As you should already know I spent the weekend in St Louis for the Ice Breaker, which is a season opening tournament featuring teams from four different conferences. This year's event featured Boston University, Wisconsin, Notre Dame and Holy Cross.
Here are my thoughts on the weekend:
- Holy Cross didn't do so well, losing both games to a combined score of 12-3. Not a surprise considering they come from the Atlantic Hockey Association, which isn't a very competitive league on the national level, but I know they wanted to have a better showing than that. The good news is that they now know some of the specific things they need to improve as they head into conference play this weekend.
- The three other schools were all pretty big question marks coming into this season as all three of them had some serious turnover due to graduation and early departures and were working several freshman into their lineups and all three of them came up looking pretty good. More on the specifics later.
- Over the summer, they adjusted the rule book, adding a penalty for hits to the head and allowing the officials to call a game misconduct for hitting from behind if warranted. In four games, four game misconducts were issued with one guy getting the boot in both of his games.
- Because this was a non-conference event held at a neutral site, tournament officials decided in advance not to allow instant replay, which, in my opinion, is an absolutely ridiculous idea especially when it's held in an NHL rink that is fully equipped with the technology to do so. The thought was that the AHA and the CCHA don't have league wide replay rules or capabilities. So, in fairness to them, there would be no video replay.
Everything was fine and dandy until the third period of Friday's game between BU and Wisconsin with BU clinging to a one goal lead in the final minutes of play as Wisconsin absolutely slaughtered them with shot after shot after shot. The only time the puck went to the other end of the ice was for icing. At one point you heard a clunk, but play continued. When the whistle blew, the officials conferred with the goal judge and everyone agreed that it hit the crossbar...except it didn't. Take a look...
In short, Wisconsin got robbed.
Shortly there after, the puck snuck behind BU goaltender Kieran Millan, but once again the officials called no goal saying the puck was directed into the net by the players leg. Here's what happened...puck gets shot from the point and freshman Mark Zengerle was behind the goal line near the post. He turned his leg out to try and corral the puck to get it on his stick for a centering pass, but the puck bounced off his leg, hit the back of Millan's pads and went in. While there wasn't a distinct kicking motion, the rule in college doesn't define it that way, but says that it must be shot on goal in a legal manner with a stick, noting the difference between a puck deflecting off a body part and going in the net and a puck being directed by a body part and into the net. I couldn't find such an interpretation and when I asked the officials about it, neither could they. I also felt that since the puck hit an opposing player before crossing the goal line, it would negate the "illegal" play/action, but that too also fell under the umbrella of "fuzzy" interpretation. Here's the "goal"...what do you think?
In any case, Wisconsin lost by one goal and in the grand scheme of things it might not matter, but if the Badgers miss out on a tournament berth in March because of some tiny fraction of a point, this snafu could end up being a big deal. Moving on...
- Stephen Johns - CHI - Notre Dame - is a beast. A true freshman, he stands 6'4'', 225 lbs and uses every ounce to punish his opponents...repeatedly! He got tossed in the first game against Holy Cross in the middle of the first period for checking from behind and then again in the second game against BU in the first period for the same offense. After the first game, head coach Jeff Jackson said he'd continue to encourage Johns to play that way because it's the physical presence his team sorely lacked. I'm not entirely sold that he felt the same way after playing only 5 defenseman for the majority of the second game, but I am a big fan of the way Johns plays and I'd hate to tell a player to lay off, but he needs to learn that not every hit needs to be a monster hit...it just needs to take the guy off the puck.
- Craig Smith - NSH - Wisconsin - is their top returning scorer and showed just how talented he is in Sunday's game against Holy Cross as he scored twice. Unfortunately, he couldn't showcase those talents against BU as he was ejected from the game just over a minute into the first period for checking from behind. He definitely would have helped Wisconsin in that game and could have been the difference maker, but I expect big things from him this season as he combines size speed, skill and a whole lot of grit.
- Joe Pereira - UFA - BU - had five goals all last year and 12 in his first three years as a Terrier and has three in two games so far this year. Typically a third or fourth line grinder, he's now on the top line with junior Chris Connolly and freshman Charlie Coyle and seeing prime minutes on the power play for the first time in his collegiate career. He credits head coach Jack Parker for seeing those abilities in him and giving him the opportunity to play with skilled players and showcase his ability to contribute. "I just dump the puck in, go get it, pass it off to Charlie or Chris as fast as I can and then go to the net...seems to be working out ok for us."
- Sahir Gill - UFA - BU - is a freshman who pretty much solidified his spot in the lineup by earning five points on the weekend with a goal and four assists. What's even more impressive is the skill he's shown under pressure and in tight situations. He's got great vision, is crafty and doesn't overthink an opportunity to pass, he just does it. I'm very eager to see how he develops as the season progresses.
- Anders Lee - NYI - Notre Dame - earned a hat trick in his first collegiate game on Friday and added an assist on Sunday for a four point weekend. He just always seemed to be in the right place at the right time and had enough skill to be able to do something with the opportunity. He's another one I'll keep my eye on this year.
- TJ Tynan - DE11 - Notre Dame - might be on the smaller side at 5'8", 155 lbs, but he easily makes up for it with speed and ridiculous stickhandling. Rushing down the wing with a defender all over him he threw a slick pass between his own legs to his linemate, Nick Larson, for a goal on Sunday. That's something you usually only ever see in practice at this level, but showed great instincts and confidence by not overanalyzing and just made the move and it paid off. He earned a goal and two assists on the weekend.
- Shayne Taker - - UFA - Notre Dame - at 6'4", 184 lbs, he's a big physical presence, but he's also really mobile and as a freshman could possibly be the best defenseman for the Irish. He finished the weekend with a goal and an assist
- Ryan Little - UFA - Wisconsin - is a defenseman who recently switched to forward and has two goals to show for it so far this year. Head coach Mike Eaves asked him to make the switch because they needed some maturity up front and slotted him into the third line to provide some grit and energy. His ability to contribute was a surprise considering he only earned three points last year (all assists) in 22 games played as a freshman.
- David Warsofsky - BOS - BU - is going to be in the NHL sooner rather than later. He just excels at everything. He's a fantastic skater who man's the point on the power play like a pro, jumps in offensively without sacrificing his defensive positioning, has great vision, makes great decisions...oh and he had two goals and three assists on the weekend. Did I mention he's a defenseman??
- Kevin Gilroy - UFA - BU - went to BU almost as a tag along to his older brother Matt. He played in 12 games as a freshman and 25 last year and at 6'0", 190 lbs seems to have worked his way onto the fourth line as a mucker and grinder who goes to the net and does the dirty work. He scored in exhibition and again on Sunday to equal his goal total form last year. This has the potential to be a very big year for him where he could work his way up the depth chart.
To summarize, while all three teams have a roster littered with underclassmen, they're still finding ways to be successful and all three should be a force within their own conferences and competitive in the national landscape. Shaping up to be a really good year for college hockey!
Oops! Almost forgot to mention that BU won the tournament! Anyone remember what happened the last time BU won the Ice Breaker??
Julie
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@JulieRobenhymer
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