Trying to put words together this morning is not easy. I'm sitting in my hotel lobby in Newark, staring at a blank sheet of paper computer screen trying to figure out how to put the past two days in perspective.
Maybe it's the two days of lack of food, lousy coffee and running back and forth between two rinks that has my brain muddled. More likely, it's just an extension of the disappointing end to the Icers' season.
Let's face it - you all knew going in that it was not going to be easy getting past the opening round match up with Rhode Island. As I predicted, it turned out to be one of the best games of the tournament, with a full nod to last night's two overtime thriller between Delaware and Adrian (more on that later).
It was a classic Penn State - Rhody battle that came down to a couple of bad breaks and great goaltending at both ends of the ice. Paul Kenny and Mathew Madrazo were simply outstanding.
Midway through the second period, Kenny managed to get a piece of Mike Broccolo's shot after Mike undressed Rams defenseman Alan Dionne with an inside-out move (I hope Dionne found his cup before the Davenport game). But Kenny saved his best for the third period, robbing Chris Cerutti of the tying goal on a one-timer from Chris' traditional back door scoring location. The look of disbelief on Cerutti's face said it all.
For what it's worth, last night I finally got the chance to look at Paul Daley's shorthanded spinorama in the final seconds of the second period. Unfortunately, the video was inconclusive, but I still think the puck went in and out. Whether it did or not, the no-goal was a huge momentum changer.
Full credit to the boys, especially the seniors, for ending the season on a high note with a 3-1 win over a gritty Robert Morris Eagles squad, in what was essentially a meaningless game.
I couldn't be happier for Ted Hume. Big Teddy displayed the skills that had him finishing his four years at Penn State third on the all time win list for goalies with 60 W's.
I've been one of Ted's harshest critics at times, but it was a joy to watch him perform to near-perfection both last night and in his final game before the home fans.
Chris Pronchik and Marek Polidor worked their magic yesterday, using their speed and tenacity to open the scoring with another shorthanded goal. Marek's forechecking created the opportunity, his pinpoint pass found Chris in full flight and Pronny roofed it off the crossbar.
The duo almost repeated the feat with a role reversal later in the contest, but Chris' pass to a wide open Polidor was deflected by the Eagles defender.
As an old hockey player, I know full well that it's never easy when a season comes to an end. As I said on Sunday, perhaps it's the fact that Icers fans may have been spoiled by past successes and expect their team to make deep runs in the tournament.
But this is a different ACHA, with so much talent spread across so many teams. That's what makes the tournament so exciting. You need to look no further than the Delaware - Adrian thriller as an example of the level of competition in Division 1.
I missed most of the game while calling the Stony Brook - Canton finale, but I was there for the second overtime. Simply incredible watching two teams running on adrenaline before the Blue Hens fans blew the roof off the Rust Arena when Kevin Miller netted the game winner.
I'll leave it to my good friend Kyle Rossi to provide the details of the (pardon the cliche) instant classic. I honestly think that Kyle and his wife Jennifer spent as much time in the arenas over the past two days as Barb and I did.
Finally, Barb and I would like to thank everyone for your support and kind words throughout this season. As we have said both on the air and off, you all are the reason why we do what we do, and why we love what we do.
To the parents of the seniors, you will always be our friends, and we hope that we can keep in touch.
Even though I've got more hockey here in Delaware, I can't wait for the next season to begin.
Maybe it's the two days of lack of food, lousy coffee and running back and forth between two rinks that has my brain muddled. More likely, it's just an extension of the disappointing end to the Icers' season.
Let's face it - you all knew going in that it was not going to be easy getting past the opening round match up with Rhode Island. As I predicted, it turned out to be one of the best games of the tournament, with a full nod to last night's two overtime thriller between Delaware and Adrian (more on that later).
It was a classic Penn State - Rhody battle that came down to a couple of bad breaks and great goaltending at both ends of the ice. Paul Kenny and Mathew Madrazo were simply outstanding.
Midway through the second period, Kenny managed to get a piece of Mike Broccolo's shot after Mike undressed Rams defenseman Alan Dionne with an inside-out move (I hope Dionne found his cup before the Davenport game). But Kenny saved his best for the third period, robbing Chris Cerutti of the tying goal on a one-timer from Chris' traditional back door scoring location. The look of disbelief on Cerutti's face said it all.
For what it's worth, last night I finally got the chance to look at Paul Daley's shorthanded spinorama in the final seconds of the second period. Unfortunately, the video was inconclusive, but I still think the puck went in and out. Whether it did or not, the no-goal was a huge momentum changer.
Full credit to the boys, especially the seniors, for ending the season on a high note with a 3-1 win over a gritty Robert Morris Eagles squad, in what was essentially a meaningless game.
I couldn't be happier for Ted Hume. Big Teddy displayed the skills that had him finishing his four years at Penn State third on the all time win list for goalies with 60 W's.
I've been one of Ted's harshest critics at times, but it was a joy to watch him perform to near-perfection both last night and in his final game before the home fans.
Chris Pronchik and Marek Polidor worked their magic yesterday, using their speed and tenacity to open the scoring with another shorthanded goal. Marek's forechecking created the opportunity, his pinpoint pass found Chris in full flight and Pronny roofed it off the crossbar.
The duo almost repeated the feat with a role reversal later in the contest, but Chris' pass to a wide open Polidor was deflected by the Eagles defender.
As an old hockey player, I know full well that it's never easy when a season comes to an end. As I said on Sunday, perhaps it's the fact that Icers fans may have been spoiled by past successes and expect their team to make deep runs in the tournament.
But this is a different ACHA, with so much talent spread across so many teams. That's what makes the tournament so exciting. You need to look no further than the Delaware - Adrian thriller as an example of the level of competition in Division 1.
I missed most of the game while calling the Stony Brook - Canton finale, but I was there for the second overtime. Simply incredible watching two teams running on adrenaline before the Blue Hens fans blew the roof off the Rust Arena when Kevin Miller netted the game winner.
I'll leave it to my good friend Kyle Rossi to provide the details of the (pardon the cliche) instant classic. I honestly think that Kyle and his wife Jennifer spent as much time in the arenas over the past two days as Barb and I did.
Finally, Barb and I would like to thank everyone for your support and kind words throughout this season. As we have said both on the air and off, you all are the reason why we do what we do, and why we love what we do.
To the parents of the seniors, you will always be our friends, and we hope that we can keep in touch.
Even though I've got more hockey here in Delaware, I can't wait for the next season to begin.
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