LOCATION: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
1st TIME HOSTING? Yes... the former (since demolished) Spectrum, which was across the parking lot until late 2010, never hosted the NCAA's premier hockey tournament!
SOUNDS OF THE GAME: John Buccigross & Barry Melrose on ESPN; as for the background music, that, unlike my visit to Albany, N.Y. for Union-RPI in late January, was approximately 1/2 Minnesota/Union bands, & 1/2 Wells Fargo Center producers with all the pre-recorded playlists... Certainly provides the bands a break from having to play during every play stoppage/intermission!
ODDITIES: Minnesota fans were all over social media, bashing what they alleged to be Barry Melrose's bias against their team... On a more personal note, this certainly wasn't the same Union team I saw face crosstown rival RPI up in Albany, N.Y. back in late January!
RPI REPRESENTATION: by athletic director Jim Knowlton, whose presence was acknowledged by Philadelphia Flyers/2014 Frozen Four P.A. announcer Lou Nolan after Union clinched its 1st ever D1 championship!
RPI REPRESENTATION: by athletic director Jim Knowlton, whose presence was acknowledged by Philadelphia Flyers/2014 Frozen Four P.A. announcer Lou Nolan after Union clinched its 1st ever D1 championship!
KUDOS: (& I don't usually give anything from Philadelphia "kudos") to the Philadelphia Flyers for "loaning" 40+ year P.A. announcer Lou Nolan to the NCAA for these 3 games! Also, to ESPN/ESPN2 for bringing back the network's original National Hockey Night theme, which played throughout every ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 NHL telecast throughout the 1980s, 90s, & up until the 2004-5 lockout that canceled that entire season & ended the NHL/ABC-ESPN T.V. deal!
ANTI-KUDOS: to the Wells Fargo Center producers, for only playing the Rocky theme once during all 3 games!
1ST PERIOD SUMMARY:
the record-setting score after 1 period... not since 1963 had this happened previously!
...see what I mean?
...the shots were equally numerous!
There were surprisingly few penalties for such a hectic 1st period, but knowing the tendency for games to "settle down" after seeing something like this 1st period happen, I think there will be more penalties upcoming!
Despite having a few opportunities, neither team was able to convert on any of its man advantage opportunities!
2ND PERIOD SUMMARY:
the score after 2 periods...
...which was not nearly as record-setting as the 6-goal 1st period!
Minnesota almost completely recovered its shots disadvantage in the period, & it showed on the scoreboard!
In contrast to the 1st period, it seemed as if there were too many penalties for the much slower-paced 2nd period!
3RD PERIOD/2013-14 NCAA SEASON SUMMARY:
After taking control in the 3rd period, Union College has made history, winning its 1st-ever NCAA hockey championship, in the city known for its pro hockey!
Much like the 1st period, Union had 2 more goals than Minnesota, & the last 2 goals were especially crucial, considering Union pushed its lead from 1 goal to 3, effectively clinching the championship a few minutes early!
After almost completely surrendering its shot advantage in the 2nd period, Union more than doubled up Minnesota in the 3rd period, allowing it to pull away on the scoreboard!
Minnesota did itself in, to an extent, with all those penalties...
...yet, it was Minnesota getting the only successful power play goal of the game, looking to cut into the then-2-goal Union lead, before Union pulled away & made history!
THOUGHTS: After seeing Union in late January 2013, when it was barely in the top 20-25 overall after making a surprise run to the 2012 Frozen Four in Tampa, FL, I knew back then they were going places... When the program made it to the top 3 a year later, for its 2nd neutral site rivalry game against RPI, I figured the program would have its best chance in its entire Division I history, & sure enough, that just happened in front of a few thousand people in Philadelphia & nationally televised on ESPN!
Isn't it truly fitting that the only member of this Union team who was drafted into the NHL won the championship in the building in which he'll be playing the majority of his NHL games? That's right, people; Union junior D-man Shayne Gostisbehere will start his NHL career with the Philadelphia Flyers!
EAST: Dunkin' Donuts Center - Providence, RI
NORTHEAST: Verizon Wireless Arena - Manchester, NH
MIDWEST: Compton Family Ice Arena - South Bend, IN
WEST: Scheels Arena - Fargo, ND
...with the national semis & final to be held @ the TD Garden in downtown Boston!
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