Sign of a Good Team

You don’t realize how good a team can really be until they face adversity, especially on the road.  Down 3-0 BU came storming back to score six unanswered goals to beat UMass 6-3.  Like any great team when you are down and being completely outplayed, you look to your strengths.  For BU their strengths have been their power play and their veteran senior players.  Last night, BU’s iron man Matt Gilroy and sniper Jason Lawrence stepped forward after Coach Jack Parker sent a message to the team by replacing goalie Kieran Millan with Grant Rollheiser.  Down 3-0, with the fourth goal either making or breaking the game, Gillroy put the team on his back and scored two consecutive power play goals, getting BU back into the game.  Not to be outdone, Jason Lawrence then took it from there, with a natural hat trick, scoring the next three BU goals.  David Warsofsky finished the night off with the sixth goal. 

BU will complete their home and home series with UMass tonight at Agganis arena. 

Beanpot Recap

Congratulations to BU for winning their 29th Beanpot! I had a great time, and here are some of my best and worst moments of this year's 57th Beanpot.

Best Dressed:
SiouxFaninBoston and I get the best dressed – we were wearing Sioux Jerseys

Worst Dressed:
The Gopher fan wearing the M jersey who was put on the big screen.

Best Chant:
Goes to Harvard - They began chanting, “You can’t count," at the BC Band after the band began to play three blind mice as the four officials took the ice.

Worst Moment:
Scott Hansen, one of the referees for the championship game was hit in the face with the puck and needed to leave the game.

Most Unusual Moment:
During the consolation game the Harvard fans (i.e., the band) “out chanted” the 3 and 1/2 BC fans in attendance . I guess the BC fans decided to stay home and watch 24.

Best Chance Meeting:
We met a couple who just moved to Boston from East Grand Forks and they were happy to see us in our Sioux Jerseys.

Worst Chance Meeting:
We met three Gopher fans.

Worst Comments:
Go Irish! (referring to our Sioux Jerseys) or, "Did you know [so in so], he played for Sioux City?"

Most Unexpected Moment(s):
BU's three shorthanded goals.

Best Fan Reaction:
BU fans cheered during the post game activities for Northeastern and Brad Thiessen as he won the Eberly award for best save percentage of the tournament.

Best Showmanship:
Northeastern - When the championship game was over, they stood at the blue line and watched BU raise the Beanpot during the post game festivities.

Most Interesting Post-Beanpot Situation:
When BU gets back to Agganis to raise the Beanpot banner, guess who they will be playing,… you guessed it - Northeastern.

Worst Post-Beanpot Situation:
Now that the Beanpot is over, College Hockey will go from front and center in Boston to the abyss – as the Red Sox are ever so close to spring training.

I still like the Beanpot and I'm already looking forward to next year.

Beanpot Match Ups (with pictures from Hockey on Campus - Beanpot Preview Show)

In Boston, the first two Mondays in February means it's time for the Beanpot. This is always a great event and the first round of the 57th Beanpot will be on Monday, February 2nd. Some in Boston call this the BUpot because of their success. BU has been to the final game 46 out of the 56–year history and has won the Beanpot 28 times. However, this year three of the four teams are top ranked teams in the country.

First Game: Boston University vs. Harvard 5p.m. Est

BU and Harvard have played each other 139 times since the 1922-23 season. BU holds the edge with a 71-62-6 (.532) record. In the Beanpot, the teams have met 38 times and BU has a 25-13 (.658) advantage.

Prediction: BU wins this game.


Second Game: Boston College vs. Northeastern 8p.m. Est

BC and NU have played each other 200 times since the 1932-33 season. BC holds the edge with a 145-42-13 (.725) record. In the Beanpot, BC holds the edge with a 30-8 (.790) record against NU. Even though NU is tied for 6th in the Pairwise (while BC is tied for 15th), I am going with past history on this one.

Prediction: BC wins this game


Hockey on Campus - Live Beanpot Preview Show

Once again Bernie Corbett and Paul McNamara had a terrific show with Harvard Coach Ted Donato, BC Coach Jerry York, Northeastern Coach Greg Cronin and, due to scheduling conflicts, Travis Roy filling in for Coach Parker. Travis was able to talk about a great event that takes place Monday before the Beanpot, the Corporate Beanpot Challenge, which raises money for both the Travis Roy and Mark Bavis Foundations. Elliot Olshansky, talked about the Beanpot including Chris Dury’s induction into the Beanpot hall of fame.

I have posted a few pictures from the show.



Paul McNamara Raises the Beanpot

Berine Corbert talking to Mike Klein of the Eastern Junior Hockey League


A Sioux Fan (me) with the Beanpot

Mike Klein Director of Media Relations from the Eastern Junior Hockey League with the Beanpot

Sioux - Back in Black

The Sioux broke out their third jerseys for Saturday night's must win. I was glad to see UND play better than their lack luster effort on Friday night. Because of this much improved effort Saturday night, UND was rewarded with a 4-2 win over St. Cloud. Although the split this weekend dropped us to 15th in the pairwise, tied with BC, it could have been worse. Next week's mid-season break, will give the team a needed rest and refocus on the final push towards the NCAA tournament. I have posted a few pictures from last night.

Go Sioux!!