Boston College vs. Northeastern, 2/14/11

The Garden

Gulp. It's been a while since I've been to a hockey game with this kind of atmosphere. This is the Beanpot. The most prestigious college hockey tournament in the land. It seemed as if outside the Garden the world had stopped. Every soul in the building came to religiously see these two schools play. Boston College, the reigning Beanpot champions, and Northeastern, trying for its first title since 1988, played like teams possessed. This was total playoff atmosphere.

I got to the Garden a couple hours before the puck drop. I managed to find some parking near the arena and thought I might have gotten lucky by beating the sellout crowd. When I parked my car, the attendant said, "Alright bauss, that'll be faughty." It didn't take long to remind myself I was headed into another corporate castle and all the bargain-bin prices that come with it. As I left the parking lot they stamped "sucker" on my forehead... 

Northeastern Captain Mike McLauglin '11

As I entered the Garden, I couldn't help but notice how the ushers presented themselves. My ticket was up in the nosebleeds, so I figured for the consolation game between Boston University and Harvard, I could sneak down to the good seats in the lower bowl.

Every usher was dressed in black shoes, black pants, white shirt, black tie, and golden vest. Being the TD Garden, it was obvious they were trying to look like bank clerks. Yet, they gave off the presence of Roman Sentrys. They were posted at every gate, constantly scanning the crowd for danger. They were guards, not ushers. After a couple minutes of convincing, I was let into the lower bowl seating. Not much excitement in this game. The building was about a quarter full, Harvard winning 5-4.

Boston College's Brian Dumoulin '13

I headed, err, was forced, up to my seat in the balcony. Center ice, right on the red line. It was a perfect seat, great angle, I didn't have any trouble seeing the game. To my right, the Northeastern student section started to file in, even as the BU/Harvard game was finishing up. It didn't take long for them to start getting rowdy, they started "sieve" chants after Harvard scored its game winner. The BC student section was to my left and it took them a little bit longer to match the intensity of the black and red army opposing them. By the time the opening faceoff came around, there was a buzzing in the Garden. The closest thing that can compare is a Premiership football match. Non-stop chanting and cheering...and sieve chants. 

The puck was dropped, the crowd roared, the game was on. BC's Tommy Cross '11 drew first blood, scoring on a deflection on a shot from the point. The BC student section exploded, chanting their unique taunt to the Husky goalie, "Rawlingsssss, Rawlingsssss, Rawlingsssss, YOU SUCK...AT LIFE...AND GOALTENDING... SIEVE SIEVE SIEVE SIEVE, IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT, IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT, IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT. Not long after, Northeastern's Luke Eibler '14 countered with a fluttery shot from the blueline that BC goalie John Muse '11 didn't see. The Northeastern student section, aided by the school band's rendition of Gary Glitter's "Hey Song", would wait for the, "Heyyyy", insert "SIEVE, YOU SUCK" and repeat a couple times. Sure both chants are heard at every college arena in the country, but when you're there in the building, at the Beanpot, with this kind of electricity, it sends chills down your spine. Northeastern's Brodie Reid '14 finished off the scoring and the Huskies went into the locker room with the 2-1 lead.

Northeastern's Robbie Vrolyk '13

In between periods, the two schools mascots provided the entertainment. Paws from Northeastern and the unnamed Boston College mascot played some 1-on-1 to the amusement of the 17,565 people in attendance. 

Whether it was nerves or crowd noise, both teams defenses were non-existent for the rest of the game. Patt Mullane '13 tied the game for the Eagles just 53 seconds in when Cross fired wide, the puck came off the back boards and right to Mullane's stick who put it in the net. For the other 19 minutes of the period, BC and NU traded goals and a lot of penalties (19 were called in total). They entered the second intermission tied at 4. 

I was hoping they'd drop the gloves

This was it, one period left. It's a tie game, Beanpot finals, the crowd is louder than ever. At eight minutes in, the puck was along the half-boards in the BC zone, Reid was left all alone in front of Muse. Jamie Oleksiak '14 got the puck to the net where Reid had two good shots on Muse. The first was stopped, the second was not. Reid shelved the puck with an incredible shot, almost no room to work with. BC fought back and took the lead less than four minutes later when 1st round pick Chris Kreider '13 rushed the net and somehow put the puck past Rawlings. The BC student section was going crazy, Northeastern's was silent. Yet, with 46 seconds left, the Huskies still had some magic left. Steve Silva '11 took the puck at the point, scanning for an open man. Alternate captain Wade MacLeod drifted to the top of circle, to the right of Muse and set up for the one timer. Silva faked the shot, slid it to MacLeod, who ripped a one-timer over Muse's glove. Tie game. 6-6. Overtime...in the Beanpot championship. 

This is crazy. Absolutely ridiculous. The Northeastern students were going bonkers. They had the momentum. BC was in stunned silence, they thought they had it. The two teams attitudes were polar opposites. BC came out furious. Northeastern played as if they were on the penalty kill, terrified they were gonna give up the winner. BC's Kreider was all over the ice, when he had the puck everybody was on edge. He lurks, not completely invisible out there, but pops up in the most opportune moments.

Boston College sniper Chris Kreider '13 tied it at three with this shot.

He made the most of one opportunity six minutes in when he fired a low, hard shot that forced Rawlings to slide across his crease, but also out of his net. Rawlings made the nice kick save, yet the puck came to rest in the unmanned crease. There was player directly in front of the crease, however if you were rooting for Northeastern, that player was wearing the wrong jersey. Jimmy Hayes '12 looked as if he didn't know what to do, he couldn't believe it. He stood in front of an empty net, with only ice shavings between the puck and goal line. He had the Beanpot on his stick. Hayes fired the puck toward the empty net and sealed the Huskies fate. Boston College wins 7-6.

Boom. Boston College's half of the arena erupted. The Eagles had just won their second consecutive Beanpot, third in four years. 

The experience is one I'll always remember. Everything I'd ever heard, seen, or read about the Beanpot was an understatement to what I had experienced. If you are a college hockey fan, you haven't experienced what the college game really is like until you've been to a Beanpot final. What a game, I'll never forget it.

CPF

Connecticut vs. Sacred Heart, 2/13/11

Rentschler Field

When I saw this game on the schedule a couple months ago I knew I had to see it. The usual cliches apply, an outdoor matchup goes back to the game's roots, you feel like a kid again, all that good stuff.

I showed up to Rentschler Field to a football like atmosphere. People were tailgating, throwing footballs around, and the sweet smell of various grilled meats filled the air. I picked up my ticket from will call and headed into the stadium.

Connecticut's Matt Miller '11

Unlike any other. On a vast field of snow and ice lay an ice rink. It wasn't the most breathtaking hockey image I've ever had (Gretzky's last game at the Garden), but it certainly reminded me of why I love this game so much.

The teams skated on the outdoor rink that is part of Whale Bowl 2011. The AHL’s Connecticut Whale set up the outdoor festival in order to revive hockey interest in Hartford. The team was known as the Hartford Wolf Pack until November of last year, when former Hartford Whaler owner Howard Baldwin became the team’s head of marketing. With the success of the NHL’s Winter Classic, Baldwin saw an opportunity to celebrate the name change and the city’s hockey history.


Fitting with the tradition rich atmosphere, Connecticut wore blue sweaters with laces, "Connecticut" across the chest, and a number underneath. Damn those looked good. I looked to see if they were selling replicas; alas, I'll need to utilize the information super-highway to get my hands on one. 

Sacred Heart's Steve Legatto '13

Sacred Heart wore equally non-flashy white sweaters with goalie Steve Legatto '13 wearing a tuque. Both bands were in the stands as well, however Connecticut's showed up a little late.

It was freezing. While the thermometer said 34, the wind chill made it feel like a freezer. Photography was initially a problem because by the time I could pull out my camera, point, focus, and shoot - my hand would freeze. One thing I noticed though was how much better the quality of my shots were because I was outdoors. Arena lighting is substantially lower intensity than the almighty Sun obviously, so I was getting shots where my shutter only needed to be open for a thousandth of a second. 

Connecticut's Corey Jendras '12

Finally the puck was dropped. Connecticut tri-captain Andrew Olson '11 opened the scoring for the Huskies at the end of the 1st, picking up a rebound from a shot from the point. 

Both Connecticut Whale and Sacred Heart's mascots where at the game. SHU is represented by a Pioneer which I found a little confusing. I'm pretty sure the last time Fairfield, CT was considered the frontier was when the Pilgrims landed...

The Pioneers got on the board almost halfway through the second frame when Matt Gingera '12 scored on the Power Play. Not to be outdone, the Huskies scored exactly one minute later when Freshman Cole Schneider deflected a shot from fellow first year Rui Encarnacao. 

Sacred Heart's Torin Snydeman '14

By the time the 3rd rolled around both the teams and the fans seemed to have had enough. The wind was just brutal. Schneider scored again and the game ended uneventfully, Connecticut wins 3-1.

The game reminded me of what hockey used to be like, a sport where you had to also deal with the elements. Gave me a nice feeling of nostalgia. All in all, it was a pretty perfect experience. That is until I was walked back to my car and found a nice pile of pigeon droppings on my windshield. Well, maybe almost perfect...

CPF

Massachusetts vs. Providence, 2/12/11

Mullins Center

I was getting ansty, I needed to get to a game. I checked the schedule and saw Massachusetts was playing Providence in Amherst so I got in the car and headed up I-91.

It was a pretty pleasant drive, until I entered the Commonwealth. There were red lights ran, unsignaled lane changes, speeding, and I was flipped off...twice. Ahhhhhh yes, I will always hold a soft spot in my heart for Massachusetts drivers.

I got to campus about half an hour before game time. The first thing I noticed were the high-rise dormitories. This is the Town of Amherst. The tallest building is two stories. Yet when you get on the UMass campus, you've entered some kind of alternate reality. Hey, I understand you're the flagship university of the state with almost 30,000 students, but have some common sense to make the campus fit in with the town a bit more.

Massachusetts goalie Paul Dainton '11 

I pulled into the Mullins Center and bought a ticket by the student section. The Mullins Center is an impressive building yet, seemingly following the campus' disregard for traditional aesthetics, it reminded me of an AHL arena - too much for college, not enough for the NHL. It opened in February of '93 and has a 8,387 seating capacity. It was utilitarian - black ceiling, video boards at each end, corporate sponsors EVERYWHERE, and most importantly, no band in sight. The whole place reeked of "corporate character."  

The building also houses the University's basketball team so I won't criticize the set up too much. If you're a state institution, you can expect to have a multi-purpose building for hockey and basketball. Wisconsin, Ohio State, Northern Michigan, and even tradition rich Maine are some of the others that do it. The one thing that did impress me was the theater-style lighting (lights directed towards the ice). It forced you to pay attention to game and made the atmosphere more dramatic.

Providence's Chris Rooney '13

Before the drop of the puck, I had gotten over the fact that there wasn't a band there. A singer was presented along with our nation's colors to perform the national anthem. I've never heard somebody butcher the national anthem worse than this dude, he couldn't hold a tune if you put a gun to his head. I cleaned out my ears and began to hear a recording of a band playing the University's fight song played over the arena's speakers. To my astonishment, the fans chanted the lyrics whole heartedly. I considered packing up and leaving...

Finally some hockey was played. Massachusetts got on the board first when Kevin Czepiel '13 took a shot from the top of the circle and Mike Marcou '12 put in the rebound. The crowd erupted, complete with the standard Gary Glitter goal song and Minuteman mascot handing out high-fives. 

It looked as if Providence sealed it own fate when Danny New '12 gave the puck away at his blue line and T.J. Syner '12 kindly took it in, slid it cross crease to Freshman Joel Hanley, who put it in the empty side. 

Massachusetts' Troy Power '14

However, a little less than five minutes later, Providence scored on the Power Play. A shot from the point by Eric Baier '11 found its way through the traffic in front and put the Friars on the board. Not a single Providence fan was in attendance. No slight murmur of a cheer, there was only a collective sigh from the 2,667 fans in attendance. 

Before you knew it, Providence had scored two more goals and went into the 3rd period leading 3-2! The Hershey's Ice Cream ad above the scoreboard had been selling to me all game so I finally relented. To my surprise, the concessions stand didn't take credit cards. Are you kidding me? You don't take credit cards in this corporate castle? I'm 22 years old, I don't carry cash...

Providence Alternate Captain Ben Farrer '11

After somewhat of a slow 3rd period, Massachusetts remembered it was down a goal and picked up the intensity. With 38 seconds left, Chase Langeraap '11 found a loose puck from the scrum on the side of the net and snuck it past Alex Beaudry '11 to tie the game at 3. Overtime. 

The five minute extra frame was the best five minute piece of hockey the game had produced. End to end rushes, big hits, and good passing and shooting. Alas, both teams kissed their sister, conceding only to a draw. It was a good game, the Mullins Center makes for a good atmosphere, I'm just picky when it comes to venues. 

The Connecticut/Sacred Heart game was a blast. I'm headed up to Boston for the Beanpot and will get those 2 games up asap. 

CPF

Big Hockey Weekend, 2/13/11 - 2/14/11

Alaska won. I was no match for the arctic weather up there and had to miss both Anchorage games. Consider this your warning, don't go up there unless you really enjoy cold, dark places...

College Puck Fan will return on February 13th with a game in Hartford when Connecticut takes on Sacred Heart outdoors at Rentschler Field. Should be a great time. Then on Monday to conclude this hockey smorgasbord, what better than the Beanpot finals in Boston when Northeastern takes on BC. Can't Wait.

CPF

Alaska vs. Western Michigan, 1/8/11

Carlson Center - Upper Deck

Instead of trying to create an entry that is somehow different than game 1's, I took a semi busman's holiday for game 2 and focused on the things that didn't make it into my first Fairbanks entry.

First off, the cold here isn't that bad. The internet in my hotel moves a tortoise's pace so I walked about a mile to the nearest Starbucks to write this entry. With the mercury hovering around 3 degrees, I was surprised not to be instantly hit with that pain inducing cold we New Englanders are so accustomed to. Yet after about 15 minutes, I realized I couldn't feel my face and knew it wasn't some miracle that I couldn't beat this arctic weather. A student told me the region is classified a desert and that the reason the cold doesn't bite like back east is because the air is so dry. The snow here doesn't have a layer of ice on top of it like back east either, it stays fluffy and dry. Thanks for the meteorology lesson Steve...

The Nanook

I got to to the Carlson Center a little bit earlier for game 2 and asked the ticket usher for a seat in the student section. He happily found me one and thus began an experience quite different than game 1. Alaska entered the ice under a huge Nanook bear. Similar to Providence's entry, yet I thought because it was the school's mascot, it was acceptable. I mean come on, it looks pretty sweet. 

The student section is r-o-w-d-y. The increase in foul language made up for the decrease in ticket price. This upper deck section was fun to see a game from. The game started with an angry Alaska team trying to up the ante by aggressively forechecking the Broncos. Thus the penalties and the inevitable ref taunting came from the students. Some of the cleaner taunts included, "You suck ref!", "Where you from ref, Michigan?", and my favorite when the PA announcer would say, "Western Michigan is back at full strength" followed by the students chanting, "And they still suck!" Ahhhh, the beauty of college athletics.

Flow of the night - Luke Witkowski '13

Western Michigan opened the scoring at 18:56 on the power play when Chase Balisy '14 set up in Gretzky's office and fed Minnesota native Dane Walters '13 for the goal. At the exact same time of the 2nd frame, Max Cambell ' 11 took a power play pass from Greg Squires '12 and fired it over Alaska goalie Scott Greenham's glove for insurance. 

In between periods the Kiss Cam provided the entertainment. I can't believe this thing still exists...

The Kiss Cam

The 3rd period saw Alaska playing very frustrated. They tried desperately to score, only to have the Broncos' Jerry Kuhn '11 turn away every shot. He earned the shutout, his first of the year. Alaska had one final chance, freshman Cody Kunyk firing a one-timer from the slot that beat Kuhn, just not the net. The shot sailed wide and the final 35 seconds ended with Western Michigan sitting on the puck in their own zone. Western Michigan leaves The Last Frontier with a 2 game sweep of the #16 Nanooks. 

Kuhn was a brick wall in Game 2

CPF

Alaska vs. Western Michigan, 1/7/11

The Last Frontier

We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto. We're in Fairbanks, Alaska, a mind-altering experience for any outsider. It is not like I went to just any other state. When you tell somebody you're going to Alaska (in winter), they look at you like you're from another planet. This place is absolutely the most exotic destination in which I have ever been. 

Before I came to Alaska, I had a few days in the Bay Area of California. I went to Alcatraz, drove down Lombard Street, and saw a San Jose Sharks game. After my few days there, I decided to take crazy pills and leave a perfectly pleasant place in January and come to the coldest place in January. To accurately explain to you how far north I am - I am closer to the North Pole than Moscow and on the same latitude as southern Greenland. Seriously, this blog has taken me over.

John A. Carlson Center

Yes, I did get to a hockey game. 16th ranked Alaska - Fairbanks hosted Western Michigan for a 2 game set at the John A. Carlson Center. I touched down in Fairbanks around 4 P.M. AKST. With the sun poking only a few inches into the sky, I checked into my hotel and headed to the Carlson Center. The Carlson Center was built in 1990, boasts an Olympic sized ice sheet and 4,595 seats. The first thing that I noticed was a giant Alaskan state flag on the far wall of the building. Alaska - Fairbanks was the first of the state's universities and proudly brands itself "Alaska". It does not bother with which satellite campus it is. To the administrators, students, and locals, this is the state's flagship campus. 

With my usual, "Got anything near center ice?", the ticket usher managed to find me a seat 2 rows from the glass, right next to the penalty box. I sat down and started scanning the rosters. Western Michigan rosters a majority of junior players from the USHL, Ben Warda '12 and Nick Pisellini '13 transfered from Michigan State and Quinnipiac, respectively. Alaska followed with a roster completely made up of junior players, including 3 Alaska natives. 

Alaska's Derek Klassen '11

They sell beer! An absolute no-no in college sports, I was shocked to see a "Beer Garden" concession stand. Major league prices though, $7 for a brew. There was no band and it seemed like there hadn't been one in a while. The arena is an excellent venue, just not the traditional college atmosphere so prevalent back east. The feel was reminiscent of the mid-west. The Carlson Center is basically an enormous advertisement, corporate sponsors are as prevalent as any professional venue. It is about a mile and a half to campus, further numbing a collegiate feel. Apparently shame does not exist this far north...

It was a great atmosphere however, tons of Alaska jerseys and many, "Let's go Nanooks" chants. With not much else going on up here, fan support is very strong. 

Alaska captain Kevin Petovello '11 and Western Michigan's Jerry Kuhn '11

The 1st period was scoreless, with 2 quality scoring chances coming from both teams. At about 15 minutes in, Alaska's Andy Taranto '13 caught an airborne puck out of the air in the slot and walked in alone on Kuhn, who made a great pad save. The Broncos' Chase Balisy '14 gave Western Michigan a chance when he fired a loose puck from the left dot, only to be completely robbed by Nanook goalie Scott Greenham '12.

Andy Taranto opened the scoring for Alaska at 9:52 of the 2nd on the power play. Instead of the band playing the fight song, a deafening airhorn commemorated the goal. Western Michigan responded just a few minutes later when Greg Squires '12 sniped an absolute beauty from the left dot over Greenham's stick hand to tie it up. 

Alaska's Joe Sova '12 and goalie Scott Greenham '12

The Nanooks' Carlo Finucci '12 closed out the 2nd period scoring when he fluttered a wrist shot through Kuhn's glove from the left circle. It looked like Alaska would prevail until midway through the 3rd, the Broncos' Max Cambell '11 scored to beat Greenham from the slot, following Squires lead by going stick side. 

After a scoreless Overtime, I was treated to my first shootout of the year. Defenseman Dennis Brown '14 scored the lone goal of contest, giving Western Michigan the win. While the game will go down as a tie in the standings points wise, it still leaves the Nanooks hungry for revenge in game 2. I'll be there tonight, maybe Alaska can halt the Broncos 4 game unbeaten streak.

Western Michigan prevails 3-2 in a shootout

CPF

Alaska Trip, 1/7/11 - 1/15/11

College Puck Fan is going to Alaska in 2011. Alaska-Fairbanks will play a weekend set against Western Michigan on January 7th & 8th. A few days later I'm headed south to see Alaska-Anchorage play two games against Colorado College on January 14th & 15th. Next post to come from Alaska and its bone-chilling cold in the new year.

CPF