Futile Four Final From Schenectady

Bob Gray · 04-16-2001, 09:49 PM

Bemidji State and Holy Cross are warming up and it won't be long now until the puck is dropped in the second annual Futile Four final. It's shaping up to be a classic east vs. west matchup as the CHA champion Beavers takes on the MAAC runnerup Crusaders. The Beavers come in as a slight favorite to capture the championship.

Bob Gray · 04-16-2001, 10:31 PM

It's now late in the first period and there are a pair of goose eggs on the scoreboard. Holy Cross has taken several penalties but the Beavers failed to convert. Shots on goal favor Bemidji State 10 to 4 so far.

Bob Gray · 04-16-2001, 11:03 PM

We're now midway through the second period and it looks to be a close one. Holy Cross took a too many men on the ice penalty and Bemidji State converted on the power play at 8:14 on a tip in by Miika Lindholm. Bemidji State leads 1-0.

Bob Gray · 04-16-2001, 11:33 PM

Just starting the third period and the Beavers are still clinging to a 1-0 lead. Shots on goal are now Bemidji State 23 Holy Cross 17. The Crusaders are now going on the power play thanks to a crosschecking call on Bemidji State.

Bob Gray · 04-16-2001, 11:48 PM

There's now about 7 minutes left and we're tied 1-1. The Crusaders' leading scorer, Brandon Doria, scored the tying goal for the Crusaders at 11:52 of the third period. Loks like this one could go either way. The game opened up a bit with some decent end to end rushes.

Bob Gray · 04-17-2001, 12:02 AM

Holy Cross hit the crossbar just seconds ago and then on the trip back down the ice Bemidji State struck back to take a 2-1 lead with about 3 minutes to go compliments of a goal by Jeff McGill. Still some time left, but you have to ask yourself if this could be the Crusaders' year?

Bob Gray · 04-17-2001, 12:08 AM

Just 1:27 to go and the Beavers have iced the puck. Holy Cross has pulled their goaltender, so it should be a wild last minute and a half.

The ESPN5 announcers have been struggling all game, even to the point of occasionally referring to the Beavers as Boston State and to the Crusaders as Hockey Cross. It seems ESPN couldn't find a hockey crew, so they sent their second string bocce ball crew to cover the game. Needless to say the Bottom Ten Tournament Committee is not happy with the coverage and will undoubtedly have words with ESPN at the first opportunity.

JohnN · 04-17-2001, 12:12 AM

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!

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Bob Gray · 04-17-2001, 12:12 AM

Holy Cross is really applying the pressure, but Grady Hunt has been up to the challenge so far for the Beavers in these final minutes. However, the Beavers haven't been able to clear the puck and their five skaters are dog tired as the clock ticks past 20 seconds to go. They just have to hang on a few more seconds ...

JohnN · 04-17-2001, 12:15 AM

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!

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John

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Bob Gray · 04-17-2001, 12:18 AM

Doria feeds Kealey in the slot and he lets it fly towards the goal. The shot hit a body in front of the goal and a Beaver swats at it wildly, sending against the boards, but not out. Irving flings it towards the goal again but it goes wide and Mark Phenow clears the puck as the horn sounds, ending the game! The Beavers have won 2-1!

Holy Cross takes the Bottom Ten post season tournament! In combination with the regular season championship taken by Bentley, the MAAC has swept this year's hardware!

JohnN · 04-17-2001, 12:20 AM

Thank God!!!

Army finally gives up the crown!!!!!!

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Bob Gray · 04-17-2001, 12:21 AM

After the customary postgame handshake the Bottom Ten Tournament Chairman presented the runnerup trophy to Bemidji State. He is now handing the championship trophy to the Holy Cross Crusaders who dethrone the Army Cadets as Bottom Ten postseason tourney champs.

Bob Gray · 04-17-2001, 12:26 AM

The Bottom Ten Tournament Committee wishes to thank all the hockey teams that have made this postseason tournament such a success as well as the regional hosts and the fine city of Schenectady for its gracious hosting of the Futile Four. And so ends another great season of college hockey.

And of course, watch for the complete preseason Bottom Ten poll early next fall.

RSTuthill · 04-17-2001, 11:02 AM

Well done, Bob.

We MAAC fans will be eagerly awaiting next year's champion to assure ourselves that you are spreading the wealth a little more evenly than to date, however.

Spaceman · 04-17-2001, 11:20 AM

Thanks Bob.

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Lord Sidious · 04-17-2001, 12:53 PM

Another great tourny, Bob. I was hoping the CCHA could take home the crown, maybe next year...

nanookfan · 04-18-2001, 01:56 AM

Bob,

On behalf of all of the fans of those "weaker" teams in Division I college hockey, I'd like to thank you and the Bottom-10 National Selection Committee for your efforts this season. The Futile Four was truly an enjoyable event, and was very exciting. I was hoping UAF might manage to pull it off this year, but alas, much like the Red Sox, we'll have to wait till next year!

As for the Hubey Blunder Trophy (the much more prestigious trophy than that other trophy given by that other tournament), for the first time it went not to a player or a coach of one of the teams. This year's Hubey Blunder Trophy was awarded to Rich Ensor, the MAAC commissioner for his handling of the Findlay incident just before the season began.

Congrats to the teams, and look forward to seeing the preseason poll.

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Let's Go 'Nooks!