NCRHA Nationals, Day Four

[RichardGraham]

Hi Folks,

Buffalo just defeated UNLV 4-2 at the Tour Inline Hockey Arena in a sloppy game. Buffalo scored the insurance goal into an empty net with 18 seconds left in the game.

Next up, Lindenwood vs. Ohio State University.

[RichardGraham]

Lindenwood takes an early interference penalty vs. Ohio State, but they control the puck initially. Now the Buckeyes set up their power play.... an aggressive penalty kill gets Lindenwood the puck... Ohio State gets a clear shot and the puck clanks off of the crossbar... long shot and rebound, cleared, 11 seconds left on power play... Lindewood gets control.. full strength.

Lindenwood is carrying the play and creates a power play chance... their first of the game, with 6:55 to go in the first. And they score quickly, 13 seconds in. 1-0 Lindenwood. Delayed penalty on Ohio State... gotta stay out of the box against these guys, boys. Takes 27 seconds this time, Lindenwood, you're slowing down. 2-0.

A few seconds later, 3-0.

Timeout, Ohio State.

I go upstairs to grab a Coke and it's 5-0. Game over but for the shouting, I'd imagine.

Ohio State on the power play -- they get a shot.

Lindenwood steals puck, gives it back, steals it again, roughing penalty on Ohio State. Three-on-three play. Ohio State gets third shot of the game, sends puck through the crease, no one there, time expires. 5-0, Lindenwood.

[RichardGraham]

Second period. 16-3 Lindenwood shot advantage. The can of Coke I got had obviously been frozen. I'll go up and get another drink. I predict two more Lindenwood goals by the time I return... Nostradamus, I ain't. Penalty on Lindenwood, Ohio State sets up power play... they get two shots, Lindenwood gets breakaway, Buckeyes' goalie makes nice save. Shots favor Lindenwood 23-6.

Another penalty on Lindenwood.... they kill it, then score an even-strength goal. 6-0. While Lindenwood coach Ron Beilsten ponders his options on the bench, the players on the floor make it 7-0, and that's how the period ends.

[RichardGraham]

Third period. David Hollingshead of pulls an "Itan" spin move, doesn't score, Lindenwood's John McGuinness and Mark Ell, take exception, rough him up, and take roughing penalties. And Ohio State scores! 7-1, Lindenwood leads. Five-minute major to Lindenwood's Tommy Bruce, then a minor to Ohio State. Lindenwood scores. 8-1. Shots favor Lindenwood, 33-10. 3:48 remains in the third. Ohio State power play, no shots.

[Note: Remember that the NCRHA site you want ends in .org. If you go .com, you get the North Central Reining Horse Association.]

2.5 seconds to go, Lindenwood takes one last (?) penalty. Puck drops, game ends. 8-1 Lindenwood.

[RichardGraham]

Ohio State's players suggested the move David Hollingshead made, which I called the "Itan" in my last post, be called the "Head," because:

"Hollingshead made it, and it hit the goalie in the head."

[RichardGraham]

OK, the next game is Divsion II, Lafayette vs. Maine, but I'm not going to do a blow-by-blow description -- there are some articles I'd like to finish up. If anyone else would like to throw some "live" coverage of this game into this thread, go for it!

[showtime89]

I'm listening to Maine/Lousiana-Lafyette game and wondered how the Divisions are broken down. Obviously it doesn't follow NCAA Division breakdowns as Maine is playing in D2. In '99, the last year I played it was Division I(4 year schools) and Division III(2 year schools).

So what's the dividing line for schools?

[RichardGraham]

Hi Folks,

Here are some of the scores from today's games:

7:00AM 1 Colorado Springs, CO DIII
Red Rocks CC - 6 St. Louis CC - Meramec - 6 Box Score

7:00AM 2 Monument, CO DIII
Oakland CC - 4 Nassau - 4 Box Score

8:00AM 1 Colorado Springs, CO DI
Buffalo - 4 UNLV - 2 Box Score

8:00AM 2 Monument, CO DI
Michigan State - 7 Florida International - 3 Box Score

9:00AM 1 Colorado Springs, CO DI
Lindenwood - 8 Ohio State - 1 Box Score

9:00AM 2 Monument, CO DI
UM - St. Louis - 7 Long Beach State - 5 Box Score

10:00AM 1 Colorado Springs, CO DII
Louisiana - Lafayette - 6 Maine - 12 Box Score

10:00AM 2 Monument, CO DII
West Chester - 3 Missouri State - 2 Box Score

11:00AM 1 Colorado Springs, CO DII
Neumann - 5 Elon - 2 Box Score

11:00AM 2 Monument, CO DII
Cal Poly Pomona - 7 Shippensburg - 2 Box Score

12:15PM 1 Colorado Springs, CO DII
Truman State - 8 Western Carolina - 0 Box Score

12:15PM 2 Monument, CO DII
UC San Diego - 6 Albany - 4 Box Score

1:15PM 1 Colorado Springs, CO DII
Grand Valley State - 5 CSU San Bernardino - 8 Radio | LIVE Box Score

[showtime89]

Rich, what percentage of teams would you say have coaches at the tournament?

[RichardGraham]

Hi Ron,

Good question. I haven't really been watching the benches that much, but I'd guess 80 to 90 percent have coaches. Considering my prophecy skills, I wouldn't put too much stock in my powers of observation, either.

[showtime89]

I could probably count on one hand how many there were in '99. The only one I remember off the top of my head was Tremblay with Michigan State. Had Lunch with him and his wife between games. Cool Guy.

[RichardGraham]

Hey Ron,

Yes, I remember meeting Mr. Tremblay. He was an excellent coach, and I think he inspired some college players to become coaches.

That reminds me... I have to get working on a short piece about the coaches symposium that the NCRHA held at the Marriott a couple of days ago. At least, I think it was a couple of days ago, after about the 100th game, I begin to lose track of what day it is.

[RichardGraham]

OK, Folks,

Here we go with an elimination game between Central Florida and Michigan State.

MSU draws first blood with 3:05 into the game. #16 (not listed on NCRHA roster) scores the goal.

A Central Florida hits the post, keeping them off the scoreboard. A couple minutes later, on the power play, they hit another post, and then MSU's goalie #92 (Caliguri, Michael Caliguri is listed as #30 on NCRHA's site) makes a nice glove save to keep CF at goose eggs.

A series of beautiful passes between Gianfranco Richter and Jeffrey Stamborski break the shutout with 4:00 left in the first, exactly. It's been an exciting, fast-paced game so far. 1-1 after one.

[RichardGraham]

MSU strikes quickly in the second, going up 2-1 on a power play goal by Evan Pomish. Shots favor MSU 15-9.

[Received a cell phone update from John Pellegrino of Ace Sports -- Buffalo is up 2-1 over UCI in their game at the Colorado Sports Center.]

MSU pots another with 8:56 to go in the second, going up 3-1.

With 4:59 to go, Central Florida scores to make it a 3-2 game.

Wow. Penalty shot awarded to MSU. I'm not really clear as to why. Save made! The score stays 3-2, in favor of MSU.

Interference call on MSU's Jim Goodliffe is followed by a penalty to Justin Sheridan, and Central Florida takes advantage, scoring to notch the game at 3-3.

[Colorado Sports Center update: UCI is leading 4-2 over Buffalo, with about five minutes left in the game.]

On the Sheridan penalty, CF scores again, taking its first lead of the game, 4-3, with 56.9 seconds left in the second... and that's the score as the period ends. The winner of this game will play the winner of the UMSL/Florida game that is up next here at the Tour Inline Hockey Arena.

[RichardGraham]

The third period starts off fast and furious, with a scrum in front of the Central Florida net just 31 seconds in... but there's no goal on the play.

MSU gets a point blank shot, but it's saved by Kenny Heim, CF's 6'6" goaltender.

Central Florida comes down the rink on the next rush and gets a goal from Jeff Cohen, the team's assistant captain; it's now 5-3 in favor of CF.

A roughing penalty on Rick Garcia gives MSU its first power play in a while. With 8:34 left in the game, it would be an appropriate time for the Spartans to get a goal... but Knights kill the penalty. Two great saves by MSU's goalie Joe Wurst leads to a Spartans' goal at the other end of the rink -- it's 5-4 now, with 5:11 to go. Shots favor MSU, 30-22.

Second penalty shot of the game awarded to MSU... that's the first time I ever remember seeing two penalty shots in a game. Jim Goodliffe takes it, and for the second time in the game, Kenny Heim makes the save. Wow! That's a nice stat to have.

2:32 remains... back and forth, getting a bit sloppy, bad passes, giveaways -- nerves? You betcha.

Scramble in front of CF net with 1:47 to go, faceoff to the left of Heim... timeout, Michigan State. Lots of blocked shots and loose pucks in the CF end, but no goals. CF clears the puck, Jeff Cohen rags the puck till there's only 1.7 seconds left in the game, gets a holding (?) penalty call, but it's moot. Central Florida wins, 5-4.

[Update from CSC: UCI leads Buffalo 10-3.]