Where: Sidney J. Watson Arena Brunswick, ME
When: 7 PM Wednesday 3/6/13
Video / Audio: Video Live Stats
Overall Stats (National Rank) Statistical Leaders
Offense: 3.00 G/GM (41) Dave Mcdonald (F, Sr) (12-12-24)Defense: 2.81 G/GM (29) Phil Broner (F, Sr.) (15-6-21)
Power Play: 19/101-18.81% (39) Shaun Walters (F, So.) (8-11-19
Penalty Kill: 80/98 - 81.6% (31) Ryan Williams (G, Sr. ) 2.48 GAA
Offense: 4.30 G/GM (5) Ollie Koo (D/F, Jr.) (15-17-32)
Defense: 2.58 G/GM (22) Dan Weiniger (F, Sr.) (17-12-29)
Power Play: 32/120 - 26.67% (7) Harry Matheson (F, Jr.) (12-16-28)
Penalty Kill: 111/135 - 80.8% (27) Max Fenkell (G, So) 2.03 GAA
The Lowdown: The Road to Utica...
The Bowdoin College Polar Bears won the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) qualifying tournament to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA D-III men's ice hockey tournament. The first seed Polar Bears overcame a 3-2 third period deficit against eighth seed Hamilton to win the quarterfinal round and earned the right to host the semifinals and finals the following weekend. In the semis against Middlebury and finals against Williams, the Polar Bears took 2-0 first period leads and never trailed in either contest. After having their 2011 'CAC crown vacated due to a hazing incident, it was the first official NESCAC men's hockey title for Bowdoin.
The UMass-Dartmouth Corsairs won the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) qualifying tournament to earn an automatic bid to the tourney. The Corsairs made a late season push, going (3-0-3) in their final six games to take the second seed and earn the right to host a semifinal game in the MASCAC tournament. John Rolli's squad beat Salem State, 4-3, in triple OT in their ninth overtime game of the season, to go on to play defending champion Plymouth State in the finals. The Corsairs beat the Panthers for their first ever MASCAC title in their fourth year in the conference.
This is the fifth NCAA men's hockey tournament appearance for Bowdoin and the fourth for UMD with neither making it to the frozen four. Bowdoin has fallen in the quarterfinal round all three times this century (2000,2010,2011). In their most recent trip in 2011, they beat Neumann at The Sid in the first round before traveling to Oswego, where they lost in a 7-5 shootout to the Lakers. For the Corsairs, they made three consecutive tournaments in 2006-08, losing to NESCAC schools all three times; Middlebury in the quarters in 2006 and first round in 2007, and Trinity in the first round in 2008.
Both teams are set at the coaching position. Bowdoin' Terry Meagher has 497 wins and is in his 30th year at Bowdoin, while John Rolli has 557 wins and is in his 29th year at UMASS-Dartmouth (formerly Southeastern Mass.). Combined, they have 1,054 wins and nearly six decades of coaching experience.
The winner of this game heads to Utica, NY for the dreaded quarterfinal round neither school has advanced past. Their host will be the Utica Pioneers (20-5-1) of the mighty ECAC-West. The Pioneers are coached by Hamilton alum Gary Heenan.
Key to the game: Get out in front early...duh
It seems like a fairly obvious thing to say, but cliches are often true, especially in sports. As well as Bowdoin played this past weekend, it is easy to forget that they were losing to Hamilton 3-2 in the third period in the NESCAC quarterfinals. Granted Bowdoin was outplaying and out-shooting Hamilton and it seemed like the win was inevitable for Meagher's men; but if it weren't for the Conts switch to the third line in a defensive zone draw on the tying goal or a mishandling by their goaltender on the go ahead goal for the Polar Bears, Bowdoin might not even be here.
If the boys from Brunswick want to find themselves at the 4,000 seat Utica Auditorium on Saturday, they should follow up on the first period leads they took against Middlebury and Williams. And you certainly don't want to let UMD hang around and go to OT against a Corsairs team that is undefeated in extra frame contests (2-0-7).
For the Corsairs, playing from behind is not the place you want to be on the road as an underdog in the NCAA tournament. Sure they came from behind in both their conference tournament games, but you can only play with fire so many times before you get burned (it's a cliche themed preview). If UMD wants to head to upstate New York, they need to get an early lead and ride their hot goaltender, Ryan Williams (G, Sr. ).
Players to watch (besides the goalies...that's too easy)
Stephen Ginand (D, So) (from Mark Ogle of the UMD Torch) "He deserves as much credit as anybody for the team's wild ride through the post-season. Ginand scored the game-winning goal in the 2-1 win over Plymouth State in the MASCAC Championship game. He also scored 2 goals in the team's improbable 5-4 triple-overtime win over Salem State in the semi-finals. All the while he has played solid defense, making him an indispensable player for the Corsairs."
Ollie Koo (D/F, Jr.) Koo leads the team in points, and had three big ones (1-2-3) this past weekend. Talking to USCHO's Tim Costello, Coach Meagher said that he is "especially" proud of Koo and that the junior has "taken his game to the next level this season."
Additional Reading
NCAA game at Bowdoin #UMDhockey #roadwarriors
— Phil Bronner (@PhillyLips) March 6, 2013
#Gameday #calmconfidence #NCAAtourneytimeNot that you need any more reason to get pumped up for the NCAA tournament, but here's "Requiem for a Tower," the intro song for the Bowdoin Polar Bear men's hockey team when they hit the ice.
— Erik Bertin (@Berts_33) March 6, 2013
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