fishkin@CSVAX (03/29/83)
From: fishkin@CSVAX To: net-sport-hockey@ucbvax.UUCP, net.sport.hockey@ucbvax.UUCP Cc: fishkin@CSVAX Assorted comments on the NCAAs from One Who Was There : Wisconsin-Providence : It hurts me as a Badger fan to say this, but it was easily one of the most boring hockey games of this or any other year. The only fun parts were a) the incredibly bad refereeing, no surprise to those of us who've seen Dewey Marcus before, b) watching Providence trying to pass the puck. They're a fine checking, solid defensive, and good skating team, but I know blind morphine addicts who pass faster and more accurately than Providence does. Harvard-Minnesota : Well, see, uh, there's this bar in East Grand Forks called 'Spuds', that Friday from 2-5 has $1.00 pitchers of Miller... I remember going, and seeing little fast men in white skating around big fast men in brown, but not much else Providence-Minnesota : A surprisingly good, and surprisingly well-played game. Minnesota solidly dominated the first period, and went up 1-0. Providence caught on fire the second period, and went up 4-1. Minnesota put on extreme offensive preassure the entire third period, but lost 4-3. More on this game below. Wisconsin-Harvard : To be honest, not really as close as the score. Only time Harvard threatened was when they made it 4-2 midway in the third, and had all the momentum. A pretty exciting game, though, it's always fun to watch a fine skating team like Harvard. Assorted impressions from the tournament : Best Goalie : Absolutely no question, Mike Terreri of Providence, a freshman who didn't play Thursday, and was absolutely awesome against Minnesota, making 24 saves in the third period alone! Behrend was solid Thursday night, but was never really tested, and was frankly unimpressive Saturday - the superb defense made it very easy on him, and both the goals (especially the second) should have been stopped. Best Save : Terreri made an unbelievable glove save on a 1 on 0 break by #8 of Minnesota - he was down and out, and #8 wrists high into the opposite corner, but out of nowhere Terreri's glove stabs up and BACKWARDS and makes the save! one phrase I Never Want to Hear Again : "Bet you guys are glad you don't have to play the Sioux".You may have read about how kind and sportsmanlike the UND fans were; what a crock! "I'll take your stinking Badger money, but God we hate your guts" would be more like it. The UND fans sat on their hands during the entire tournament, only applauding when the Wisconsin band played the UND fight song; they didn't even applaud when the trophies were handed out. Best Cheer : By Wisconsin, when Beutow calls a time-out with 8 seconds left, Minnesota down by 1 against Providence : "Hey, Minnesota, pull your coach" (hmm, maybe you had to be there) Second place, also (natch) by Wisconsin : "Harvard band - the worst money can buy" Worst Cheer, or Why a Hockey Game is not a Debate Contest: by Harvard, during the Minnesota game : "Hey, Vacanti (Minn goalie), as a gopher, how do you feel about the human race?" Worst Excuse for hockey fans : Harvard fans, that magical combination of a) classless whining, b) sparse attendance, c) dress more appropriate at a senior prom, d) TOTAL lack of enthusiasm, e) the bush-league ringing of a loud gong during the other fans cheers. Second Worst Hockey fans : The Wisconsin fans who sat right below the Harvard goalies family and repeatedly and loudly Sieve'd him during Saturdays' game. What I liked most about the tournament : Our perfect seats, just at the edge of the Harvard section, right below the Harvard goalie's family. Worst Officiating : Pick any minute of the Wisconsin-Providence game. Best Officiating : Minn-Prov, Minn down by 1, 8 seconds left, Minn pulls goalie, face-off in Prov zone. The utterly classless Beutow sends a goon on the ice who starts an unprovoked fight, hoping to get 1-and-1, reduce it to 5-on-4, not 6-on-5. Not only does ref NOT call a penalty, but he moves the faceoff outside the zone, making Beutow keep his goalie in! Why not to live in Grand Forks : 2 residents, asked what could be done in Grand Forks before the game; (trust me, these are verbatim) #1) "Well, mostly, you can go the supermarket - they have some live lobsters" #2) "I suppose you could go to The Mall, I hear Spencer Gifts has a new display" Yours in hockey, Ken Fishkin ...ucbvax!fishkin fishkin@BERKELEY