text:
College Hockey:Yale pays the penalty and sees its season end
By Brian Sullivan • ECAC Hockey Columnist •
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — 2nd O'Neill, Brian YALE 5.Contact to the Head 11:38 PP
2nd O'Neill, Brian YALE 10.Game Misconduct 11:38
That's what a lost opportunity — perhaps even a lost season — looks like in print for the Yale Bulldogs. When Brian O'Neill — referred to only Friday night as "the heart and soul of this team" by coach Keith Allain — tipped Jake Hendrickson halfway through the second period, he also tipped the scales way, way in the favor of Minnesota-Duluth, and simultaneously laid a ton of dead weight on the shoulders of his teammates.
The fans — 7,816 of them, at least 7,500 of whom were clad in navy blue and white — were irate. Allain was irate. His players were irate, and it sounds like the broadcast crews were practically beside themselves with something akin to flabbergastion.
"I thought the game got taken away from us," Allain said in the postgame news conference.
When asked about his perspective on the hit, he said only, "Look at the video."
There didn't appear to be any contact to the head at all, one member of the media pronounced.
"Then write that," Allain all but demanded.
Yale promptly saw, or allowed, a 3-1 deficit to balloon into a 5-1 hole in 1:12 of UMD power-play time. Mike Seidel lit the lamp first, just 20 ticks into the five-minute advantage. Yale defenseman Nick Jaskowiak took a boarding minor 40 seconds after O'Neill's transgression — and 20 seconds following Seidel's score — and Justin Fontaine said thank you very much with his 22nd goal of the season.
That was, for all intents and purposes, all she wrote for the top-seeded Blue.
The goals chased season-long No. 1 Ryan Rondeau from the action, assuredly cementing his legacy in the minds of remote observers as a fair-weather goalie. The Elis mustered two power-play goals in the third period to make it a game again, but the WCHA's Bulldogs buckled down and ground out the final 6:55 of the game with determined and impressive efficiency, not even allowing Allain to pull clean-up goalie Nick Maricic until there was under a minute left in regulation.
There may have been good reason for Yale to feel slighted when all was said and done, but was that really the story of the game? A death-sentence major against arguably Yale's most important player?
Or was Saturday night simply the latest example of a program that is so close to greatness, but whose head hasn't caught up to its legs and heart? Yale was plagued by penalty problems at the start of the year, not only suffering through bouts of minor-itis, but through a handful of major and misconduct infractions as well.
The Blue were able to fight through those challenges on the wings of exceptional strength and skill, but from the get-go, it looked to be the Elis' Achilles' heel. They took nearly 15 minutes in penalties a game this season, which is awfully high for a team that also boasted the nation's most prolific offense, defense, and, ergo, greatest average goal differential as well. They gave up six power plays against the ECAC's last-place team — Colgate — in last weekend's league semifinal, only drawing three advantages of their own. If a team could hit with 'em and score with 'em, Yale's response often was to melt down and lose discipline and focus.
So what really happened to the tournament's top seed? Did it lose focus? Undeniably. Did it get a raw deal with O'Neill's eviction? It could be argued that way. Would the former have ever happened without the latter?
Who's to say?
Possibly related:
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- anon
what's amazing is that the hit by o'neil was a gamer, but the hit on the merrimack player by notre dame which was shoulder-to-head-to-boards wasn't even a penalty…way to be consistent…
- Anonymous
I have to disagree with you on this one. The hit on the Merrimack player was a cross check to the helmet. At first I thought it was clean, but saw the replay and it was a crosscheck to the head. No call made, but they threw this guy out for his hit. Very inconsistent officiating for sure. As an official, in this type of game, if you are not absolutely sure, ask the other officials for some help. If they aren't absolutely sure, then give him a 2 min minor. Like someone said, you can't throw a guy out of a big game for something you think you saw.
- WCHA fan
UMD was the better team. The tournament showed that the WCHA is far and away the best conference this year. The Bulldogs first line along with there defensive group were more skilled and more physical. Remember that the penalty came with Yale down by 2 goals. Its ussually the East coast officiating that handcuffs the Western teams. Its nice to see it go the other way for once.
- http://twitter.com/SullivanHockey Brian Sullivan
Please, let's refrain from an east-west flame war. That's what the Fan Forum is for.
- Spidermonkey86
You started it with this crap article
- http://ndgoon.blogspot.com Goon
Yeah no doubt you started it when you posted an article about how Yale was hosed… I have yet to see anyone give credit to the Bulldogs from UMD except the Yale players… Not once did I see the Yale coach give UMD props.
- GeauxSioux
Agreed. This is not your best work.
- http://twitter.com/SullivanHockey Brian Sullivan
The veracity of the call is left in the eye of the beholder; I made no personal assessment of the penalty in question. The ramification of the penalty is also left up to the reader. Yale's mental and emotional durability is questioned, UMD's skill and persistence are not. The point of the feature – NOT a news story, but a FEATURE – is to provide two perspectives of the same story… namely, Yale's penalty troubles, centering around the O'Neill major/misconduct. Draw your own conclusions… as many of you already have, obviously.
There will be plenty of coverage of UMD down the road, and I didn't want to deprive our site of the opportunity for a more in-depth look at Reiter over the next two weeks, because that guy deserves an article.
- TheWeasel
we know you did when you didn't give umd any credit for their win its called being a professional
- HockeyGuru
Obviously this is a forum for biased journalism.
- Jdorf40
I've seen articles that question officiating before, but this article looks like it was written for the Yale school paper.
- Minnesota
Barry Melrose said it best. The best team won. Go to Yale's website, the crying has already started. Yale is classless.
- Hockey7
Because trolling the opposition's boards epitomizes class…
- Shabtai707
Who's to say the better team won. The game was ruined from the start by the officiating and at least cut in half – the game was over in the second period. The Duluth – Union game was as boring a game as you'll ever see. Both teams seemed to be playing for a 0-0 tie. Duluth showed little offense against Yale until the refs became involved. You can't say who the better team is unless the game is three periods long and is played by the players not the refs
- Dogsfan
Duluth showed little offense because they were in the penalty box for most of the Union game, and the begining of the Yale game….and as I remember, UMD scored thier first goal SH
- Jdorf40
Are you talking about the UMD/Union game where Union went 0-9 on the power play? I just want to make sure we're talking about the same game.
- Shabtai707
Same game. No offense from either team. Boring. No offense from UMD against Yale either. What the Yale goalie didn't give UMD the officials did. Most of the game at even strength was in the UMD end. Yale had superior skills but could not overcome poor goaltending and worse officiating
- Yale=Cake
Only 2 goals in the game were on the Yale goalie….apparently the reason the Yale fans are griping is because most of them are being exposed to hockey for the first time (since Yale became ranked #1). Real hockey fans also know that sometimes the most exciting hockey games are 0-0. Maybe you should stick to polo Shabtai707. Keep watching a while kids, you can learn to appreciate the game in all its styles if you get past blaming the refs. Great teams (#1 teams) persevere, even if they get a bad call or lose someone to injury, or even if they are getting outplayed. Bottom line, if they didn't like the Bulldogs putting their front paws all up on their hind quarters all they had to do was stop em. But they didn't, which kinda makes me think they liked it ;) Maybe they're really into #2, but I'm not here to judge. Perhaps you can cheer up with a great big slice of cake!
- Shabtai707
I have seen games that were scoreless and exciting. The UMD game against Union was boring – neither team mounted an offense. It put everyone in the arena to sleep.
On Saturday night, UMD won a game that lasted a period and one-half. UMD spent the whole evening in their own end at even strength. No offense. That's right Einstein, two goals on the Yale Goalie and two on the crappy western officials. Theses are facts that your moronic crudity leaves uncontested.
- WoogLips4Ever
What are you talking about?! Not only did UMD mount the Union offense, the next day they frosted the faces of the Yale offense.
- Jdorf40
Yale had the same problem with Air Force. No offense. Either time. They're lucky they even got a chance to play UMD. Had they not been handed the #1 overall seed, they would have had to travel out west where they would likely have been sent home with their tails between their legs. I actually sort of respected Yale for what they've done the past few years, but man has that changed. You guys whine like Gophers.
- Shabtai707
Yale played most of the Air Force game in the offense zone – they missed several open nets, hit two posts, it happens. They played most of the game that was at evens strength in the UMD end in a game ended by the officials after a period and a half. What a pity UMD was deprived of the opportunity to win a three period game and without receiving special consideration. The game will be remembered at the game gifted to UMD.
- Jdorf40
You might remember it that way, but most non-addicts are going to remember it as another classic example of a pretender team that racked up a bunch of wins vs. a cupcake conference. Start playing more than 1 or 2 games a season vs. the varsity and then see how easy it is to haul in that #1 seed. After the performance by Yale and the rest of the ECAC over this past weekend, I'm thinking maybe the Minnesota State High School tournament is a little more your speed. And I don't really care if 59 minutes of a game are played at one end of the ice. The only result that matters is the final score. You beat Air Force…congratulations. You were supposed to. After all, you were the #1 seed playing the #16 seed.
- Orleanshomes
And undisiplined penalties.
- GeauxSioux
My god you guys are unreal. Good teams win even if they get a few bad calls against them. Please please please quit blaming things on the officiating. UMD was a better team. There is now no argument against that.
- BMCross
You are out of your mind. The 3rd goal by UMD was bogus as the penalty call was just plain wrong (no goalie interference). UMD scored 2 on the 5-minute major, which should have been a 2 minute interference or roughing penalty at most. That was the game. UMD may still have won, and may have been the better team, but we will never know because the refs screwed it up.
- Orleanshomes
Yes! We do know the better team won. You blame the refs and we'll blame the flooding rivers out here on your tears.
- Djpuck02
Barry Melrose also said it was a clean hit.
- http://ndgoon.blogspot.com/ Goon
Barry Melrose wouldn't know college hockey if it hit him in the nose.
- Hockey7
Just crushing to have the game taken out of their hands by an atrociously bad call. I think the UMD coach made the call, and talked the ccha refs (who had called an immaculate game the night before) into it. But o'neill's gamer was just the worst of about four straight bad calls that went against Yale. How about the weak goalie interference (should have been tripping on umd)? That set up goal #3. Or the cross check later on the second, which also followed a trip of a Yale player. Awful.
- yotg
Taken out of their hands? How about getting down 3-0? Yale set themselves up for it.
- Dogsfan
I think the Game Misconduct was a bad call…but it didn't decide the game….UMD beat out at 5 on 3 penalty kill, only to score a short handed goal minutes later……it's not a 1 player game….It's a game of who can adjust and be the better team
- hockey fan
Good to know someone else seen there was several bad calls against yale which completely disrupted the the flow of the game and knocked out their momentum.
- Guest
UMD may still have won, but without the ejection and 5 minute penalty it would have been a different story. With replays available and the game as fast paced as it is, why isn't there a mandatory review before deciding on a major penalty and misconduct. It's as much of a momentum builder/killer as a goal and we review those. It seems like in an effort to protect the players we're going overboard. Will hockey become like soccer with players rolling around on the ice trying to get calls? If an injury automatically brings with it a penalty or a 5 minute major, we could be looking at that as a real possibility.
- ZachGalo
It would be cause umd would actually play offense in the 3rd
- Can't wait for #8
Haven't you ever watched the gophers?
- yotg
UMD was the better team start to finish. Want to whine about penalties Yale? UMD killed off a bunch in the first period. Score on your power play or have more than one go-to player and you're fine. A bunch of whining, typical of the EZAC teams. Sorry guys, you played with the big 'Dogs tonight.
- Rpeterson01
Yale fans are showing their lack of class in these comments….only followed by their "fearless" leader, their coach, and his classless comments…take it like a man…you guys got beat by a more talented, skilled and physically dominating team…welcome to the big leagues boys…drop it about the 5 minute major…it was clearly an intereference penaltly…UMD's brady lamb got the same call and the Yale player was actually touching the puck on that one (go to the replay)…you may have lost a player but UMD scored its goals on those penalites all within 2 minutes of the call so the fact that it was 5 minute call doesn't matter…if you understand Hockey you know that was the better team and would beat Yale night in and night out
- Gmhemr2
Wow, the game was called fair and I will admit the o'neill call was bad but the refs are making the call at full speed and do not get video help like us. As for the Merrimack hit, WCHA officials so no suprise their.
- yotg
Agreed. At full speed I thought O'Neill got his elbow up into Hendrickson's face. Refs saw the same thing. On the replay, it's pretty iffy but there was helmet to helmet contact, which the announcers never commented on. I would have liked to have seen it be 2-minute penalty, but as those of us who have watched a lot of college hockey know, sometimes calls don't go your way. You have to overcome those things and Yale couldn't do that. They got down 3-0 and put themselves in a position of being unable to deal with adversity. The thing that amazes me most is the whole "he's their best player" argument. First, the refs shouldn't make exceptions for certain players. Second, get a little depth on your team before you expect to make a serious run in the NCAA's.
WCHA is more physical than the other leagues. We think that is a good thing.
- Lucy619
I thought this was Men's D-1 Ice Hockey? Open ice hits aren't legal? Watch the replay, O'Neill clearly targets his chest NOT his head. The helmet contact was incidental. Been watching hockey a long time and, considering the circumstances, that was easily the worst call I've ever seen.
- Ldobie1
I cant' recall how many times I have seen a play where a stick gets up and the player is called for a high sticking penalty, however if blood is involved you WILL see a 5 min. major. In the WCHA that hit is 2 min. minor for interferance. I have watched the replay and the two players heads do collied and seeing that the yale player caused the contact he is responsible for where the contact happens.
- former zebra
You have the linesman tell the referee he saw a blow to the head and the referee never saw it and he ejects the player. Flat out gutless!!! Fans come to watch the players play and not the officials officiate. Today the opposite happened. One linesman was completely out of shape (he looked like the Pillsbury doughboy), the other couldn't even skate and get out of the way of opposing players. If these are the best there conference has to offer – what are their non-tournament officials like?? Look at the video. Scott Stevens ended Eric Lindros' career with a clean shot at center ice. These guys shouldn't be officiating more then peewee hockey. They certainly don't belong at this level! It's time to end the "good ole boy" network. Give us the best -no matter what conference- to do these games. They crucify Burr and Higgins in basketball and these guys are not even close to the ability of those guys. Shame on the NCAA. Let's see how they put a spin on this!
- Cuinst.Paul
Look at it again. O'Neil leads with his head to the head of Seidel. No other explanation for the head of O'Neil to be jarred violently backward. He knew it. Clay Matvick immediately said the only question is if it was two or five. The refs protect the players.
- Enforcement
It's a completely false statement to say O'Neill led with his head. It was a clean bodycheck in which their heads collided…period. It was a hockey play, pure and simple. I won't say it lost Yale the game, but to have a call like that influence a game of this importance is plain wrong.
- snide
This is correct. I rewound it on the dvr a few times. Their masks were the first parts of their bodies to touch, and they were both pretty upright at the time. O'Neill did deserve a charging penalty, but he most certainly did not lead with his head.
- WoogLips4Ever
You know what they should do? Dump the fighing restrictions (leave in game misconducts, but remove the loss of eligability rule) in ncaa hockey. If you want to end hits to the head (clean or cheap), that will fix it right up. The eastern teams whined until fighting was purged, but I am sure the WCHA is ready for a return to old time hockey anytime you want to get the refs out of the way of the game and let the players decide it. ND, UMD, UNO, DU, UW, BSU, SCSU, MSU, CC, AA, and MTU are ready for the return of the code, so let's drop the gloves and play the game right. Right after they do that, the refs can swallow the whistle and let em play. BTW, you can have the gophers….they are not ready for anything (except golf)
- Ben There
Doubt the level you have officiated at because it is a cardinal sin to make derogatory comments about another official. Apparently you forgot to read the section abouit officials edicate.
- ECACtamer
i agree with you yale fans out there that the intent was not for a shot to the head and he didn't get his hands up there either. however, the penalty is called 'contact to the head' so doesn't specify that it's gotta be an elbow, shoulder, etc. also there have been a lot of penalties and play has been called very tightly in this tournament and when that happens one team is bound to get a few more pp's than the other as opposed to the wcha when there may only be 5-6 penalties called a game. i guarantee you whistles would've been swallowed on a lot of those penalties tonight but as the rules are written i thought they were all pretty good calls. umd was just the better team. if yale wanted to win they should've tried scoring on their first four pp's they had. that's all i gotta say about that. bu-ll-do-g-s! heeeeeeeeeeey bulldogs!!!
- BMCross
The officiating was a joke. The goalie interference was caused by a UMD player pushing the Yale player into the goalie. Later, a Yale player gets tripped into the side boards but Yale gets a cross-checking penalty. Are you fricking kidding me?! They should review all major penalties. I could see giving O'Neil a 2 minute interference penalty, at most, but a 5-minute major was ridiculous. I am am admitted Yale fan, but I spoke with some UMD fans after the game and they agreed that the officiating was terrible. I have been to over 100 college hockey games over the last 10 years and I have never seen a crown boo a set of refs like this crowd did when the refs came out for the third period. UMD might still have won, but the refs made 3-4 terrible calls against Yale that effectively ended their season.
- BulldogFan
First off the player didn't have the puck, secondly it was a charge and finally it does not matter if the head contact was incidental the rules state that no player can make contact to an opponents head. This is done to protect the players. The refs made the correct call. If you don't like the rule that's one thing but don't say the refs "missed the call". The bottom line is Yale lost. Get over it.
- Dogsfan
shoulda been swapt
- fredct
That's *not* what the rule says. The rule explictly says you can't "target" an opponents head:
"Any contact which directly targets the player's head and neck area must be
penalized with a major penalty and a game misconduct or disqualification."
You can't possibly say that hit was targeting the head. It was a clean upper-body to upper-body hit. It was a horrible call.
That said, Yale was down 3-1 at the time, so there's no way anyone can say they would have won otherwise. UMD was winning the game anyhow. But that's no reason to defend such a dreadful call without understanding the rule.
Hey fredct I can appreciate your perspective. Now if you can remove the Yale jersey and watch. It is likely that you will see a player taking more than 3 strides and prior to the contact he raises his hands, brings his elbows up, and now the blade of his stick pointing toward the rafters and then there is a helmet to helmet collision….. please reread your aforementioned quote of the rule. What does one conclude? Please watch the replay.
- snide
You are correct that he did not target the head. Slow motion replay showed their masks were the first parts of their bodies too touch, so one can't even say he "led with his helemt" like a football player might. He did bring his hands up after contact, but that often just happens when trying to follow-through on the chest. So IMO, it's pretty clear that it was not a match-penalty.
Still, it was clear he started his charge from a long way away, targetting the player early on. A pretty textbook two-minute charging penalty, and UMD scored right away to make it 4-1. Could the game have turned out differently if the correct (2 minute penatly) call had been made? Possibly. But whining about the refs in losing (as others, not you, have done) a game in which you trailed fairly by 4-1 is pretty laughable.
- http://twitter.com/runwiththedogs RWD
Sir/ma'am, if their masks are the first parts to touch, would that not mean he was leading with his head? Or is the face not part of the head?
- BulldogFan
You just made my point?…."Any contact which directly targets the player's head and neck area must be penalized with a major penalty and a game misconduct or disqualification." The Yale player had his elbow up and made contact to the UMD players head. I noticed you didn't address the fact that it was a charge and the UMD player didn't have the puck.
- Agiamattei
The call should have been review at the game. To throw a player out of a game of thar magnatude based on what some one thought they saw is a shame. They have video review use it. Yes, you need to protect player, but you also need to protect the integrity of the game. It may not have changed the outcome, but it would have been much more interesting.
- Jdorf40
I agree. But obviously video doesn't make all things right. I'm referring to the Michigan/UNO game. Also too, did anyone notice how CC still had a second left on the 4 on 4 when they scored against Michigan? I replayed it in slow motion and they clearly should have had 1:51 on the PP at the end of that game. Michigan has gotten more help from the officials than any team to this point in the tourney. I'm surprised CC didn't ask them to go upstairs and take a look at the clock.
- Dogsfan
can't blame the ref's…UMD fought off a 5 on 3…then they scored on the next penalty kill, so the fought off the adversity that Yale couldn't shake…UMD deserved to win
- Css228
Yale deserved to lose anyway the way they played, but that call was atrocious given there was no head contact.
- Rdorset13
Officials were a complete disgrace. 3 PP goals on ridiculous calls. There was no contact to the head on the O'Neill penalty. Everyone could see that. Cahill didn't interfere with the goalie either, and the boarding call right after the O'Neill major was incidental contact and never should have been called. The game is 2-1 through 2 periods without the impact of the incompetent officials.
- Ben There
The follow through went up to the head, it was a blind side hit which could have been construed to be a deliberate intent to injure. The hit on the goalie was another call that should have been made as the player did not attempt to avoid the goalie as he beared down on him. Having been a player, coach and official attempting to be objective you could say they may have been borderline but not unjustified calls. This team has had problems with penalties and player discipline all season long and it finally cauight up to them.
- Shabtai707
Ben, perhaps you are thinking of another game you saw. A blind side hit? To the head? It was perfectly executed and timed hit from the front in open ice. There were many hits to the head all night that weren't called. Jimmy Martin of Yale was checked in the head behind his own goal in the first period, the ref 10 feet away. Martin said to the ref "hit the head" – It apparently never occurred ot the ref to call that one. The refs ruined the game from start to finish
- Orleanshomes
What game did you watch?
- Anonymous
Everyone wave goodbye Yale… Bye Yale!!!! never was a contender for the title and everyone knows it…. Hopefully a WCHA title game this year as it should be. Anyone that doubts it obviously didn't watch any of the games this year…. Said all along that CC was a contender… UMD is a powerhouse… and that UND is a machine. Should be an epic battle between UND and DU again for the Frozen Four and possibly the title. Go Sioux!!!!
- http://profiles.google.com/emploch Eric Ploch
same CC team that lost to yale 5-1, hmmm
- GeauxSioux
Same Yale team that lost to tUMD 5-3. Hmmm.
- yalebcdone!
USCHO must have an east coast bias…not ONE word about how the UMD Bulldogs were able to capatalize on all the yale bulldogs stupid mistakes. The better team won tonight, boom roasted yale.
- GeauxSioux
The info youre looking for would be in the game recap.
- morebalance
It certainly was a head to head hit, no matter how fast or slow you watch the video. I'm no WCHA fan, but I wish the USCHO reporters could at least try to write a balanced story.
- Siouxper Fan
USCHO writers cannot write a balanced story, Bothsides, because the writer here is an ECAC writer! What does Brian know about UM-D?? He's already biased as soon as the keyboard begins clicking!
To the Yale fans, let's put it this way:
1) You have to play 60mins of hockey
2) A team is not one player – you need DEPTH
3) Stay out of the penalty box
Because O'Neil was ejected does not mean the death of the team. Other players have to step up and make good. All I'm reading here, so far, is that Yale was screwed and would have won had that penalty not been called. . . How do you know???? They had a great 1st period and left their teamwork in the locker room during the 1st intermission, until they became desperate and played hastily in the final 6mins of the game.
Yale Bulldogs did not accomplish the three rules of hockey I wrote above. They lost focus and deserved to lose that game.
- Sioux Fan
Sullivan is the worst and most biased reporter by far!!!!!!!!
- http://twitter.com/SullivanHockey Brian Sullivan
No doubt. He should be shot and have his body dumped in the woods for writing the way he does.
- Sioux Fan
No, lets not go that far~ I just get a sense of resentment that you bring in your writting towards the WCHA. Thats OK. Like me, you are entitled to your own opinion
- http://twitter.com/SullivanHockey Brian Sullivan
Well I appreciate that you are a reasonable person. I sincerely have nothing against the WCHA – it is a tremendous league with tremendous teams, and five NCAA qualifiers negates the need for further evidence. I do take issue with shots against ECAC Hockey though, for after covering the league for a number of years now I do believe that its top teams can play with anyone, especially lately. As far as this article goes, it should be considered color commentary to accompany Jim Connelly's recap… it is not a game recap in its own right, and it takes nothing away from UMD's stellar play all weekend.
- Nyqi
I would love to see the top conferences in college hockey do something similar to what the Big 10 and ACC do in basketball and have a conference challenge of sorts in the earlier part of the season where each team plays one home series and one away series with a conference and then rotate the conferences. I know that it will never happen as not all schools have the money to travel like that but it would be great to see the outcome. It would make sure that everyone is battle tested and would really help create more interest in the season early on. WCHA versus HE, CCHA vs ECAC, year two HE vs CCHA, WCHA vs ECAC, etc. That would be a lot of fun to see and then we would know who the top teams are. Will never happen but it would be great if we could find a way to make it work I think.
- Jdorf40
That is a great idea. Like the one they're doing next year out in Grand Forks with UND, BC, Michigan State and I think it was Air Force. They could do a giant weekend where there is one host school to kick off the year where according to the way the coaches (not media) project the top teams will be in each conference can play in like a 3 day tourney. That would actually be pretty sweet.
- WoogLips4Ever
Actually I thought your piece was fine. It is an opinion piece and it was well written and insightful….it is the fans (including this one) that should be ashamed of themselves….
- Jdorf40
Now that's funny! Not a fan of the piece written…but I am a fan of somebody with a good sense of humor. At least you have that going for you!
- puckdog
Just woke up after a few postgame beers outside of Bridgeport after the game; enjoyed the CC game vs. Michigan–reminded me how much I enjoy hockey when the zebras let the players play. Let's cut the WCHA superiority crap and stay with this game; this was a really good match up that was ruined for the players and fans. I have watched Yale all year and they can play and beat the beat of them (e.g. CC 5-1 in Colorado Springs this year). MD is a good team that seemed to look a bit tighter defensively and was dangerous on the counter–I would say a slightly better team, top to bottom but not much to choose. The Yale kids have had a great 3 years and for it to end like that–let it end on the ice. To their credit, they kept fighting and closed it to 5-3 with 6 minutes to go with chances to 5-4–could have gooned it as I am sure they were frustrated as hell. But thanks to the Yale team for a great year and good luck to MD in the Frozen Four.
- snide
CC is among the best of them? Certainly not in November when they played, the same time CC was slumping and even got swept at home by Minnesota. But yes, Yale did keep fighting and made it close. That showed a lot of character. They looked like the better team at even strength, but their goaltending was weaker.
- SrSiouxFan
Being outplayed by the other team leads to frustration which in turn leads to stupid mistakes. The hit was both unnecessary and senseless by Yale's "best player" who accomplished nothing more than to jeopardize his team's chance of winning. If Yale needs to blame someone for their loss it should be UMD they were simply outplayed. Yale's credentials were somewhat questionable from the start and their play confirmed it. No amount of bloviating by their fans and hockey sports writers will change the fact they lost.
- Wainwrightd
I have said it all year long and i will say it again..The team that really takes the physical play to Yale is the team that is going to beat them…It is a known fact that the WCHA teams play a very physical game…I feel O'Neil got the deal he got because you can see that he took a run at the UMD player and made no effort to even come close to playing the puck….The better team won…
- kev96
have either of you played hockey before? when the opponent has the puck you are allowed to body check him, and that's what happened. it's a great hit and those types of hits are good for the sport. if you think it was ugly, blame the defense-man who made that buddy pass. the refs, as they proved with mich vs. n/o, are a disgrace. and props to keith allain for backing his players.
- Djpuck02
I agree. I understand wanting to protect players. Nobody wants to see that, but Hockey is a contact sport and lately is becoming less and less that. I play hockey and have for years. I've had many concussions and have been hurt many times, but it's part of what you sign up for. Start punishing the few bad hits and let the rest play hard hitting hockey.
- Ldobie1
There is no doubt that there was contact to the UMD players head by O'Neills head.
In the WCHA thats a two minute call, 20 seconds later UMD scores and its 4-1, two seconds later UMD would go on the power play again, so even though its called a major I don't see a different outcome for Yale. The Yale coach was no class, and if that was his additude on the bench no wonder the folded like chairs.
- WoogLips4Ever
Bingo Ldobie1, it was a clear hit to the head no matter what the gopher loving Clay Matvick says on the broadcast.. It was not a cheap hit or even an intentional hit (imo) but from both angles you could see O'niell take a run and then both players heads bounce backward because it was the initial point of contact. In the WCHA that is 2 minutes for not being in control of your body, just like an inadvertant high stick that hits someone high. The point is it doesn't matter – the (real) Bulldogs were already in control of the game and the Elis (whatever that is….) were left wondering how they didn't see this coming. The reason is that any team in the top half of the WCHA would win the ECAC year in and year out. A single game does not a season make, but I am confident that Yale would struggle to even make the top half in the WCHA. Good luck in the future, but stop whining about the present please.
- Hockey coach
Yes Kev played hockey at most levels and at that time we played with out face masks or mouth guards and would have went after guys who hit a team mate with that type of so called body check. Kev it says no contact to the head for a reason. Maybe you should read the comments by the UMD player who suffered the head aches after the game from the hit. He said, " It was a straght hit to my head. It may have gotten some of my body, but it was a hit to my head," said Hendrickson. I was in a situation where I was vulnerable, and he took advantage of that and hit me up high head on." My head was hurting and was going to stay on the ice until I talked to the trainer and got my bearings." This same guy put an elbow high into Justin Falk eight minutes earlier that could have been called a major. Between periods when we got together it was commented by a lot former players, coaches and officials about this team having problems all season long with penalties and on ice discipline. It was not more prevalent than in this game only this time it caught up to them and maybe cost them the game. Coach those things catch up to you and its a cop out to blame the officials. The officials did their job, don't blame them. Enough said.
- Jumbalai
hhaha you are an idiot
- Orleanshomes
Sounds like you are.
- Shabtai707
SrSioux, Does beating North Dakota establish credentials? Thats what this Yale team did last year. Think about it.
- db08
how can a win from last year establish credentials for the tournament this year. think about it.
- WildGopher
The Gophers are 3-3-2 against the Sioux the last two years, but not even this Minnesota fan thinks that it establishes any kind of credentials for last year's or this year's tournament. Quit whining about how the East took it on the chin this year, and start planning on next season. Lord knows we are.
- Shabtai707
Same guys
- Jdorf40
Yeah, and BC beat Yale so apparently BC should have been the #1 seed this season based on your insane logic. Get out of your mom's basement some time and get a breath of fresh air. It'll do you some good. Yale couldn't even win the ECAC regular season despite it being a cupcake (please refer to the combined pp efforts of Union and RPI going 0-17 on the weekend while being outscored 8-0). Yeah, I suppose next you're going to tell us that the conference got cool right before the tourney eh? Not only did Yale not finish ahead of Union, but they since the first of January, they lost in the only game they played vs. Union and also lost to RPI (among other key losses). Get a grip man. Yale was the 2011 version of the Pontiac Fiero. They'll occasionally come up in conversation as having potential, but they were never considered to be legitemate.
- http://ndgoon.blogspot.com/ Goon
Beating UND last season means nothing today… All season long we have seen chest thumping by the EZAC fans and I predicted correctly that all EZAC teams would be out of the NCAA by the end of the regionals and I was correct.
To add injury to insult, your paper tiger got bounced by the fourth place team in the WCHA, huh, looks like the WCHA is back… Speaks volumes about how not tough the ECAC is… The refs made the right call in my opinion, get over it, now we can return to our regularly scheduled programing, more whining from Yale fans.
- bothsides
If you want a fair, accurate story about this game, go to the Yale Bulldog website: http://www.yalebulldogs.com/sports/m-hockey/2010-11/releases/20110326xyrs3s
I am not being facetious. It is an objective account of the game . Too bad USCHO doesn't post that story instead of the one it put on here.
- morebalance
Go to the Yale Bulldog website if you really want a fair account of this game.
- Ldobie1
Yor kidding. Right?
- Djpuck02
"Yor kidding. Right?" You definately don't go to Yale!
- Miller73
hahaha…..and you "definately" do?
- WoogLips4Ever
You should definately get a refund for your tuition
- fishinwilly
The teams were equal in talent, the Oneil penalty was a poor decision by Oneil. It was a good call for the 5 minute,very very close call for game ejection, in my mind. For the announcers to say over and over that the ref's call ultimately cost Yale the game… poor decision. Last time I remember Hockey is listed as a team sport. UMD is an extremely talented well coached team that had their game face on all weekend. I guess Frozen Four will decide who really is the best team in the country this year.
- kev96
yes bodychecks are ilegal now
- Jstraw5556
I have been an avid college hockey and UNH fan for over 30 years, and although we have never won the championship, I love watching college hockey. Unfortunately one thing has been consistant over the years, high quality players and coaches, very poor quality refs. The players and the fans deserve better and it should be on the NCAA's agenda in the off-season. It is difficult to blame the refs for a loss, but the terrible calls I have witnessed over the years have certainly had a significant influence on the games, not just for my team but so many others as well. With a single loss elimination format, everyone derserves better.
- JohnSLU
UMD did play a tighter game and might well have won anyway, and yes, O'Neill's hit was unnecessary — probably the result of adrenaline from the goal — and I'm no fan of really hard hits like that. But the call was clearly, totally, flat-out wrong and handed the game to UMD on a silver platter. And on top of the other bad calls that have already been pointed out — goalie interference, Yale crosscheck instead of UMD trip — those refs deserve to have a real screaming fit thrown at them by their bosses. At the same time, as Brian noted, Yale was a penalty-prone team, and UMD did play very well this weekend. Good luck to them in St. Paul.
- CollegeHockeyRules
This is one of most biased post game articles I have ever seen. Obviously the writers heart is broken by the loss, but try to write an article with some level of evenhandedness. This article essentially says that Yale was robbed and if they had not been they would have certainly won the game. The article gives little to no credit to UMD – the winners of the game. What a joke. Both teams had numerous power play chances and if memory serves both had 5 on 3 chances. Also both teams scored about the 3 goals on the power play. The difference in the game was the UMD was able to also score goals when they were not on the power play and Yale was not. The truth is Yale was not a battle tested team. They won one game against CC a long time ago when CC was not playing well – not much to hang your hat on. Bottom line, Yale was a pretty good team but highly overrated, due to a weak schedule, like most of us suspected they were.
- Debonvine
Yale simply rose to their level of incompetence. Playing a weak schedule all year (look how Union and RPI also fared, miserable for the ECAC). But now we will have all of the whinning…
- Jdorf40
I have to agree. This article actually made me laugh a couple of times. They were down 3-0 and 3-1 when they made the call on O'Neill. I just wish that he hadn't been thrown out. I didn't think he should have been thrown out for the hit, but I also wish that Duluth had just beaten them with their entire lineup as I'm confident that UMD is just a better team than Yale, and were obviously better yesterday. Now all we're going to hear about is how Yale lost because of the refs. No, Yale lost because they were overrated.
I've lost all respect for Allain too. Really? The game was taken away from you? How about you get your players to play with some discipline for a change. Even this article mentioned their pattern over the season. It wasn't their ability to overcome this lack of discipline, it was the fact that they were playing inferior competition. When you play like a bunch of knuckleheads against a team that's as good, if not better than you are…being shorthanded is going to hurt you and that's exactly what happened.
Look at how Allain acted and how Dean Blais handled the situation when UNO was actually sent home based on a terrible call. His response? "If the official said it was a goal, we accept that." Dean Blaise = pure class. Keith Allain = no class.
- John Cullum
in this case we all saw it –except the ref – let the kids decide who the
better team is – the refs put a big black mark on the this years tourney
- Guest2
didn't ECAC officiating make up the call Friday in the UNO michigan game?
- jc
It was a ccha crew – not that ECAC is any better…At Least they used a camera…..didn't see much
If the ref didn't see it ( which he apparently didn't) he could have taken a look and been right….
- Jack_Frost
A CCHA crew could not officiate a game with a CCHA team in the NCAA tournament. If you look it up, you will see it was an ECAC crew that did the UNO-Mich game.
- guest
Yale was down 3-1 when O'Neill was ejected from the game. They were not doing much anyways and giving up odd man rushes, much like BC was the other night.
- Anonymous
Why did O'Neil need stitches – IN THE HEAD and the Duluth player wind up with a concussion?
- Matt
Yale had no business being in the tournament IMO
They were not robbed..UM-D was clearly outskating them the entire game and Yale scored only when it was a 5-3 advantage or when UMD got a bit complacent. When UMD decided to play offense again, they had no trouble getting the puck up and down the ice..unlike Yale
- Hockey Fan
Yale didnt score on a 5 on 3…that was umd..thats #1.as for your comment about not getting up and down the ice,if you watched the game,yale out skated umd in the 1st per,although not by alot,and they clearly outskated them in the 3rd per up until the final few mins.only in the 2nd per did umd out skate yale,thanks to seven penalties,6 of which were horrible calls..it wasn't just the so called head contact(which didnt happen).how about yale player getting trripped into the umd goalie and yale getting the penalty for it.there were 4 other unnecassary penalties called on yale..the 1st 10 mins of the 1st per umd got away with a trip,a hook and a clear elbow to the chin of a yale player.isnt that head contact.im not taking anything away from umd,but you cant call one team for penalties and not the other..as for yale being over rated,for a school that doesn't give schlolarships for athletics,like several other ivy league ecac teams,there a damn good team…where would umd or any other wcha team be if they didn't give athletic scholarships.
- Hockeyfan11
After watching Yale both nights, it was clear that they were fortunate not to go out in the first round. UMD's extremely disciplined defense, both at the blueline and in front of their net, frustrated the Yale offense, and UMD was superb in counterattacking quickly. As Yale got more and more frutstrated, they took penalties. UMD served notice about their strategy by effectively throttling Union's offense the previous night. Although the ECAC and HockeyEast have some good teams, I agree with others that Yale's schedule does not battle test them for the playoffs. Playing teams in the WCHA and CCHA night after night is a rugged battle, and it is this type of play that hones the type of defensive and offensive balance that UMD needed in the Regionals. Their goaltender made not just the easy saves, but also the important ones at the critical times in the game, and this was another key difference. After watching the rest of the Regional finals, I believe UMD stands a good chance to go all the way.
- lyonstreetfan
The O'neill call was a tragic mistake – and those other two calls were suspect too. Those refs should be fired. UMD is clearly a great team and played well – but both Yale and UMD deserved to feel that this game was won or lost by the players, not the refs. Everyone knows the significance of momentum in college hockey. It could have been an epic battle between two great teams; unfortunately the refs ruined it. This sets a horrible precedent and worries me – I have no interest in watching washed out refs. I follow hockey to watch talented, passionate players.
- collegehockeyfan
That hit may have been legal, but nobody sees a few hits earlier in the period that should have been majors… it was along time coming for the Bulldogs of Yale… I would be frustrated if I played a decent team for the first time all year too.
- Hockeyfan56
Interesting that UMD is from Frozen Four home state… The whole game looked like the refs knew exactly what they were doing. You could go either way with O'Neils hit being a penalty, but ejecting him and giving him a game misconduct was a perfect situation for the NCAA to give UMD the advantage… they took it and ran with it. Goalie interference penalty was also a joke- goalie was standing and stepped into the Yale player, but interesting that it was another game stopper point in the contest…
- Teeder Wynne
Believe me, if there was a conspiracy like the one you allude to, it would go far beyond the refs and would lead all the way to Indianapolis and the NCAA HQ. Also, it would have started way back at the first round of the WCHA playoffs when the Minnesota Gophers were playing the UAA. The conspiracy would have played out like this: Get the Gophers into the Final Five and then on to the tournament… bracket them with Yale and screw the Elis to get rodents back to St. Paul and the FF. Bottom line: UMD is hardly the program that our would-be conspirators would have chosen to "help" get to the FF… it would have been the Gophs all the way. That would bring a ginormous payday for the NC$$. Far more than, UMD would. Nice try, though.
- GeauxSioux
I literally cannot believe what I just read here.
- http://profiles.google.com/emploch Eric Ploch
as a yale fan who hated what went on last i have to say…you sound so beyond dumb saying the NCAA set that outcome up, seriously?
- 3BlindRefs
You can clearly tell who the classless UMD fans are on this comment list. Fact of the matter is Yale was without a doubt the better team 5 on 5. The refs gave UMD the game on a silver platter with the worst call I've seen in my years of hockey.
Better yet, the no call and the Merrimack/ND game, and two minutes given to a player on Michigan for torpedoing himself elbows first at a player on CC made this crew look even more pathetic
The entire regional was plagued with poor reffing. Maybe this Duluth team thrives on games with 0 flow. Considering that both games they played couldn't go 2 minutes without a penalty being called or a tv timeout.
In my personal opinion, Union and/or Yale wins if that regional were at one of the 3 other host sites. Reffing for those sites took on the mantra of playoff hockey. This site clearly didn't.
Don't get me wrong, UMD is a good team (with a great tender). However, I'd hardly rag on the ECAC as a league. Especially considering that they fared better in inter-conference play this season than most conferences.
Of course, pro-west will take this penalty ridden travesty of a regional to mean the ECAC is weak. We'll just see about that with tUMD gets tuned up in St. Paul.
- Reality
You say that Yale was "without a doubt the better team 5 on 5″. A dose of reality for you: Yale scored exactly zero goals 5 on 5. UMD did score 5 on 5.
- 3BlindRefs
Understandable, and thats why Rieter was the MOP for the regional.
- Agiamattei
Off a face off. Not in the flow of the game. Watch the tape.
It was a very evenly played game. Refs need to understand playoff hockey. They played a huge part in the game, on both ends. I have never seen a game that was called so inconsistenly. Good luck to the bulldogs. I just wish they were blue.
- Bradbsstt
Head to head shots are not even allowed in the NFL anymore. What I saw was a yale team that got frustrated being behind and got chippy. Only seconds after the major the got another minor. Yale looked like a team not aquainted with being behind.
- HockeyGuru
UMD dominated the neutral zone. They cut off Yale's shooting lanes. They were the superior team. Yale has a few decent individuals.
- WoogLips4Ever
and also scored 4 on 5
Okay, I saw that coming
- GeauxSioux
Same here.
3BlindRefs post is pretty much pure garbage. I wish I had a better word for it. Win with class, lose with class. Don't go home and cry on a message board. Your team should be able to win without it's best player, that's why its called a team.
- Pickle Monster
Yale is the better team? Which game were you watching? It was 3-1 when this hit happened and Duluth was truly outpalying Yale.
And after their stellar performance against Air Force, its pretty clear Yale is overrated. Ever notice how the top ECAC seeds seem to be "upset" in this tourny on a regular basis?
- BMCross
Yale outplayed UMD in the first period, outshooting them 14-6. The UMD goalie was tremendous all night. It was the bogus calls in the 2nd period that did Yale in. You'd have to be a moron not to recognize that.
- guest
Dumb comment, Yale had more shots because UMD was in the penalty box almost the whole 1st period, yet had a short handed goal. Yale's problem was that they were too slow to keep up with UM-D.
Yale was smaller and slower than UMD and it was reflected in the box score
Almost all of Yale's SOG were during man advantage situations.. They scored 2 goals in garbage time though
- Nyqi
The ECAC fared better in non-conference games this year? I'd love to see who they played? I know Yale played one game against CC and won. Great that's one decent win against the 6th best team in the WCHA. Who else did they play? With the very weak strength of schedule that Yale and Union both had they did nothing but beat up on weak teams. I haven't looked at it all that closely but honestly with the weak SOS they both had how can you say they fared well against other conferences? Maybe the weaker teams in those conferences. Good luck with the logic that had they played at another site they would have won it. Yale was at HOME! If they couldn't win at that location they weren't going to fair that well anywhere else man.
- guest
Let the record show, in the minds of EVERY Yale fan, one missed call on ONE player can score 4 goals. Does this shoe yale only has one player that does everything? If this is true, then the gophers should have been in the tourney too. Theyve got loads of talent and look at them
Congrats UMD….the refs did have too much of an influence on the outcome of this one.
Hey Sioux fan…win or lose…you still have to wake up tom and make your 5.50 an hour!!! When the season is over you can spend your time over analyzing a big breakfast or the birthplace of an egg mcmuffin during the morning shift. hahahahaha
- Hockey God
One player does not a team make. If Yale was half the team all you made them out to be, losing one player wouldn't have mattered. The truth is they played a soft schedule and were very overated. Yale barely beat 22nd ranked Air Force, did you really think they could beat 16th ranked UMD? You sound like a really smart guy, probably graduated from Yale, maybe you and your school should concentrate on math track meets and leave hockey to the schools that are good at it and serious about it.
- Djpuck02
It's not a matter of "losing one player". He was one of their best players and left the whole team shorthanded for 5 mins, in which 2 goals were scored. The same two goals that UMD won by. Yale has been a comeback team all year. Their star players Broc Little and Denny Kearney ,ade a great comeback but it was too late after the refs lost them 2 goals.
- Orleanshomes
You mean after their "best player" lost them 2 goals.
Yale fans, don't be bitter because you guys lost to a good team, and because of a couple bad calls.. You have to overcome adversity to be the best.. I mean look at Matt Frattin, just sayin
- Sioux Fan
And you almost make sense.. Fahq, people that talk big about money while posting online, are surely to be making none so fahq back you dumb ace
- Nyqi
Dude not sure where you are from but I bet that your unemployment rate is two or three times what North Dakota is. Nobody in ND is making $5.50 an hour. Good luck and next time get your facts straight.
- Friendorfoe
Hey fahq, did you write your post while making the egg mcmuffins for all the low life's that surround your campus? When you're done squeezing your zigs from making all the fried food, why don't you get on your bike and go home. Does your mom like you still living at home when you're 35?
- Jemsmay
was at the game, not a Yale or UMD fan, have played/refed/coached hockey for >45 years at all levels. The "big hit" was a clean hit, both seen in person and via the on-line replays. Those who were there might have noticed the closest ref (~20 ft away with a clear look) indicate no penalty, while the 2nd ref (~80 ft away) then made the call a few seconds later. Protecting kids is one thing, but this ref squad looked like the last game they did was a bantam tourney. They could not keep up with the play, frequently out of position and interfering with the flow of the game, frequent disagreement between refs on calls. A true bush league performance by the refs that killed what could have been a fun and entertaining game. I believe this was an ECAC crew, the league needs to have a look because this game was bad for college hockey.
From what I could tell it was a penalty that fifteen years ago would not have been called. But today the mere act of hitting someone is penalized. I have seen more egregious examples of bogus penalties in the 2000′s than in all of the 1970-80′s combined.
I wish we could go back in time….
It worse in the east coast games I have watched. WCHA and CCHA are still bad but not AS bad.
- Hockey7
Actually it was a ccha crew. They were excellent on Friday, and dreadful on Saturday — overtired, perhaps?
Ibelieve the mud coach 'assisted' on the o'neill call. Probably in good faith – his guy had just been crumpled on the ice — but it killed the game.
- FrozenWild
This game was bad for hockey? I'm sorry I think it is better for it. A team that was undeservedly ranked number 1 through out the season got beat by a team that has played well against teams and was great to start the season. Air Force almost beat Yale in the prior game do you really think that Yale would have stood a chance in the Frozen Four? I don't think so.
- http://ndgoon.blogspot.com Goon
Exactly, we had a team that was racking up wins against unimpressive opponents and Yale was highly over rated. You can't tell me for a minute that Yale was even the 5th or 6th best team in the country.
- Dendrochronology
Clean hit? Are you kidding me? O'Neill came from more than halfway across the rink with the clear intent of drilling a UMD player who had no idea he was coming. 5 to 6 strides is a clear charge, and on the replay you can see that there is helmet to helmet contact. The NFL would fine this hit.
- kev96
you gotta be kidding me, go watch tennis. blame the d-man for putting his player in the path of oncoming traffic.
- Ldobie1
Go watch tennis? You don't seem to know the rules of the game. Like it or not the rules prohibit contact to the head. There WAS contact to the head in a VERY violent hit. Quit whining about the outcome.
- jimmer33
they prohibit targeting the head, not a guy getting square and laying a shoulder into the opponents chest. the aftershock of the clean hit resulted in a slight bang of their heads together. however it was accidental and you couldn't even see it at game speed. the refs only called a penalty because the player got hurt. in the college games this year i've seen too many clean hits called penalties because the hit was "too hard" or the player went down. and like it or not pal but hockey IS a violent sport. in hockey a player body checks to separate the opponent from the puck, thats what happened, and unfortunately sometimes players get hurt. and quit whining, the outcome was unfair. the refs completely took away any momentum yale had in a two goal game following a big hit and goal, and penalized them 5 minutes, and sent off one of the best players. so yeah there are legimate reasons to moan over this one (and mich too) because the refs quasi-caused the loss.
- Orleanshomes
He took at least 5 strides and the guy didn't have the puck. He also did not have control of his stick. The game was only half over. Don't you have more than 1 player? The refs are supposed to call penalties that are penalties. Thats why they're out there. The outcome was unfair? Thats what you get for not taking them serious enough. Blaming the refs was totally classless by the coach. A good coach would rally the team. Both teams took senseless penalties. Maybe you should blame the player instead of the refs.
kev96 – when you walk do your knuckles drag on the ground? Face mask to face mask is considered head to head. Anything over 3 strides is charging…. to me O'Neil appeared to be head hunting……
- HockeyGuru
UMD had "questionable" calls against them all weekend. They responded by dominating the "best" powerplays in D1. UMD owned the neutral zone and closed off the shooting lanes. The ECAC teams simply have not mastered the fundamentals yet that the elite teams practice every day.
- Former official
Jems you may have refereed for 45 years but its apparent you don't know the rules concerning edicate about criicizing other officials. That is a cardinal sin amonst the hockey fraternity. You have lost your credability.
USCHO is a glorified Hockey BLOG. The very fact that these yahoo's get press passes to games is an oversite by the NCAA. If you're expecting professional journalism this is not the site to view.
- Guest
Terrible call. And some questionable calls prior too. We need to let the players play the game. The refs have to be absolutely sure before tilting the game in favor of one team or the other. They didn't and determined the outcome of the game in the middle of the 2nd period. UMD may have still won but that amounted to a forfeit.
- TheWeasel
Last night was probably the first time a call affected the outcome of the game.
I just want to point out that the top 3 in the ECAC were swept by the WCHA. Goals scored 3 ECAC 13 WCHA. 4th team in the WCHA beat the top 2 in ECAC. 6th team in WCHA beat #1 in HE
- GeauxSioux
This should really end all arguments.
- BMCross
No doubt the WCHA is a great conference. But the ECAC is comprised of many Ivy league teams, which DO NOT GIVE ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIPS. No one has pointed that out, but it's a very significant factor in the level of talent that teams are able to attract.
So each of these Ivy League hockey players graduate approximately $120,000 in debt?
- http://profiles.google.com/emploch Eric Ploch
If an ivy league school wants a player, they will get them into school and can claim academic scholarships and financial aid. Many of the ivy players are getting money towards their tuition, maybe not a full ride but these athletic departments find ways of getting kids money
- Greenhill87
I was at the game last night and did not care what team won but the 5 minute major to O'Neill was beyond awful as was the next boarding call while UMD was on the power play. Both teams played great but unfortunately the refs played too much of a role in this game and bottom line is it affected the final outcome. Congrats to UMD but I think the comments Yale fans are whining is unfair. The refs called a horrible game start to finish and ruined what could have been a great game.
- Djpuck02
What happened to refs putting their whistles away in important games?
- HockeyGuru
They were horrible all weekend. Luckily UMD rose their game in the face of adversity. Union and Yale didn't.
- WoogLips4Ever
- TheWeasel
This website is so biased, they won't even let me post a comment comparing WCHA to the ECAC and HE
- Teeder Wynne
I had the same experience, The Weasel. I understand that this is an ECAC column by an ECAC columnist, but c'mon, at least mention that there was another team on the ice besides the zebras that had some influence on the outcome. NCAA Division I hockey from top to bottom is pretty evenly matched in a one-and-done scenario, but when you look at the total grind of a conference season, there are some conferences that are tougher to play in and win than others. It's like the old BCS argument in regard to Boise State and TCU…. sure they're undefeated in their respective conferences, but how would they do if they played in the SEC? Sorry about the football analogy, but I think it illustrates my point best. I contend that the 7-12 finishers in the WCHA conference standings year in and year out would be solid top 6 finishers in the ECAC over the course of a season. In other words, perennial cellar dwellers Michigan Tech and UAA would be juggernauts in the ECAC right away. Conference strength is huge. Eastern college hockey fans just don't get enough opportunity to appreciate the skill of the western "small school" programs. Good coaching (systems) + solid recruits from western Canada and the upper Midwest + controlled physical play(ala Team Canada World Junior teams) = western collegiate hockey.
- http://www.uscho.com/ USCHO
You may most a comment comparing the leagues so long as you follow the guidelines above — and use "ECAC" in doing it.
Thank you for the clarification.
- Jdorf40
Why would you do that? There is no comparison. :-)
- Geetsolboy
UMD probably would have won the game anyway but those calls in the second period sealed the deal. I was also at the UMD-Union game on Friday and that game was probably one of the worst officiated games I have ever seen, something like 18 penalties in that one. It was like watching a poorly called basketball game where the officials let the game be decided from the foul line. There was no flow to the game at all, both teams struggled to get anything started. UMD happens to have a great power play, so they are well structured to take advantage. I do hope the NCAA takes a look at the performance of some of these officials…quite frankly some of them had no business doing tournament games.
- http://twitter.com/topherbaron Topher Baron
So, a major penalty is called and THAT is all anyone wants to talk about? I get it, it was questionable….BUT THAT IS HOCKEY. It happens…and no matter what the other team does, it's how you react to being down and in a hole. Clearly Yale and its coaching staff were so immature about the officiating. UMD didn't have to score, but their Special Teams were better on this given night, and when given the opportunity, they did their job. The ref's are questionable in every game, not just this one, but they are NEVER to blame for a win or loss…
- UMD Frozen 4!
UMD has been screwed by the refs a few times this year….especially in OT in the WCHA playoffs. We know how it feels. I do not think that it was intended head contact, but that ONeil was trying to get some more momentum for his team with a huge hit. But UMD was already winning 3-1. You cannot say that UMD would have blown the game or that Yale would have came back. There is no certainty of that. I believe the game may have been closer, but you cannot attribute the Yale loss/UMD win to just that one play. UMD played extremely well and Yale made mistakes. UMD has been up and down to end the year, and they strung together two games when they needed it most.
- http://twitter.com/SullivanHockey Brian Sullivan
Well said by a level-headed fan. I don't disagree!
- Nyqi
Maybe Yale learned their lesson yesterday and will do the right thing and actually put someone on their schedule that will help them be prepared for a game like this in the future. To think that Yale had a chance to win the title based on what they had done this year playing one of the worst schedules in the entire country is just absurd.
I hope now we can all agree that Yale NEVER should have been a top rated team. If you play poor competition all year don't be surprised when you go up against a strong team and loose your composer and can't find a way to deal with it. Yale got lucky to even beat AFA this weekend but the bottom line is that Yale was shown for what they were. A good team but not able to compete with the best teams in the nation. Their numbers were inflated from both an offensive and defensive standpoint this year based on their weak schedule. Hope they put tougher teams on their schedule because college hockey needs great teams in all of the leagues and I am sure that Yale has a good team but they need to play better teams to be able to make that next step to being an elite program.
I agree.
The old biblical saying that one man sharpens himself against another like steel against a grinder applies here.
Several months ago when Yale was ranked #1 many WCHA fans on this site objected due to a lack of strength in their scheduled opponents. And we were castigated for it.
I am glad that that has been settled now.
- http://profiles.google.com/emploch Eric Ploch
good point i forgot they went to colorado and beat colorado college 5-1 and stomped the same quinnipiac team that took two games from Nebraska-Omaha this year
- TheWeasel
Everything you say matters in an argument that you cannot win. Enjoy telling people how good they did this season. Don't forget to tell them about the 4 losses to teams with losing records and how they would beat any team from the west like you guys tried to say all season long. I can't wait to hear it
- http://profiles.google.com/emploch Eric Ploch
learn to count buddy..three losses, brown and twice to st lawrence and they obviously could beat teams from the west if the beat CC, the best evidence they could beat a team from the west was the fact that they actually did it
- Ldobie1
even a blind squirl finds a nut once in awhile
- TheWeasel
At the time air force was a losing team at the time. The best evidence they couldn't was last night.
- Jdorf40
Yeah, but what have they done for you lately? They lost twice to St. Lawrence in the last month, once to Brown, once to RPI and once to Union…all in the last 90 days. Face it man. You can't base your teams ranking on 1 game vs. a team that finished 6th in their conference. Colorado College barely made the tournament. Yale lost to some terrible hockey teams…repeatedly. Unless a team is playing a top 25 schedule, I don't care how many victories they've earned. Let me see who they've lost to and that will tell you if they're legitemate. If a team loses more than 1 game to a team that's several games under .500, they're not worthy of a #1 overall seed.
- http://profiles.google.com/emploch Eric Ploch
BC lost to two sub .500 teams
Miami (oh) lost FIVE games to sub .500 teams
Yale lost three sub .500 games
North Dakota was deserving of the number one overall seed, i admit that, i also admit the WCHA is the best conference but if you are gonna say yale lost to too many bad teams look at miami (oh)
- Frattin4Hobey
And look where Miami is playing right now…
- Jdorf40
Eric, you're not getting the point. The difference between Yale and the teams that you mentioned is that those other teams have multiple victories against tournament teams. I'm a Sioux fan, and I can tell you that BC is far and away a better team than Yale is. It's not even close. Miami…I wasn't really sold on them either. They had a solid 1st line, but they weren't even a 1 seed until Michigan dropped the ball against Western last weekend. I'd still rank Miami ahead of Yale though as they played a much tougher schedule. You simply have to have more than 1 or 2 quality wins over the course of a season to consider yourself a legit contender. Yale didn't do that. They beat the teams in their conference that were pretenders too. The media was high on Yale early on, and Yale was beating everyone on their schedule the first part of the year. But since the beginning of 2011, Yale has lost to some stinkers and also went 0-2 against the other 2 tourney teams from their mediocre conference while NoDak and BC have been stellar….despite playing much tougher competition. It's not even debatable.
- http://profiles.google.com/emploch Eric Ploch
Alright i understand this, yale probably was overrated but i still think they were a top 16 team. What do they have to do? they play a shorter non conference schedule so i know they have to schedule tougher opponents but its difficult with the shorter schedule but still do able to get a few good opponents. But no matter what playing in the ecac will hurt their rep. What do they do leave the conference and hope to jump on somewhere else? It seems like as long as they play in the ECAC they wont get respect so what do they do to fix that?
- Jdorf40
Absolutely Yale is a top 16 team! I wasn't saying that at all. I apologize if it seemed as though I was insinuating that they weren't tournament worthy because I totally think they were. After all, it's basically the same team that sent the Sioux packing last year. The big difference this year is that they had a target on their backs almost the entire season. It's a totally different beast when the element of surprise is taken out of it. Last year I thought UND would steam roll Yale because I didn't really know much about them. Trust me, after that game…everyone knew who Yale was! And I followed them this year extremely close because of their success from last season. My personal opinion is that Yale should have probably been somewhere between a 4 to 7 seed overall. If Michigan hadn't lost to Western, I would have felt as though the 1-3 seeds would have undoubtedly been NoDak, BC and Michigan. Even BC as #1 overall wouldn't have surprised me with the Sioux being 2. My biggest reasoning for not having Yale be ranked #1 overall was that by doing that, and moving NoDak and BC to the 2 and 3 slots, if the 4 #1 seeds were to all advance, BC and NoDak would be playing each other in the semi's when they were clearly the two best teams going in. Of course looking back, it's all irrelevant (thank you again CC).
When teams lose in their conference tournament at the end of the season it gets really tricky I think. If Yale hadn't lost to St. Lawrence for the second time in a month to open their tourney I'd have sort of felt like they HAD to be at least a #4 overall based on their overall record. Now, does that mean that I think they're better than Denver, UNO, Miami or Notre Dame…not necessarily, but for those other teams to move up they'd have to have performed exceptionally well in their conference tourneys. 2 of them did, 2 of them didn't. Denver lost to the Sioux in the WCHA final in double OT, UNO got swept at home and barely got in, Miami won the CCHA tourney handily and Notre Dame got bounced by Miami AND Michigan so they fell all the way to a 3 seed in a regional (and then they went out East and are headed to the Frozen Four).
The depth of the WCHA, CCHA and Hockey East are just deeper than the other conferences. I really feel that if you take the top 4 teams from either the WCHA or CCHA, those teams have the ability to beat anyone. I think the top 2-3 from Hockey East are usually the same way. I respect the heck out of CC, and they finished 6th in the WCHA! Even I didn't expect to see them beat BC like they did. But I thought that with BC having to travel out West, CC definitely had a chance. CC came out extremely determined from the start. They looked like they were ready to meet Goliath and they outworked BC for 60 minutes. The next night against Michigan I thought that they looked like they took a vacation for the first 55 minutes of the game. They played undisciplined and were out hustled to every loose puck. If you put Union, RPI or any teams from the ECAC on a stage like that…BC is going to take it to them. Even when they're not on their A-game. The top 3 seeds were basically wrapped up before the conference tournaments even started. I didn't like to see it that way. I think that moving forward they need to change the format or alter the PairWise because it proved again that it's seriously flawed. However, the tournament consistently proves that the seeds only play a small role in what ultimately happens. Looking at who made the most noise in the tourney you can evaluate what most fans were saying all along.
WCHA record in tourney – 6-3 (Denver knocked out by NoDak)
CCHA record in tourney – 5-2
Hockey East record in tourney – 1-3 (I'd like to note I called UNH over MIA!)
ECAC record in tourney – 1-3
Atlantic record in tourney – 0-1
Now that the Frozen Four is here it's fun to look at how the 4 teams that made it there faired against teams that not only made the tournament, but how they did against teams that actually won a game in the tournament.
NoDak vs. teams with tourney victory 8-3-1 (3-1-1 vs. Frozen Four teams)
Sioux vs. Minn-Duluth 2-1 (W 4-2, L 3-2 OT, W 5-0)
Sioux vs. Notre Dame 1-0-1 (W 6-3, T 2-2)
Sioux vs. Denver 3-1 (W 4-2, L 3-0, W 3-2 2OT, W 6-1)
Sioux vs. Colorado College 2-1 (L 4-2, W 6-0, W 4-3)
Minn- Duluth vs. teams with tourney victory 3-4-1 (1-2 vs. FF teams)
Dogs vs. NoDak 1-2 (L 4-2, W 3-2 OT, L 5-0)
Dogs vs. Denver 1-1 (L 5-4 OT, W 2-1)
Dogs vs. Colorado College 0-1-1 (L 5-4, T 3-3)
Dogs vs. Yale 1-0 (5-3)
Notre Dame vs. teams with tourney victory 4-4-2 (1-3-1 vs. FF teams)
Irish vs. NoDak 0-1-1 (L 6-3, T 2-2)
Irish vs. W. Michigan 2-1-1 (W 3-2, T 2-2, W 3-2, L 2-0)
Irish vs. Michigan 1-2 (W 3-1, L 5-3, L 4-2)
Irish vs. New Hampshire 1-0 (W 2-1)
Michigan vs. teams with tourney victory 6-2-1 (2-1 vs. FF teams)
Wolverines vs. Notre Dame 2-1 (L 3-1, W 5-3, W 4-2)
Wolverines vs. UNH 0-0-1 (T 3-3)
Wolverines vs. Colorado College 2-0 (W 6-5, W 2-1)
Wolverines vs. W. Michigan 2-1 (W 6-3, W 5-4 OT, L 5-2)
This is my new record for longest post.
- Hockey God
That's not a post, it's a feature story! :)
- Jdorf40
I've always wanted one of those!
- Gs
Maybe ECAC has to change their scheduling rules.
- Jdorf40
I forgot to put up how Yale faired this season against teams that won a playoff game this year. They were 1-1. They beat CC November 13th and lost to Duluth. 2 GAMES!!! So weak!
- http://ndgoon.blogspot.com/ Goon
Good points, yet, ECAC fans still want to say that their teams are just as good as the HE, CCHA and WCHA and they aren't…
- Jdorf40
I know. I didn't make up those statistics. They're facts. But what do you do. You can lead a horse to water…
- GeauxSioux
Did you just use the word Quinnipiac in an argument about quality teams?
- http://profiles.google.com/emploch Eric Ploch
yeah you know the same quinnipiac team that took two games from Nebraska-Omaha from the almighty WCHA
- Nyqi
Are you kidding the WCHA went 4 out of 5 in the first round and then a WCHA team kicked yale out. Do you really think it's wise to keep mouthing off about the conference like they aren't better than yale? really?
- http://profiles.google.com/emploch Eric Ploch
i never said the ECAC was better than the WCHA, because its not. the wcha is the best conference, i understand that. my original post here was in regards to yale playing poor competition by saying they play teams that have beaten people and just used QU over UNO as an example
- Jdorf40
Well, I'd say that since Yale is so phenomenal during the regular season…ya know, beating teams like Quinnipiac, that they can hoist the regular season trophy…wait a minute…no they can't, because they took second place during the regular season. Doi.
Yale is a good hockey team. But they are't elite. True story.
- Orleanshomes
So, American International beat Air Force who beat Yale who beat CC who beat UND who just may beat UMD. So does that make American International a quality team?
- http://ndgoon.blogspot.com/ Goon
What does that have to do with this discussion.
- Nyqi
Are you still trying to convince people that they were a top team? It's just funny to me that all the people from Yale are so in denial that they were at best a good team. Obviously they weren't an elite team and the SOS was very poor this year. It would have done them some good to play some more top flight teams thats all. And until they do they will not be able to compete at the NCAA tournament level.
- Jhockey1610
you're full of bullshit
- A real college hockey fan!
I see you have NO idea how an Ivy League team is set up. They are not allowed to even practice until Oct 15, when the rest of the country starts practicing the day they step on campus. They can't play games until Nov, when most teams already played 10 games by then. They are limited to teams they can schedule becuase they have to play their full ECAC schedule too. Yale plays just as many, if not less, easy teams as the CCHA, WCHA, and Hockey East teams. They just don't have the room to play too many more out of conference games.
The Ivy league teams are what college sports are about! They do not give scholarships, they do not let just anyone in(you have to be accepted by the school before anything else, and i am not talking about the minimum NCAA requirements), and they are more concerned with their education than they are with the athletics, like a University is suppose to be! Yale takes a almost month off in the middle of the season because they want their players to be prepared for their finals, what other schools do that outside of the Ivy league. When Yale players are done with their senior season, most will be in politics or working on Wall Street, where as the rest of the players on Div. 1 team, who will be going back to their home town to work at the local rink!
What Allain and Yale has accomplished these past few seasons has been remarkable, and is the real story of college hockey, not another powerhouse winning the national championship. its easy to do that when you can get the best talent in the country and not have to worry about the educational requirements, and if you want proof, just look at how many players leave those schools early as compared to an Ivy League team!
- Hockey Fan
Well said. Exactly right.
- Nyqi
I totally understand that because they are an Ivy League school they have some limitations on what they can and can't schedule but they do have non-conference games and if you are a true Yale fan you should be screaming this loudly to them to get some better teams on their schedule so that they are prepared when it comes time to play outside of their own league which obviously is not as strong for many of the reasons you state above. So don't talk to me about not having any idea because I have sat in on a session with someone from the NCAA that talked about all of the hockey conferences and their eligibility requirements back in the day. So I totally understand that but if Yale wants to take the next step and like I said I hope they do as we need better teams in every conference they are going to have to find a way to add some depth to their schedule.
- Orleanshomes
I have to agree. I do think Yale is good, not great. With that new Big Ten Conference forming, it would be a great thing for college hockey to do a ECAC/Big Ten non conference schedule. The Big Ten will need a lot of non conference games and it would give ECAC an opportunity to play some "better" teams. I still think he should have got 5, maybe not a game misconduct.
- http://ndgoon.blogspot.com/ Goon
You're going to have to get in line because the WCHA and CCHA are the ones that will be scheduling the B!G games. I am sure if Yale calls the Fighting Sioux we would be glad to have Yale come to REA for a two game series.
- Css228
Yes, but is Yale even going to be worth scheduling anymore after this year? Most likely, the rest of the country will be complaining about how easy life is for the ECAC team from Ithaca in the near future
- http://ndgoon.blogspot.com Goon
Of course UND is playing Harvard this next season. I think it's at the REA.
- Css228
I hope we can get you guys back to Lynah sometime. Obviously we'd return the favor and go to REA. That or you could come down to Estero one year
- hockey fan
Yale Is From New Haven C.T.
- jj
For Your Information,Yale and Quinnipiac (ANOTHER ECAC TEAM) has Tried More Than Once The Past Couple Of Years To Schedule a Series.. Your Fighting Sioux Declined
- guest
I think the rest of the players when done at a WCHA school usually end up playing pro hockey. Thats how it is here at Minnesota
- hockey fan
Your Right..And Their Bosses Are From The IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS.! I Could Be Wrong But Isn't The Governer Of Minnesota And North Dakota Yale Grads..!
- Matto
real college hockey fan:
I'll say this once, as a Yale alum who spent many wonderful evenings at Ingalls, back when the ECAC was still the ECAC (and our biggest stars went to the NHL):
Being an Ivy school is not an excuse to not compete. I loved this year's team, and despite the WCHA woofing here, Yale was — and is — a legit top 10 team. Perhaps, had they played a smarter game Saturday night, they might even have won; at least they'd have had a chance. Yes, the penalty was dreadful, but let's get real here: they played stupid hockey, and the game resembled all too much last year's regional final (which coincidentally also derailed after surrendering a shorty).
But as for the schedule: This year's schedule was embarrassing. I don't know how else to put it. I was shocked when I first saw it. Where were the real test games? One trip to Colorado? That's it? Out of conference games against Dartmouth and Brown??? Are you kidding me? I know they only get 7 out of conference games, but STILL… 7 games out of conference, and they were: 3 from Atlantic, 2 from ECAC and one each from Hockey East and WCHA. It's not Yale's fault that Vermont was bad this year, but still, 2 games total against HE/CCHA/WCHA just doesn't make it (Brown and Cornell scheduled 5 each, and Harvard scheduled 6; every other Ivy team had a harder schedule). Those early Ivy games need to be replaced by CCHA or WCHA teams. Push the OOC games later in the season, if necessary. But get the team battle tested.
I don't know if Yale will be be back, they had a lot of upper classmen. But in any case, I would really like to see a more rigorous schedule next year.
- Channingredsox
Clearly your superiority complex has not caught up to your hockey knowledge. Most students are students first at hockey schools. But even the Ivy's let in below average ( for their requirements) players.
You overall point that most of these other players go home to work at the local rink is an insult and clearly you have a bias towards the pretensious nature of th eIvy league. Majority of these players go on to have fina outstanding careers in other professions aside from rink rat.
No matter how well educated( you think you are) from you Ivy leageue degree you should not make such genaral statements about other school.
Oh yeah thanks to all those pliticians and wall street grads we are in the mess we are in. So give me a good salt of the earth student athlete any do over the snobbery I witnessed in Bridgeport.
- Anonymous
I guess the Ivy League should have an interlocking schedule with NESCAC.
- Tonyocch1
I am a Yale season ticket holder, the bottom line is Yale was outplyed and were lucky to have won friday night against Airforce. On to next year`s schedule Yale has a home game vs. Boston ollege and a road game vs. Umass I don`t know the other out of conference games but I am glad to see a step up in the schedule
- Nyqi
That can only help Yale in the long run and also help college hockey as well. It is great when there is truly talented teams throughout all of the conferences and Yale playing the likes of Boston College during the season will help them when it comes time to play in the NCAA tourney. Glad to hear it.
- Geraci John
Look, they beat No. Dakota in last years tourney and lost to BC in a very close game. Much closer than Miami or Wisc could muster in the frozen four. The fact is that many of these teams are very close. Yale did not capitalize and UMD did when given the chances. Yes I think it was a bad call to kick the kid out of the game and it certainly hurt Yales chances. I think UMD is playing better hockey at this point.
RPI took it on the chin just like Denver did form the team that is playing at the highest level right now. Does not matter what schedule RPI played vs shcedule Denver played, they both got smoked.
- Evhockeyguy21
UND last year is not even on the same level as UND this year. You cant compare the two.
I have read quickly through the posts. I see a significant degree of distress from the folks at Yale and understandably so. Yale spent a number of weeks on the top of the heap. Also, I see that their fans did not anticipate the quality of output expended by UMD. If they watched the game on Friday there were more than likely to subscribe to the press clippings that UMD was faltering at the end of the season. They believed UMD was only a minor bump in the road. UMD really shined in the game. Scored 1 goal 5 on 5, 1 shorty and 3 PP. Pretty solid performance for a faltering team. UMD had 8 penatlies and 9 for Yale. Let's assume that the call was terrible, at least Yale had time on their side to regroup and put their best foot forward and they did and the outcome still was not in their favor. I suspect that UMD fans thought that some of the calls were ticky tack as well. However, I believe that a helmet to hemet hit still counts as head contact. If you keep your stick on the ice like Eddie O. states on Versus and NBC then you have a lower probability of head contact.
One ignores UMD at your own peril.
- WoogLips4Ever
You hit it right on the head Guest2 ( thats 5 minutes and a game misconduct).
The parade to the penalty box was disappointing, because it was just called too tightly all weekend at the East regional. It is also sadly true that UMD has been fading the second half of the season and are not playing up to their potential (largely due to lack of discipline by second rate players like Trent Palm).
- Hockey coach
The penalties were fairly even and the officials were calling everything so the teams and coaches had to adjust to a tightly called game. They both committed uncalled for prnalties both putting their teams and goal tenders at tremendous disadvantages. UMD had better specialt teams and won the game. Remember they had two short handed goals as well.
- Wainwrightd
The fact of the matter is O Neil took a good 3 strides and made no effort to play the puck…I agree there was no contact to the head…The heads looked like they snapped back from the violent contact…With that being said they could have given him a double minor, 4:00 minutes in the box and let him continue to play…I will admit i am not a Yale fan, but you have to play 60 minutes of hockey, which Yale didn't do, stay out of the Box, which they didn't do and Play a solid game..I feel that UMD came out flying and took the physical game to Yale…Just like St. Lawrence did to Yale in Canton this season, any team that takes the physical play to Yale is going to have a chance to win every time….
- kev96
actually play the puck was exactly what he did. the umd guy received a pass and was checked. thats allowed in hockey, that's called taking the man, and if you don't like it blame the d-man who made the suicide pass.
- Hockey Fan
I'm a hockey fan. Watching high school, college and pro. I've played my whole life. The O'neill hit was a game changer. His goal prior sparked the team and got them back in it. About the misconduct. First, playing my whole life, I have never witnessed a helmet to helmet hit. Its to hard to do, and all you have to do is use your gloves and whack someone in the helmet. (which is not allowed, but a mean hit) He lead with his gloves in the chest, and the helmets hit from the bodies contact. So anyone saying you say the helmet lead, look again please. Second, if anything it should have been a penalty for charging or interference. If you watch the play, the player was about to receive a pass and thats why O'neill made the hit. Unfortunately for O'neill, the pass was off. If the pass connected, it would have been a clean hit. And third, you all forget what it means to your team when you lose your best player. Especially to a controversial call. I know inside the players were irate. Its hard to focus when you get back out there…specially being a man down. As for the game, penalties cost Yale. Some there own fault, others just bad calls. Mn Du played well. I honestly thought the teams were evenly matched and Yale had played slightly better. Penalties did them in. Like someone said prior, in the play-offs its one and done. You have one bad game no matter who you are, you can lose. If Yale was overrated, so was BC and Miami then.
- Debonvine
Miami definitely over rated….BC had the wrong Muse show up…you now the same one who gave up 6 to Maine last year in the HE Championship game as well as a few other stinker outings. Only problem here is BC's offense couldn't muster 8 goals to counter his stinky performance.
- Jordan
I love how some Yale fans bring up that Yale beat CC 5-1 earlier this season and how it proves their abilities. The game was in mid-November and is so completely irrelevant to playoff hockey. On another topic, with a large number of seniors on both Yale and Union, they may be out of the national picture for awhile, which will remind me of when my neighbors who had a yipping little chihuahua moved away.
- http://profiles.google.com/emploch Eric Ploch
you guys complain that yale should play better out of conference teams, then we bring up a playoff-bound colorado college team and you wcha fans say oh that doesnt count it was in november…make up your mind
- Jordan
It counts, but its only one game against a middle of the pack WCHA (CC finished 6th) in mid-November doesn't make a difficult schedule. Yale, Union, etc. are who they are and unfortunatly not much can be done to change their schedule.
Imagine if UND had come east and played, ummmmmmmm….. Army?
- http://profiles.google.com/emploch Eric Ploch
yeah…too bad none of the teams we are talking about from the east played army
- GeauxSioux
Think you missed his point. A lot.
- http://profiles.google.com/emploch Eric Ploch
my apologies, i overreacted when seeing this post and failed to accept it wasnt army you were talking about but just east coast teams in general, which i do admit for the most part are not as good as teams out west, i admit that
- pickle montser
Yale beat a middle of the pack WCHA team. In November. Yippppeeeeeeeeee. NCAA hockey needs more interconference play–going into the tournament, there's not enough interconference play to get a clear picture of which conference is strong/weak.
- http://profiles.google.com/emploch Eric Ploch
what im saying is you guys just complain about every little thing…"oh yale did play a playoff team, well it was CC who finished sixth", excuses. to a point there is only so much yale can do with their schedule, they have a shorter out of conference schedule than most schools in america and therefor cant go across the nation to play whoever they want
- Jdorf40
That's true. But the rest of the tourney teams shouldn't be punished because of that. BC was forced to travel across the country because Yale was awarded a #1 seed. Clearly the two best teams in the nation over the course of the year were BC and UND. I don't even know which team is better, but BC got stuck travelling and if you look at the two #1 seeds that travelled across country, last year as well…it's something that you can't ignore. I'm not saying that teams can't win on the road, as obviously UMD showed this weekend, but had Yale been seeded properly and been forced to travel, there's a good chance that they wouldn't have made it out of the first round. If Yale had gone on the road and beaten one of the top 3-4 teams in the WCHA/CCHA/Hockey East and beaten another of them at some point, whether on the road or at home and NOT lost twice to St. Lawrence and to Brown, they'd have an argument. But their schedule was a joke this year. That's not something that should punish another team and it did.
- http://profiles.google.com/emploch Eric Ploch
regardless of their seed they still would have played in CT because since they were a host they got put in their own region…and why does everyone jump on yale when they lose but people are completely okay with B.C. losing 8-4 to Colorado College and dont question their seed or ranking, yale at least made it out of the first round
- Jdorf40
Because BC was sent out West despite going a combined 4-1 vs teams that not only made the tournament, but actually won games in the tournament. They were also 22-2-1 overall since Thanksgiving.
Yale beat CC in early November. That was it. They didn't beat a single team the rest of the year that did anything in the tournament. And when they beat CC in early November, the Tigers were in the midst of going 3-7 over a 10 game stretch. CC only finished 23-19-3 overall and were .500 in the WCHA, but they got in as a low seed because they had a decent record vs. TUC. It wasn't hearsay. Over the course of the season they earned victories vs. North Dakota, Denver, UNO and Duluth but also lost to Mankato, Bemidji, Alaska and Alaska Anchorage.
- HockeyEast fan
You got it Eric … damned if you do, damned if you don't. Unless you're a WCHA fan, you don't matter.
I'm switching allegiance to UNH, Michigan and ND; the real; ND.
I believe Yale shouldn't have been the overall #1, but they deserved to be in the tourney (RPI is another story!).
- TheWeasel
read this article and tell me that yale fans are any different.
- GeauxSioux
Says the guy complaining.
- http://profiles.google.com/emploch Eric Ploch
the problem is when wcha fans beg for yale to go out and play people to prove they belong then when they do that, going across the nation to play colorado college, you say it doesnt count.
- Nyqi
I never said it didn't count but you are talking about the team that placed 6th in the WCHA. If you want to make the argument that Yale would be the 5th or 6th best team in the WCHA then that's just fine maybe they would. All I'm saying is that Yale to truly be considered a top tier program if that is what they want needs to find a way to play a stronger schedule. Again they beat CC, that is a good win, great but you also have to look at some of the loses they had and it wasn't pretty, we can agree on that right Eric? They had a nice run but they are out at the hands of a WCHA team so please don't pretend that they could compete at the level because clearly they can't when it counts.
- Shabtai707
Most of the interconference play involving eastern teams takes place early in the season. Yale and other Ivy League teams start their season several weeks after all other Division I teams. As a result, they don't travel as much play fewer games than other teams. Ivy League rules do not permit the teams to practice until mid or late October so that the players can attend to their studies and not play almost the entire academic year.
- WoogLips4Ever
would they like a cookie?
- WoogLips4Ever
No one is beggin for mediocre competition to come to us, chief…..we are suggesting that if you want to stop being a bottom dog, then you should enhance your non-conference schedule with some better teams…..as for poor, poor Yale not being able to cross the country to play other teams…..I don't even know what to say to that. Actually I do….wah, wah, wah. This is NCAA division 1 hockey. Even Division 2/3 teams have to travel. Suck it up or don't complain.
Yeah, you would think that with Yales sizeable financial resources they could scratch up some cash for plane tickets out west a couple times a year to sharpens their edges as it were.
- eli88
I was there last night in the first row. The hit O'Neill made looked hard but clean. At MOST it should have been 2 minutes, if not a no-call. Not much talk about the "roughing" the goalie call they made on Cahill minutes earlier, which also was an overly protective whistle. These calls definitely cost Yale big time. I am not sure why so many people posting comments need to denigrate the ECAC and Yale in particular. They lost. With or without the help from the refs, UMD played a good game. It doesn't mean, however, Yale played horrible competition all year and can't compete with the Midwest teams. If these two teams played five times, I bet it would come down to a deciding fifth game. Yale lost to champion BC last year 9-7 in the NCAAs and beat North Dakota. They can play with anyone. This is single elimination. For goodness sake, RIT was in the Frozen Four last year. Anything can happen. For those who think only the WCHA can win, ask the teams in Hockey East.
- http://profiles.google.com/emploch Eric Ploch
North Dakota, maybe Matt Frattin will get kicked out their regional final or frozen four game for a terrible call, and when you guys lose i cant wait for you guys to see how it feels
The key thing is UND has a team with such depth that they will be able to handle such an event. Few teams have ever had as much depth as the UND team has right now.
Losing Frattin would be unfortunate, but would likely not have as much impact as losing such a player at another school.
UND does not have a "Franchise Player" per se, but rather a series of players that at other schools would easily BE the franchise player.
- Debonvine
UND remember your trip to Orono….
- GeauxSioux
Oh man.
Is that sort of like "Remember the Maine?"
Damn, some times I crack myself up……
- Shabtai707
Your use of the term "Franchise Player" is insightful. Yale doesn't provide athletic scholarships, they play fewer games because Ivy League rules don't allow them to practice until weeks after other schools begin and there are serious academics to deal with. Its not business – its college sports. Yale players are not paid.
Which misses the point.
A franchise player is someone who by their acts becomes either the face of the organization or the key to its success.
Regarding the notion that Yale does not provide althelitc scholarships. Does that mean each Yale player finishes $120,000 in debt?
- WoogLips4Ever
Have you spent any time with the hockey players at Yale? Just curious if you have first hand knowledge of how they are or are not compensated.
- Sioux Fan
Davidson will take us all the way then!
- WoogLips4Ever
possible, but I bet they won't resurface the ice with tears….they will fight back and give it everything they have. Also, the NoDak fans understand the game….the Yale fans sound like a bunch of gopher fans.
- Orleanshomes
Gophers aren't in it. You don't have to be jealous of them this year. Oh wait your colors ARE green with envy.
- WoogLips4Ever
Shut Up! The Gophers aren't init?!!
They might just as well cancel the whole season then.
- Frattin
I am a UND fan and you are correct.
- Milerun
Speaking of Allain, after saturday's loss, he and his staff didn't even bother to shake the hands of UMD! What a classless Jerk!
- Djpuck02
Ummm…where were you meatstick? They did shake their hands. Well, except for O'Neil who was not allowed to because he was thrown out of the game for checking someone in a hockey game.
- http://twitter.com/SullivanHockey Brian Sullivan
He shook hands with Sandelin and his staff. He does not go through the handshake line though; never has.
- WoogLips4Ever
That would be a good thing to ask him if you have a chance….why does he not shake hands with the opposing team. I have not seen that before in hockey. The handshake is a beutiful tradition.
- poptart
When Notre Dame played the Sioux in Grand Forks this year, Coach Jackson of the Irish did not shake the players' hands either, just coach Hakstol's. I thought that was classless as well.
- WoogLips4Ever
I am surprised by that….have never seen that b4 in college hockey.
- Shabtai707
Factually wrong.
- schmooph16
Yale lost a non-conference game? What?
- Spidermonkey86
Yale fans complain? What?
YALE DOESN'T PLAY ANYBODY….and the better team did win one player should't make or break a game
- http://profiles.google.com/emploch Eric Ploch
beat colorado college 5-1 in colorado…i guess you consider wcha teams as nobody then
- GeauxSioux
This argument is invalid as the game was in November.
- http://profiles.google.com/emploch Eric Ploch
how is this invalid? you said yale doesnt play anybody, i used a concrete example showing their out of conference opponent colorado college who made the ncaa tournament. dont go around crying foul over yale's schedule then say invalid when its clear they have played people. when do you want them to play colorado college? in march? not possible. its not yale's fault they are in the ecac, they cant control who those teams are that they have to play so they went out to colorado and played CC to make the wcha babies happy then you say its invalid…you wcha fans are literally too stupid to have a discussion with
CC is one WCHA team… Put them against a Top WCHA team..
- GeauxSioux
I actually never said they don't play anybody.
Facts are facts. Yale was rightfully doubted all year long by nearly everyone. They were not very good, pure and simple.
- http://profiles.google.com/emploch Eric Ploch
not as good as North Dakota? agreed. not as good as UMD? agreed. Not very good, pure and simple? still not going to agree with you on this
- Jdorf40
CC is somebody, depending on the night. They have the ability, when they're firing on all cylinders, to beat any team in the country. But there are nights when I think they couldn't beat anyone in the country either. There's no in between with that team. Look at how they hustled vs. BC and then look at how they played against Michigan. That's the reason that CC was .500 in the WCHA and only a few games over on the season. If you go into Denver or North Dakota and earn a split, you did your job. If you go into Denver (like BC did) or North Dakota and take 4 points…then you're flat out nasty. Yes, Yale beat CC while CC was in the middle of a 3-7 stretch. But they only beat them once and CC was a team that finished in the middle of the pack in their conference. They barely made it into the tournament. But they made the tournament for the very reason that BC is at home. They have the ability to play with anyone. I would expect Yale to beat CC if they played…but by throwing all of the eggs in one basket on that fact that they beat CC…that's far from enough to convince me that they're legit. Like I said, steal a couple of games at NoDak, Denver, Michigan, Notre Dame, Boston College, Duluth, Maine, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Miami…etc. Do it at their building. Even when those teams aren't having great years…beating them on their home ice twice in the same weekend is something that isn't easy to do.
- Haltrink-cornell alum
i was at the game and i didn't see the hit but the refs clearly effected the game in favor of umd. my son saw it on tv and texted me that it was a clean hit and he has been a hockey fan for 25 years (he just turned 30). umd mad the most of it's opportunities and deserves credit for that. yale did lose their composure for the major penalty but both teams had 5 on 3 chances. yale had about 40 seconds and did not come through. yale special teams only played well after the game was out of hand in the 3rd period. since the final score was 5-3 and since umd scored twice during the major penalty AND since the call was a questionable one, then the only conclusion to be drawn is that to some degree yale did lose with at least an asssist from the refs. i don't know about the eastern vs western hockey generalities nor that the ecac is a weak conference because those conclusions can only be mad based on the results of many games and not just this one. in a one and done tournament scenario lucky breaks and bad calls is part of the sport. since there is no video review for penalties then there always be bad calls both ways, penalties called that are wrong and penalties not called that should be. i have been watching hockey for 50 years and it's too fast a game to expect human beings (which is what refs are even though some would argue that) to be 100% right. they probably are more like 70%. BY THE WAY i have two WHAT"S UP WITH THAT questions. #!. in the union-umd game there was a penalty for POKING?!?!?! i have never heard of that before. #2. umd colors of maroon and gold ARE THE SAME AS UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA. is there a law which only allows those 2 colors for teams in the state? why not a little originality by umd and maybe try red and yellow (or ant other 2 colors, red and blue, red and grey, etc.)? you get my point.
To answer question #2 There are several schools in the "University of Minnesota" system, and every single one of them has the same colors-Maroon and Gold. UMD attempted to change colors in the past and were shot down, although I fail to see what the team colors has to do with anything…
- WoogLips4Ever
Actually, The University of MN is trying the whole Maroon and Gold thing to copy Duluth. If they try hard enough to be like Duluth, maybe someday they can make the NCAA tournament too. They would be so proud….just beaming with Gopher pride. Someday they can stand in solidarity with their fans, warmly enjoying the seed given to them. Once they taste it again, I bet they will be hungry for more and everyone will be able to see it on their shiny, happy faces.
- Jdorf40
All I got out of this post was that your kid hasn't learned a thing after watching 25 years of hockey. Maybe after 50 years of watching he'll be able to recognize a charge when he sees one.
- Fauxrealism
WHCA fans – stop with the ridiculous sweeping generalizations about the ECAC! The ECAC lost 3 games, now they should be banned from the tournament?
You can't say "Yale barely beat #16 seed AFA" this year when last yr Denver lost to #16 RIT. Last yr, Yale eliminated UND, too. And the WHCA did NOT win a title last yr. Was the WHCA not the greatest conference in the known universe last year, too?
Or only this year?
Bottom line, you have to execute. UMD did. Yale did not. Yale had their chances – they outshot UMD 15-7 in the first period and at one point had a 5-3 PP. If Yale scores one or two in the first period, they control the game. Didn't happen, so they were sent packing. Fair enough.
If Yale's win over CC was during the "meaningless early season", then why does it bother you so much that Yale was ranked #1 during that same period? Surely, early season rankings are even completely insignificant for a sport that has a national tournament.
- Sri the rear
You know little about college hockey. Take off your Yale glasses and just watch the WCHA teams year after year. Almost every year they have the toughest schedule from top to bottom. It is not uncommon to see the WCHA strength of schedule for the teams be top over all other teams. Yale schedule is weak and they only have to play about 4-5 god teams all year. Look how long it takes them just to have enough games for the TUC.
- really??
It's no shock Yale gave up after the 5 minute major. Never seen a coach blame a loss on one call. Get your team together, fight off the major and you have all the momentum you need. The fact that Yale's coach blames the loss on the reffing makes him a bad coach. UMD took 5 penaltys in the first period against Union, the nations top power play, and they could have givin up too. But they didn't and that's the difference between a well coached team and a poorly coached team. And to have a coach not shake hands at the end of the game is classless…A classless act from a classy school. Time for Yale to get a new coach
- BMCross
Let the players decide the game. The refs had too much of an impact. As is the case in any sport, the less visible the refs are, the better.
- Mvhockey
The officiating has been awful in this years tournament. The Michigan "no goal"in OT. The head contact and the goalie contact in the Yale game. Several bad calls in the Merrimack-ND game. Yale was screwed!
- siouxsie sioux
I'm no fan of Yale, but they lost by two goals–which is how many were scored during the major. Nobody can say how this game would have turned out otherwise, but to pretend that Yale didn't get robbed is biased nonsense. They dominated the rest of the game, even without O'Neill, and it's just too bad we didn't get to see them tested for real. No team wants to go out like this, and no team should.
- hockey fan
Probably The Best Short And Sweet Response On This Site.!
- VermontfaninNY
It would be a quality argument to say that Yale had a weak schedule or that ECAC was a weaker conference if ECAC and Hockey East didn't go .500 against each other. But they did.
And ECAC hockey had a better record against WCHA this year I might add. Never mind that UNH is the only team from the east still in the tournament.
But who likes the facts?
- firstname.lastname@example.com
OK, the score was 3-1 when he was booted. A 2 goal margin. Apparently, Yale played better after he was booted because it was 2-2 after that. I totally agree it was a bogus, pansy call. If Yale had built a 2 goal lead with their star player in the game, they would be enjoying a 2 goal victory and a spot in the FF. Instead, they lost to the 4th place team from the WCHA.
- Yale_Eli
If Yale or any team from their conference wants to be battle-tested, then play a schedule like that from the WCHA, HEA or the CCHA.
- Yale '09
I attended every Yale home game this year, and was pleased to see Yale skating well in Bridgeport last night. While the O'Neill major was a bad call, I think we are giving too little credit to UMD for capitalizing with two goals on the major. When you are up 3-1 it is easy to sit on the lead – UMD did a great job extending the lead.
Yale fans are not facing the fact that Rondeau wasn't at his best. He was a great goalie for the team all year (including excellent work Friday night against Air Force), but he was sluggish last night. The third goal made this clear – the shot was from an extreme angle, almost parallel to the crease. All goalies know that you have to stand tall when defending against that kind of shot, since the most dangerous hole is over the shoulder. Rondeau was slow to get into position, the attacker saw the opening, and to his credit he took the shot rather than make a pass.
I also think that the critics are right – our non-conference schedule is too short and not challenging enough. A battle-tested team would have regrouped after the bad call, shut down the power play, and lived to fight in the third period only down two. The game ended at the O'Neill call because we believed that the game was over.
I am proud that we regrouped to play a strong third period, and did not fight out of frustration at the end. It was a classy third period, but you have to play for 60 minutes. UMD did that, so they deserved the win.
All of that said – Yale is developing an exciting style of hockey, and this loss does not undermine the progress of the past few years. This was our third consecutive year in the tournament – we are not one of the great hockey programs, but we are up-and-coming.
History matters, so North Dakota, Boston College, and the like will continue to be favored to win the championship, and it would be wrong to say that the ECAC is as good as other conferences. Nevertheless, the other conferences ought to be pleased that something is brewing in the ECAC. A stronger ECAC means better national competition and a more appealing sport overall.
Finally, I would like to thank Broc Little, Denny Kearney, Chris Cahill, Ryan Rondeau, Captain Martin, and the rest of the Yale senior class. It's been an exciting ride, boys. The Yale style will outlast your careers, and I trust that next year you will join me in the stands where, with a little luck, we'll make the Frozen Four.
Best of luck, UMD. Beat North Dakota!
- WoogLips4Ever
Classy response from a knowledgeable fan! Wish my dogs would win, but I think UND can't be stopped unless they stop themselves.
- Guest
I can't believe nobody's talking about the fact the O'Niel probably should've gotten 5 and a game for his earlier hit on Faulk (he was only assessed 2). It was an elbow to the head, clear as day. The refs gave him the benefit of the doubt on the first one.
Also, like in any hockey game there were questionable calls and non-calls that went against UMD. Yale was an undisciplined team and their opponent was not. I'm still trying to understand how the one call had an effect on the game when Yale didn't generate anything 5 on 5 anyway.
Very disappointing to see the Yale coaches not shake hands after the game. Total lack of class! Even more classless than blaming the refs for losing. The truth is that Allian can't prepare his teams for the big one….i.e. World Juniors. Allian is not at the level of Sandelin, Hackstol, Gwozdecky, Berenson, etc, and his team is good but not at the level of the UMD, Nodak, DU, Michigan, etc.
- Elephant in the room
I think that it's amazing that a bunch of kids getting Yale degrees are even in the running for the Frozen Four. Yale overrated because of its weak schedule? Frankly, million times easier to put a championship squad together with the admission standards of any of the other schools.
- Orleanshomes
I don't think many people considered them "in the running".
- bunnylaroque
The ultimate indictment of the game the referees called is the amount of time, energy and ink that has been spent by those who watched the game. The call on Cahill (goalie interference)and the call on O'Neill were brutal. That said, UMD was the better team and deserved to advance.
- A real college hockey fan!
How can everyone say the better team won??? Look at the 1st and 3rd period when the game was played more at even strength than on special teams, which the refs dictated. Yale dominated on shots and offense play, oh yeah, and outscored UMD 2 to1.
NO one can say the better team won….the refs changed the entire game, and it wasnt just the O'Neill hit. There was very questionable calls the entire game, and mostly against Yale. I didn't see UMD's coach arguing any calls against them because there were no real questionable ones, they were clear as day!
And to call yale classless is a joke……show me a University with more class! they care about the student-athlete, not the athlete-student. 99% of the div. 1 college hockey players in the US could not even get into Yale! Thats because they put school before their sports programs. How many Presidents went to any CCHA, WCHA, or Hockey East schools? I guarantee combined less than Yale alone!
Hey Minnesota and North Dakota, that includes your current governors!
- guest
99% cannot get into Yale? Is that why so many players at Yale are Canadian?
Trust me, its not hard to get into an Ivy League school if you're a good hockey player and come from a suburb with good schools. I see it here all the time in the Twin Cities. In fact, there are a couple schools that basically are feeder programs for Harvard and Dartmouth.
Yale had no business being the #1 seed
- FauxRealism
If Yale had no business being the #1 seed, then I presume Miami and BC also shouldn't have been regional tops seeds?
The fact is this: SOME metric has to be used to rank teams. The current system is PairWise. If you don't like it, write the NCAA or your congressman.
A lot of people prefer the Krach ranking (or whatever it's called). That system would not have changed the top 4 teams (4 regional # 1 seeds), and Yale still would have gotten to play in the East Regional.
Last year when #1 Denver was upset by a #16 seed, and Yale eliminated NoDak, were you all screaming on the that the system was broken?
- Orleanshomes
The third period was dominated by UMD penalties. You don't here them whining about it. And yes, the better team won. All Yales goals were on the power play. UMD had 3pp goals,1 at even strength and 1 shorthanded. Even strength was hardly dominated by Yale.
- WoogLips4Ever
BTW, the Governor of MN you are referring to is just as terrible as the Yalie presidents (and Senators/Congressman) who have pounded this country into a the ground like a tentpeg. Classsy! Like stealing Geronimo's bones from his grave to keep as a trophy….Classsy!
- CoolhandLuke
For all you Yale fans, the article sounds a lot like my three-month old son–"waaaaa waaaaaaa waaaaaaaa sniffle sniffle waaaaaa waaaaaaaaaaaaaa waaaaaaa"
- Dwvandy
Wow. Author—- What game were watching…. Once Yale was down by 2, they became frustrated and very chippy…. And the video? If that was not a head shot, what is. Sour grapes by Yale players, staff, and eastern biased media. UMD took it to Yale, played with poise and stifling team defense.
- spwood
I watched the game and I noticed something that hasn't been mentioned. While I agree the hit wasn't to the head, they did show a shot of the UMD player on the bench with a definite mark on his forehead. If you watch the replay, they did butt heads. Maybe it was that contact the official saw. Yale was in trouble long before that call and they let the call make things worse……. And I do not "have a horse in the race," I am a casual North Dakota fan and a Div III fan…
- Dwvandy
Geeze, you usually have to go to a Vancouver Canuck's blog site after they are knocked out of the NHL playoffs to see the level of bitterness displayed by Yale fans, players, and staff.
Your team was beaten rather handily by a better team, that played with more control, more poise, and frankly more class that you apparently care to admit. Once Yale was down by 2, it clearly appeared that frustration had set in… and therein they lost any poise they had… UMD is a very good team and has been ranked high all year, for good reason. And they took advantage of a situation that presented itself. The call on the head hit was legit (assuming you know, or have played hockey). The WCHA is a tough league with a grinding schedule, week in and out. In a one shot game at this level, these are the sort of things that decide games, like it or not. Now, on to the Frozen 4…. ND would have to be the clear odds on favorite… I hope they skate the Wolverines off the ice… If UMD advances as they can and should, don't think they can't take out ND in a one game winner take all game with the goaltending and team defense they showed last weekend. Here's hoping for a great tournament.
- Dwvandy
Yale coaching staff not shaking hands with the opposition following the game? Classless. So THAT is the Ivy League… You'd think with the "high admissions standards" being touted in this forum that manners, good sportsmanship, and in simple midwestern terms, "manning up" would have come into play. What did the UMD staff and team do to warrant this childish gesture? Very childish and low class. Allain and his staff should be embarrassed.
- Evhockeyguy21
Ask Dean Blais what he did after his team actually got robbed by the refs against Michigan. "We had other opportunities to win the game. You cant blame it on one play." Allain should learn something from Blais. Just like he shouldve when he got to coach the USA 2011 WJC team. He didnt want notes from Blais then and Canada squashed us. Thats why Blais is the coach again in 2012 and its why hes the best coach in college hockey.
- easterner
Not shaking hands is no good; probably the most disrespectful thing in sports. UMD didn't make the calls, the refs did. UMD was diligent, hard-working, and humble. They deserved to win. A bit of a black-eye for Yale.
- easterner
Yale outplayed UND in the first, UND outplayed Yale in the second and took the game over. Sullivan's article has been misconstrued. He's saying that Yale has been playing undisciplined hockey all season and has gotten away with it. I don't think he is saying Yale would have won had the O'Neill call not been made. Nonetheless, it was a terrible call; it should not have even been a penalty. Penalties are indicitive of the way a game is going. The less penalized team is typically on their game and controlling the play. I think that was the case here. UND took the game over and Yale was chasing and running around. End result is penalties – guys either out of position, scrambling, or trying to make a game-changing hit to alter momentum.
Instant replay would greatly help here where "intent" is an issue. How can intent be determined with the speed of the game – 10 guys on the ice flying around and the ref only has the aftermath to look at to determine intent. It's impossible to determine intent without knowing how things unfold (precognition?). I am all for protecting players, but this "intent" system needs to be changed.
- Evhockeyguy21
you mean UMD…
- easterner
Yes, i apologize, my mistake – UMD, not UND.
- Dwvandy
Yalies: Explain me this… Brian O'Neill leaves the game…requires several stitches for a deep gash above his eye, and there was no "head contact"? Hendrickson's head also had a mark on it, clearly shown on the bench following the play. As far as O'Neill goes…
1. Watch his feet…. Charging.
2. The puck was gone….Interference.
3. There was head to head contact….thus ejection. If you do not want to go that route… with that many full speed steps, I'd call it intent to injure….thus an ejection anyway.
Let's put this to rest. Your season has ended.
- Evhockeyguy21
If O'Neill puts his shoulder into Hendrickson's chest, doesnt follow through with his hands and doesnt take 20 steps its a clean hit. If Hendrickson had done the same exact hit and knocked O'Neill out of the game you Yale fans would be calling for Hendrickson's head. The "best team in the nation" couldnt overcome the loss of one player. I think UND was 7-0-1 w/o Genoway this year. They went on a 13 game win streak when Kristo was injured and won the Final 5 w/o Gregoire, Rowney and Rodwell. Great teams overcome adversity. Yale was obviously not a great team and benefited from playing thee 44th hardest schedule in the nation.
- guest
Yale didnt outskate UMD at any time during the game They came out with a lot of energy, but they were clearly outmatched. They were down 3-1 when the penalty happened. Sure, it was 5-1 after the two PP goals, but Yale could not keep up for the most part. Yale had 8 power play chances..So, it is not like they didnt have a chance to rack up some points. They just didnt have the horses to do it. Yale had more shots on goal too, but were not able to skate into position to get quality shots. Yale was just outmatched and lost to UMD…again.
- hockey fan
Coming from a person who thought yale scored on a 5 on 3..that was umd.. obviously you watched a different game than i did..or your like the rest of the people that write comments.you go by word of mouth.. I was there.Maybe your television set needs to be upgraded.Yale had more shots on goal because they pushed the puck up the ice which blows out your (theory) that they couldnt keep up with umd..they had quality shots too.umd had a better goalie that night.clearly.. You people seem to have a problem with an ivy league school that doesnt give athletic scholarships and has such a good hockey program.i listened to all this last year. and by the way..last year yale beat north dakota (WCHA) and then scored 7 goals on the eventual champions-boston college(hockey east) which was more goals than all other tournament teams that played boston college combined,and they did that without their best player (sean backman) who was out with a broken foot.they deserve far more credit than there getting.and to all you WCHA fans who think that league is so superior than the rest of the country…WHO WON THE LAST 3 CHAMPIONSHIPS..HOCKEY EAST. Have a nice day!
- fishinwilly
Has anyone ever seen this many comments,opinions over a college hockey game? 278 comments at this time WOW. USCHO is the biggest winner here. I bet they write a few more Biased articles before the big dance? Who needs Facebook or Twitter? Just trying to figure out what I am going to do till the frozen four?
- Anonymous
You should have labeled yourself "Yale hockey fan." Six of the seven calls against Yale were horrible calls. That's a pretty good percentage. Your officiating credential are??? O'Neill needed stitches in the head after the hit why??? The UMD kid had a concussion why??? Yale got away with a five minute major five minutes before that hit why??? I have to wonder WHEN you became a hockey fan.
- Hockey Fan
I Guess You Missed The 1st Period When Minnesota Got away With a Hook,A Trip,and a Elbow To The Face Right in Front of Where I was sitting..isnt that head contact.i guess not if minnesota does. That Was Just The 1st Period.As For Your so called 5 min major yale got away with,its funny noone else in that building including minnesota fans sitting near me and the guys announcing the game seen that one! All the reporters and the announcers said after reviewing that oneil hit,that it was a CLEAN HIT.
- Anonymous
Let's see – the refs are always wrong, the announcers are always right. Here's what Hendrickson had to say about the hit:
"It was a straight hit to the head. It may have gotten some of my body, but it was a hit to the head," said Hendrickson. "I was in a situation where I was vulnerable, and he took advantage of that and hit me up high, head on.
"My head was hurting and I was going to stay on the ice until I talked with the trainer and got my bearings."
The mid-ice hit, near the UMD bench, followed a faceoff; O'Neill curved back toward Hendrickson to make the hit. He had put an elbow into UMD defenseman Justin Faulk eight minutes earlier that some observers thought could have been a major penalty.
It's interesting all you have to say about the hit was that the announcers said it was a clean hit. I guess if I were a Yale fan, I'd believe the announcers before I'd believe the refs or the kid that got hit.
The other hit was eight minutes earlier by O'Neil against Faulk. But, of course, that didn't happen either. O'Neil just rode away on his white horse and returned the scarf to his lady fair. Oh, I forgot. None of the penalties against Yale, including those throughout the regular season, were legit.
And by the way – you have a classless coach.
- Hockey Fan
A classless coach..Because he said look at the video and decide for yourself..Of course the player Is gonna say it was a head hit.Why wouldn't he.I Was in a Vulnerable Situation.What Kind Response Is That.The Moment A Hockey Player Steps On The Ice,He's Vunerable.This Is Hockey.Its A Tough Sport.Maybe He Should Tryout For Pollo!
- Anonymous
I believe that A-Pollo.
- Hockey Fan
LOL…A-Pollo..Good One…ill Give You That..You Forgot The S In Thats
- GoDawgs
I'm a UMD fan, but i don't agree with that call. It was a hard hit, but a LEGAL hit in my opinion. Head wasn't targeted, arms were down by his (O'Neill's) chest…a clean hit. I don't like that he was ejected, but I still think UMD was just a better team that day. Even without the goal they scored on the 5-min PP they still would have won 4-3.
- 1980
UMD outplayed Yale. UMD is better. If they played 10 time, UMD would win the majority (maybe by a lot). This report is extremely biased for one of the few outlets that covers college hockey. Final point, the Yale coach is a classless whiner. Never once did he give UMD credit in his press conference.