ryan@fremen.DEC (Mike Ryan DTN 264-8280 MK01-2/H32) (03/22/85)
This morning's Boston Globe analyzed the rookie season of the Hockey East league. The "progress report" gave the league pluses for recruiting benefits for '85-86, cost-effectiveness, and travel efficiency; minuses on East-West officiating differences, and tournament attendance; and neutral on the long schedule's effect on academics. It was said that the announced attendance for two nights of 13,451 appeared to be somewhat higher than it looked in the stands. The ECAC field of RPI, Clarkson, Cornell, and Harvard outdrew the previous year's entries of RPI, Clarkson, BU, and BC by about 500 despite competing with the Hockey East tournament (which was held in Providence and televised regionally on cable). The results of the WCHA vs. Hockey East: West 66, East 42, 2 ties. BC (11-5) and Providence (9-5-2) were the only Hockey East teams with winning records against the WCHA; only two WCHA teams had losing records against Hockey East. The Lowell coach called Hockey East the "toughest Division I league". The Hockey East probably did better than most people expected, but that's really pushing it. The WCHA commissioner (Otto Breitenbach) had this to say about the inter-league play: "We are extremely happy with the year. I speak for all the schools. The overall situation is one of overall endorsement. It's unanimous among administration, players, and coaches. We're excited about continuing it indefinately. We've more or less verbally said we want to continue it in the same way. I can't say enough about the competition. We're upbeat." It'll probably be too late by the time you read this, but here are my predictions for the quarter-finals: Tonight RPI shoots for an NCAA record 30th straight win over Lake Superior (the record was set by Cornell in 1969-70. They should get it. The winner of this series will face the winner of Harvard-Duluth next Thursday (it'll be on ESPN!). I expect Duluth to win this one, unfortunately; Harvard just doesn't have the depth. If Scott Fusco's in good condition and Grant Blair is up to snuff, it could be close. I made a mistake earlier when I said BC had beaten Minnesota this season: I was thinking of Duluth (I know BC beat them at least once). I think this one's too close to call, but I'll take BC because of the home advantage (it'll be interesting to see how many disappointed basketball fans show up). In the other series (which begins Saturday), expect a defensive battle. I expect it to be close, and I'm going to go out on a limb and predict a Providence upset over Michigan State. I saw a rebroadcast of the Hockey East championship the other night, and I was very impressed with both teams. Chris Tereri did indeed give an awesome performance in goal for the Friars, but BC was skating well all along and made him work for it. In particular, he made one save in the mid-2nd overtime which was just unbelievable - in a 2-on-1 the BC player with the puck had apparently faked out Tereri before passing to his linemate, who made a good shot at the opposite side of the goal (a little bit low, as it turned out). Tereri showed astonishing quickness in moving back across the goal and extending his leg what seemed like five feet to kick the puck away. From what I've seen, Michigan State's offense is not particularly explosive, and Tereri should keep Providence close. The winners of the BC and Providence games will play the following Friday (but ESPN will carry women's basketball instead). I don't know about the championship (TV Guide goes through Friday), but I hope it'll be on ESPN - I probably won't make it to Detroit. It's interesting that the semi-finals could be rematches of the Eastern finals. I certainly hope it turns out that way. I wish, however, that the semi-finals could pit the ECAC against Hockey East. After being exposed all year to all of Hockey East's promoting itself as the best league, pasting their little logo on *everything*, remarks like that of the BU athletic director who said "any hockey person would say" that the ECAC is inferior to the other leagues; I'd like nothing better than to see two ECAC teams in the national finals. LET'S GO RED!!!!!! Mike Ryan