pal@crystal.ARPA (01/10/84)
WCHA results for Jan 6-7. Friday Duluth 7 Minnesota 2 Denver 5 US International2 (non-conference) Saturday Duluth 5 Minnesota 4 Denver 7 US Int'l 2 AND A SPECIAL RESULT FOR BADGER FANS WHICH I AM SAVING FOR THE END. Standings W L T Pt GF GA North Dakota 11 3 0 22 63 31 Minnesota 9 4 1 19 55 54 Duluth 9 4 1 19 72 57 Wisconsin 6 8 0 12 57 52 Colorado 3 11 0 6 39 53 Denver 3 11 0 6 54 83 CCHA results for Jan 6-7. Friday Bowling Green 8 Michigan 2 Ferris State 4 W.Mich. 4(ot) Ill-Chicago 6 MichTech 1 MichState 9 Miami 1 OhioState 8 LakeSuperior 2 Saturday MichState 9 Miami 3 Mic higan 6 BowlingGreen 5(ot) Ferris State 7 W.Mich. 3 MichTech 6 Illinois-Chi 4 OhioState 5 lakeSuperior 4 Standings W L T Pt GF GA Bowling Green 14 2 0 28 91 53 Ohio State 14 3 0 28 97 51 MichiganState 13 5 0 26 98 55 N.Michigan 9 7 0 18 65 64 Mich.Tech. 8 8 0 16 65 58 Michigan 8 8 0 16 61 71 Ferris State 7 8 1 15 73 82 Lake Superior 6 12 0 12 65 72 W.Michigan 5 10 1 11 65 72 Illinois-Chi 3 13 0 6 50 99 Miami 3 14 0 6 53 97 Well, the Bulldogs of Minnesota-Duluth swept the Gophers in Minneapolis to draw level with them in second place. North Dakota are now the WCHA leaders. This surprise doesn't quite make it as upset of the week, however. The Wisconsin Badgers, the unpredictables of the season, were at it again. The team that had recently been swept by Colorado College and had struggled against Northern Michigan just two days earlier was facing its toughest challenge yet, against a team with a record of 11-0 in NCAA competition, who had allowed only one opponent to come within four goals of them, had outsored their opponents 91-21 in those 11 games, including a 12-0 win over Duluth (who swept the Badgers a month ago) and 9-2 and 9-4 wins over Minnesota the previous week. For those who are still lost, I am referring, of course to Team USA, the United States Olympic team, here in Madison to play a two-game series. Friday night it was obvious how they had compiled such a record. They were much faster than the Badgers, who nevertheless played their hearts out, losing 4-1 as former Badgers Marc Behrend, brilliant in goal, and Chris Chelios, who scored the winning goal and assisted on the other three showed the fans that they had not forgotten how to play hockey since leaving Madison:-). Pat LaFontaine scored his mandatory goal and assist, of course, to take him to 48 goals in 50 games. Well, at least the Badgers played them close. Only New Hampshire, in losing 3-1, had done better. Saturday, Lou Vairo switched goaltenders, playing Bob Mason. The wildly pro-Wisconsin crowd greeted him with the famous "Sieve" chant, and showed that they still held fond memories of Tom Hirsch, Team USA's 6'4",210lb. defenseman who was Minnesota's enforcer in the WCHA last year, by a chorus of boos. On the TV tape-delayed replay, Hirsch was beaming. It's nice to be remembered! On Friday, three of Team USA's goals had come on slap shots from the point, with deflections or rebounds in front. Today the badgers were trying to shut down that play. They were also fired up, and showed that Friday's good showing was no fluke. They outhustled the faster Olympians, and outshot them 13-5, forcing Mason to make some tough saves. The pressure paid off when Paul Houck directed Houston's pass in at 11:19. In the second period, The Olympic team had plenty of chances, but Baxter in the Badger net was spectacular. In the course of the game, he stopped no fewer than six lone breakaways, including three by David A. Jensen, one by Ed Olczyk, and an unbelievable diving poke check to deny LaFontaine. Team USA finally broke through at 15:19 when Rich Costello and Mark Kumpel got behind the defense and Kumpel tapped in Costello's goalmouth feed. Even then, a sliding Baxter got his pad on the puck, but it just went in at the far post. The period ended tied, and Wisconsin were still in it, if they could only avoid giving up a goal too early in the third period. Unfortunately (for WI) USA captain Phil Verchota broke away and scored at 1:31 of the final period. Oh well, if the score stays the same, it will still be better than any College team has done so far. But the score didn't stay the same for long. Just 15 seconds later, Gary Suter ripped a slap shot that deflected by Mason and tied the game. The crowd erupted. They had not sat down again when, 18 seconds later Dave Maley stepped in front of Costello's clearing pass and flicked a sudden shot past Mason to give the Badgers a 3-2 lead. The crowd went wild, and the chants of "Sieve" got so bad that the Olympic team members gathered around Mason and slapped him on the back to fire him up. it was still far from over, of course, with nearly 18 minutes remaining, and the speed of LaFontaine, Jensen and Olczyk. Baxter denied Jensen for the third time on a lone break with 8:30 remaining. Then, with Team USA on a powerplay, Marty Wiitala stole the puck from Hirsch at center ice and went in alone to beat Mason. The Badger bench emptied into a pile in the corner, with Wiitala at the bottom. The crowd did not quiet down till the game was over, and even started chanting "We want Behrend." Mason may never be the same person again. The team having tasted blood was not to be denied either. They played their hearts out the remainder of the game, and even got some breakaways. Twice Badgers had to be pulled down from behind, the second one in particular was the closest I have seen to a penalty shot, Pearson being hooked by a defender at full stretch when going in on Mason with the puck. Frustrations also began to show, and Phil Verchota was jeered for going to the Badger bench. Mason was pulled at the end, and Tony Granato's attempt hit the pipe of the empty net, but by then it was all over. Quotes from the coaches: Lou Vairo, Team USA: "We didn't lose. We got beat. There is a big difference. If we lost, I'd be upset. But we got beat. They are pretty good hockey players. ... They were very good this weekend, very deserving to win the game. It was probably a good, humbling experience and there's nothing wrong with humility." Jeff Sauer, Wisconsin:"It was probably good for both teams. It's a tremendous asset for us, but in the long run it might help them more. They are riding awful high and this gives them something to think about. I hope it makes them a better team."