vs. #81 – 1985-1986 Michigan State Spartans
Northeast Regional – First Round
DCU Center – Worcester, MA
February 7, 2014
The ’91-92 LSSU Lakers took on the ’85-86 Michigan State Spartans in another top 100 matchup today in Worcester. Jeff Jackson’s Lakers took control of the game early on goals by Steve Barnes, Mark Astley, and Tim Hanley to take a 3-0 lead. Goalie Darrin Madeley held the Spartans off the board in the first despite 14 shots on goal from Michigan State. His stellar play would continue early in the second, but finally the Spartans, behind Kevin Miller finally solved Madeley, and turned the momentum in favor of Michigan State. Miller’s goal was followed by a checking from behind major by Kurt Miller, and it lead to back to back powerplay goals by Michigan State, as Jeff Parker and Mike Donnelly lit the lamp to tie the game at 3. The game seemed to be an offensive slugfest, but both goalies settled down, and Bob Essensa and Madeley put on a goaltending exhibition the remainder of the second and beginning of the third period. The score remained 3-3 as the clock wound down at the DCU Center, when Danton Cole broke loose for a breakaway goal with just 4:03 on the clock. The Spartans neutralized the Laker attack in the final minutes, and when the final horn sounded, the Spartans had pulled the upset with a 4-3 victory. With the win, MSU will square off against the ’03-04 North Dakota squad in the Round of 64.
#41 – 1956-1957 Colorado College Tigers vs. #88 – 1968-1969 Denver Pioneers
Northeast Regional – First Round
Alfond Arena – Orono, ME
February 7, 2014
An anticipated First Round matchup between heated rivals took place this morning in Maine at Alfond Arena, as the ’56-67 CC Tigers took on the ’68-69 DU Pioneers. The Tigers pounced early on Denver, with goals by Bob McCusker and Bill Hay to take a 2-0 lead just 4 minutes into play. However, Denver came back, and thanks to a goal from George Morrison, only trailed by one after twenty minutes of play. Gerry Powers kept the Pioneers within a goal early in the second despite a strong barrage of chances from CC, and midway through the second period, Tom Miller scored to knot the game up at 2. The momentum turned late in the period though when Keith Magnuson went down with an injury, and the Denver blue line struggled to replace their star, as CC scored twice in a span of 27 seconds with goals by McCusker and Don Wishart, and through forty minutes of play, the Tigers led 4-2. Magnuson would make a gutsy effort by coming out for the third period, but it would be to no avail. CC goalie Bob Southwood stopped everything he saw in the final stanza, and when Jerry Art potted an empty netter with seconds left on the clock, the Tigers sealed the victory. CC advanced with the 5-2 win to take on the 2011-2012 BC Eagles in the Round of 64.