March 17, 2007
ECACHL Finals
Knight Revival Completes Title
Clarkson's four-goal third period delivers ECACHL crown

Clarkson 4, Quinnipiac 2
Team Goal Str
Time Assists
First Period
1-QU Jean-Marc Beaudoin (8) EV
0:32 Unassisted
2-QU Bryan Leitch (12) PP
19:54 J. Bates, B. Nelson

Second Period

No scoring

Third Period
1-CLK Chris D'Alvise (16) EV
1:43 S. Guthrie
2-CLK Philippe Paquet (3) EV
12:30 S. Zalewski, S. Weller
3-CLK Brodie Rutherglen (8) EV
13:20 C. D'Alvise, S. Guthrie
4-CLK Shawn Weller (19) EN
19:04 C. D'Alvise
Goaltending
QU: Bud Fisher, 58:53, 26 saves, 3 GA
CLK: David Leggio, 60:00, 23 saves, 2 GA
Penalties: QU 6/12; CLK 6/12
Power Plays: QU 1-6; CLK 0-6
Attendance: 5,565
All-Tournament Team
G: Bud Fisher, Quinnipiac
D: Reid Cashman, Quinnipiac
D: Philippe Paquet, Clarkson
F: Chris D'Alvise, Clarkson (Most Outstanding Player)
F: Ben Nelson, Quinnipiac
F: Shawn Weller, Clarkson

Nick Dodge, who entered the ECAC Hockey League championship game as Clarkson's leading scorer, was surprisingly absent from the scoresheet as the Golden Knights captured their fifth league playoff title Saturday night.

But that's not to say the captain didn't make an impact.

"Our leader, Nick Dodge, took everyone in the locker room and brought us together," Weller said of the second intermission, when Clarkson trailed Quinnipiac, 2-0. "He said we've done it before, and we'll do it again. He got us prepared to do it."

The Golden Knights responded, scoring 1:43 into the third period and twice more approximately 11 and 12 minutes later to erase Quinnipiac's lead and secure their first league playoff championship since 1999. Already assured of an NCAA Tournament bid, Clarkson will be making its first appearance in the national tourney since that season.

Quinnipiac goaltender Bud Fisher, brilliant through two periods, succumbed in the third while facing 15 Golden Knight shots. The loss ended an impressive playoff run for the Bobcats, who finish the season 21-14-5 and reached the ECACHL championship game for the first time.

For two periods, it appeared that the Bobcats would leave with their first ECACHL title. They jumped to a 1-0 lead on Jean-Marc Beaudoin's unassisted goal just 32 seconds into the game and added a second goal in the final six seconds of the period. Meanwhile, Fisher was steady and Quinnipiac's defense and forwards limited Clarkson to just six shots on goal, despite four Golden Knight power plays.

A scoreless second set up what could have been a frustrating final 20 minutes for the Clarkson-heavy crowd at Times Union Center in Albany. Instead, Dodge's inspiration helped turn things around.

Clarkson's first two goals resulted from aggressive moves behind the net. On the first, Shea Guthrie’s wraparound was denied by Fisher before Chris D’Alvise punched home the rebound.

Philippe Paquet took advantage of a centering pass from Shawn Weller from behind the net at 12:30 of the third, tying the score and setting off a wild celebration.

Momentum properly seized, the Golden Knights scored again 50 seconds later, as D'Alvise made a nice move to the middle off the ice, then got a pass off to Brodie Rutherglen while being knocked to the ice.

Weller sealed the win with an empty-net goal with just 56 seconds remaining.

ST. LAWRENCE REBOUNDS WITH WIN

St. Lawrence 5, Dartmouth 3
Team Goal Str
Time Assists
First Period
1-D Nick Johnson (14) EV
19:36 D. Jones

Second Period

2-D T.J. Galiardi (14) PP
2:05 N. Johnson
1-SLU Kevin DeVergilio (9) EV
6:47 M. Generous, D. Keller
2-SLU Mike McKenzie (11) EV
7:33 D. Bagnall, K. Rank
3-D J.T. Wyman (13) EV
10:54 T.J. Galiardi, B. Lovejoy
3-SLU Jeremiah Cunningham (7) EV
12:20 M. Wallmann
Third Period
4-SLU Mike McKenzie (12) EV
11:27 D. Bagnall, A. Sandrzyk
5-SLU Max Taylor (13) EN
19:52 A. Curran
Goaltending
D: Mike Devine, 58:49, 37 saves, 4 GA
SLU: Alex Petizian, 59:55, 24 saves, 3 GA
Penalties: D 3/6; SLU 2/4
Power Plays: DC 1-2; SLU 0-3
Attendance: 5,565

Mike McKenzie scored two goals as St. Lawrence beat Dartmouth 5-3 in the ECAC Hockey League third-place game on Friday evening, essentially locking up a spot in the 2007 NCAA Tournament for the Saints.

The Saints improve to 23-13-2, while Dartmouth, which also entertained NCAA hopes with a win and help from other teams later in the day, finishes its season 18-12-3.

The Big Green claimed a 2-0 lead on a late first-period goal and another at 2:05 of the second, with Nick Johnson compiling a goal and an assist in the process.

The Saints battled back from the 2-0 deficit to tie the score on goals from Kevin DeVergilio and McKenzie within 46 seconds in the second period.

J.T. Wyman gave Dartmouth the lead back, but St. Lawrence answered and took the lead for good on McKenzie’s second goal of the night at 11:27 of the third period.

“This was a very emotional game for our guys,” said Saint coach Joe Marsh. “It is hard to explain because we have never been in a consolation game since I have been here, but it was a game we knew we had to win if we wanted to keep playing. The big thing was to play hard and get the good feelings back and then hope to play some more tomorrow.

“This was a big response by us. We were as low as we’ve been all year after the semifinal loss, and that makes this response particularly impressive,” Marsh added.

INCH's Three Stars of the Weekend

3. Steve Zalewski, Clarkson
Had the winner Friday night and set up the game-tying goal on Saturday.

2. Bud Fisher, Quinnipiac
Fisher didn't allow a goal in his first five periods in Albany, and none that Clarkson got were cheap.

1. Chris D'Alvise, Clarkson
Clarkson's stable of forwards was impressive all night, but D'Alvise was the best in the decisive third period. He scored the Knights' first goal and assisted on the game-winner.

PLUSSES AND MINUSES

Philippe Paquet proved that the best frozen tundra in the world is a sheet of ice. After the Clarkson defenseman scored to tie the game 2-2, he did a Lambeau Leap impression, grabbing the top of the glass in front of the Clarkson faithful.

Rensselaer head coach Seth Appert took advantage of his proximity to Albany, bringing his entire team to see what they are shooting for next season.

The league unveiled its new brand and logo, a stronger look that breaks from the traditional oval used by the ECAC in other sports.

After two years of the "ECAC Hockey League", the league loses "League" with its new brand. It's not a bad idea, but just as we were used to writing "ECACHL," we've been told to drop the L. And spell out the H. Sigh.

Matt McConnell noted on CSTV that Clarkson's title may earn it a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and the chance to play a regional "close to Potsdam." But we checked; there's no Regional in Canton this year, and we're not aware of anything else that's close to Potsdam.

WHAT'S NEXT

Clarkson and St. Lawrence will play on, as the revival enjoyed in the North Country this season continues on the national stage.

Dartmouth and Quinnipiac both will miss the tournament, but served notice that they should be expected back in Albany soon. Only two of Dartmouth's top 10 scorers are seniors, while goaltender Mike Devine is a junior. Star defenseman Reid Cashman is the only regular expected to depart from Rand Pecknold's lineup.

Information from the participating schools' sports information departments was used in this report.