The first thing that came to mind was haven't we seen this before? (probably not if you have midco.net) Last night UMD scored two goals in 39 seconds to win the game against Princeton. Today the Wildcast scored two goals in almost the same time frame (45 seconds).
Holding leads late in the game has usually been one of the Fighting Sioux's strong points, however, today defensively the Fighting Sioux looked like bunch of green road cones. This game was a tough pill to swallow and I hope the Sioux players that return let it burn in hard in their memory and motivate them to play better. Today's loss should remind them they can't take a shift off for a moment, or your season can end. The goaltending was great for most of the year but it was god awful today, next season Aaron Dell an all star in the AJHL will probably challenge Eidsness for playing time and push him to be better. Brad Eidsness (24-12-4)gaa 2.55 and 9.06 save percentage was a freshman goalie this season and played well and he will be better next season.
Our bread in butter usually is our defense and our defense failed to take away UNH's space and it ended up costing them at the end of the third period and in the over time. Sioux also didn't have an answer for Jerry Pollastrone who assisted on botht he game tying and game winning goal, I have to tip my hat to that kid because he was simply amazing. For the Sioux Jason Gregoire and Brad Malone gave us a glimsp of the future as they were the stars of the game in the losing effort.
Eight Men out
I am going to have to say that this senior class was the epitome of hard work and determination and I am going to miss them. Career over for Finely, Walski, Duncan, Jones, Watkins, Miller, Martens and Kozek, thanks for the memories. Now we sit and wait and wonder who from the underclassmen will decide to take the next step and sign a professional contract. You would have think that Chris VandeVelde and Genoway are going to be flight risks and the ones that could recieve some interest.
(BOX SCORE)
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1st Period (20:00)
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NDK-1 Matt Watkins (2-Hooking) UNH 1x1 2:03
UNH 1 - 0 6x5 PP Mike Sislo (19) (James van Riemsdyk, Jamie Fritsch) 2:34
UNH: 19,21,2,11,5,G29 NDK: 2,16,17,5,G31
NDK 1 - 1 6x6 Jason Gregoire (12) (unassisted) 3:34
NDK (+): 17,26,16,2,5,G31 UNH (-): 17,5,28,10,22,G29
NDK-2 Ryan Duncan (2-Slashing) UNH 1x2 4:54
UNH-1 Thomas Fortney (2-Hooking) NDK 0x1 8:11
UNH-2 Greg Collins (2-Tripping) NDK 0x2 9:40
UNH-3 Blake Kessel (2-HITTING AFTER WHISTLE) 12:17
NDK-3 Matt Watkins (2-HITTING AFTER WHISTLE) 12:17
NDK 2 - 1 5x5 Brad Malone (5) (Andrew Kozek) 13:55
NDK (+): 22,10,6,25,G31 UNH (-): 2,8,9,24,G29
NDK-4 Brad Malone (2-Boarding) UNH 1x3 16:32
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2nd Period (20:00)
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UNH-4 Phil DeSimone (2-High-Sticking) NDK 0x3 2:16
NDK-5 Brad Miller (2-Cross-Checking) UNH 1x4 2:39
UNH 2 - 2 5x5 Jerry Pollastrone (6) (Kevin Kapstad) 4:08
UNH (+): 11,5,4,9,G29 NDK (-): 29,21,5,2,G31
UNH 3 - 2 6x6 Peter LeBlanc (13) (Greg Collins, Bobby Butler) 7:21
UNH (+): 9,8,12,28,5,G29 NDK (-): 9,19,8,25,6,G31
NDK 3 - 3 6x6 Ryan Duncan (20) (Brett Hextall, Jason Gregoire) 9:47
NDK (+): 16,26,17,5,2,G31 UNH (-): 5,11,21,19,28,G29
UNH-5 Damon Kipp (2-O-INTERFERENCE) NDK 0x4 11:08
NDK 4 - 3 6x6 Evan Trupp (8) (Brad Malone, Matt Frattin) 17:06
NDK (+): 19,22,21,25,6,G31 UNH (-): 9,18,16,24,20,G29
NDK-6 Darcy Zajac (2-Boarding) UNH 1x5 17:20
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3rd Period (20:00)
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NDK 5 - 3 6x6 Chris VandeVelde (17) (Matt Frattin) 9:08
NDK (+): 29,21,22,2,5,G31 UNH (-): 11,12,8,4,2,G29
UNH 4 - 5 6x6 Greg Collins (8) (Damon Kipp, Thomas Fortney) 11:00
UNH (+): 8,4,17,2,9,G29 NDK (-): 2,5,29,22,21,G31
Timeout - New Hampshire 18:48
UNH 5 - 5 6x6 EA Thomas Fortney (3) (Jerry Pollastrone, Mike Sislo) 19:59
UNH (+): 9,17,11,21,19,5 NDK (-): 29,2,16,5,20,G31
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Overtime (0:45)
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UNH 6 - 5 6x6 GW LL Peter LeBlanc (14) (Jerry Pollastrone, Mike Sislo) 0:45
UNH (+): 9,11,19,21,5,G29 NDK (-): 5,2,22,21,29,G31
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End of Game
wonderful game Joe Finley. (yes, I'm bitter) watching Gerbe skate circles around you last year was brutal, today's performance was pathetic!! give up an odd man rush less than a minute into overtime, horrible. addition by subtraction. Enjoy your "pro" career.
ReplyDeleteFinley did that in last year's Final Five loss, as well as the last 2 losses to BC in the Frozen Four. Why he rates as a pro prospect mystifies me.
ReplyDeleteHey Goon, what are your thoughts on next season for the Sioux? They certainly showed that they were not going to have a down year as the experts thought they would. By the way, after the Princeton-Duluth game dramatics on Friday, a friend of mine made me leave to go play mini golf after the second period of the UNH/UND game on Saturday and said "it's over. If this game ends up better than last night's game, I'll buy you Wild season tickets next season." Well, looks like I'll be at the X next season for free. Talk about your all-time back-fires!
ReplyDeleteWCHA Dominates Hockey is a funny game, it's hard to tell what will happen but some of the players coming in are supposed to be really good, some of the guys that are going to be juniors are key and they have shown glimsps of greatness, Frattin, Trupp, Malone...
ReplyDeleteI also think the freshman that came in this year are really good as well. Brad Eidsness will have some competition and will get pressed for playing time by Dell. I am ready for next season already because it means my golf season will be over
The Finley Haters mystify me.
ReplyDeleteGoon, some people can point out glaring problems of the players that put on their favorite sweaters. Take a guess what Joe's +/- might have been yesterday. I know he was out there for NH's last two goals and their 2nd goal of the game. Genoway will be awesome next year with a d-partner that isn't a black hole for turnovers. "don't pass it to stonehands, Genoway!!" and he rarely did to Chay's credit.
ReplyDeleteHoly Cross jersey maker question...
ReplyDeleteDoes anybody know where I can get a UNH Wildcats jersey with the number .1 and the name SECONDS on the back? Anybody else want one? Maybe we can swing a deal if we buy in bulk!
...If only 'Big' Joe Finley had spent as much time perfecting the nuanced skill of clearing the puck (while keeping it in the rink) as he had pulling skaters out of the handshake line and punching them; who knows how far the Flirting Sioux could have gone this year!
Yawn! I see your back Skippy. I would 5 Finley over 1 Stu Bickel any day. Also, did you enjoy the Goofs playoff run this season. Yeah!
ReplyDeleteJFenough there is a difference between pointing out mistakes on the ice in the form of constructive criticism and some of the vile crap that I have read on line. One more said he wished Joe Finley would die. That is all class right there.
ReplyDeleteThe Golden Gophers played the second half of the year as I thought a team of 10+ freshman and 2 seniors might play the entire year...
ReplyDeleteNote to Hakstol: Remind the Flirting Sioux players that your patented 'start slow and finish strong' need not apply only to the regular season! :)
Goalie Brad: From the penthouse to the dog house
ReplyDeleteOr is that 'from the press box to the cat box'.
The opinion on Goalie Brad certainly seems to be fluid and dynamic on this blog!
He has plummeted from grace expediently. Not too long ago he was touted here as WCHA Rookie Of The Year material - repeatedly.
Now he's been thrown under the Zamboni for his 'god awful' net minding and he's deemed to be vulnerable to a challenge from a freshman coming in next year.
We hardly knew ya Brad...
Hey Skippy you what is funny while you make fun of our goalie he is still better than Kangas. Funny thing is UND went further than your crappy team. Now I hear that the Goofs are going to lose more players. It's like rats jumping off a sinking ship.
ReplyDeleteThat'd be a bummer.
ReplyDeleteHowever, this would be infinitely problematic for team such as the Flirting Sioux that rely from time to time on the occasional Canadian...
Oops. ...I guess it would just hurt Minnesota colleges. Phfew!
ReplyDeletePlease keep us posted on the rat jumping... News to me.
ReplyDeleteHey Mr. Scoop, er I mean, Mr. Goon:
ReplyDeleteDid you hear about the 3 Gophers leaving the program today? Yeah, me neither.
Skippy WTF? I hear that Mike Jersey Pop Carmin is a flight risk, as well as Hoeffel (sp), also I would imagine that Fischer is probably a flight risk as well.
ReplyDelete