March
21, 2004
NCAA Tournament
Northeast Regional Capsules | Manchester, N.H.
Verizon
Wireless Arena
Saturday, March 27
Noon EST:
No. 1 Boston College vs. No. 4 Niagara
3:30 p.m.
EST: No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 3 New Hampshire
Sunday,
March 28
4 p.m. EST:
Regional Final
NO.
1 SEED BOSTON COLLEGE EAGLES
Location:
Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Record: 27-8-4 (17-4-3 Hockey East, first)
Qualified: At-large bid
NCAA Championships: Two (1949, 2001)
NCAA Appearance: 24th (most recent, 2003)
Head Coach: Jerry York
Key Players: Tony Voce, F, Sr. (28-16—44);
Ryan Shannon,
F, Jr. (12-26—38); Ben Eaves, F, Sr. (8-23—31)
What You Need to Know: Boston College put together
one of the best seasons in Hockey East history before faltering
down the stretch. At their best, they seem unbeatable, but they've
got one win since Feb. 27.
How They'll Advance: The Eagles don't need a
fully healthy Ben Eaves to win, but it couldn't hurt to have one
of the game's most skilled players back in the lineup full-time.
With or without him, they need to return to the stifling brand
of high-pressure, defensive hockey that holds opponents to around
20 shots per game.
What Might Trip Them Up: Matti Kaltiainen had
silenced most of his critics over the course of a terrific regular
season, but he struggled in the two playoff losses to BU. If he
falters, especially if Eaves isn't fully available to help overcome
it on the offensive end, it could be an early exit.
| Most
Recent Boston College Line Chart |
| Left
Wing |
Center |
Right
Wing |
Notes |
| P.
Eaves |
R.
Shannon |
T.
Voce |
If
Ben Eaves returns to full health, he'll center the top line,
moving Shannon down and giving BC terrific depth. |
| C.
Collins |
S.
Gionta |
D.
Spina |
| N.
Havern |
T.
Hennes |
R.
Murphy |
| T.
Leahy |
B.
Boyle |
J.
Dziama |
| Defense |
Defense |
Goalies |
| A.
Alberts |
J.D.
Forrest |
M.
Kaltiainen |
Alberts
and Forrest are clearly the top pair and log lots of minutes. |
| J.
Adams |
P.
Harrold |
J.
Pearce |
| B.
Peterson |
Addl.
F: B. Eaves |
R.
Miller |
NO.
2 SEED MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
Location:
Ann
Arbor, Mich.
Record: 26-13-2 (18-8-2 CCHA, first)
Qualified: At-large
NCAA Championships: Nine (1948, 1951, 1952, 1953,
1955, 1956, 1964, 1996, 1998)
NCAA Appearance: 26th (most recent, 2003)
Head Coach: Gordon “Red” Berenson
Key Players: T.J. Hensick, F, Fr. (12-32—44);
Andrew Ebbett, F, So. (8-26—34); Al Montoya, G, So. (25-10-2,
2.23 GAA, .915 sv%)
What You Need to Know: The last time Michigan
won a national title was in Boston in 1998. Two weeks prior to
beating Boston College for the school’s ninth NCAA championship,
the Wolverines were bounced from the CCHA tournament, losing to
Ohio State in a semifinal match at Joe Louis Arena. The score?
4-2.
How They'll Advance: By playing 60 minutes. Despite
the wealth of talent on the Wolverines’ roster, teams haven’t
been intimidated by Michigan this season because they know they
can outwork them. Perhaps some UM medical students could figure
out a way to clone Jed Ortmeyer.
What Might Trip Them Up: Huge egos. By the time
the Wolverines realized they weren’t going to beat Ohio
State in the CCHA playoff championship game by setting up the
perfect pass or eluding a defender with a highlight-reel move,
the Buckeyes held a 3-0 lead midway through the third period.
As Berenson wisely pointed out, there’s a difference between
playing hard and playing with desperation.
| Most
Recent Michigan Line Chart |
| Left
Wing |
Center |
Right
Wing |
Notes |
| E.
Nystrom |
D.
Helminen |
M.
Brown |
Eight
of Michigan’s top 12 forwards are NHL draft picks, and
Hensick and Brown are eligible this year. |
| J.
Tambellini |
T.J.
Hensick |
D.
Rohlfs |
| J.
Ryznar |
M.
Woodford |
D.
Moss |
| B.
Kaleniecki |
A.
Ebbett |
M.
Gajic |
| Defense |
Defense |
Goalies |
| M.
Hunwick |
A.
Burnes |
A.
Montoya |
Rogers (Rochester, N.H.) is the only non-Michigan native on
the UM blueline. |
| J.
Dest |
E.
Werner |
N.
Ruden |
| N.
Martens |
B.
Rogers |
M.
Mayhew |
NO.
3 SEED NEW HAMPSHIRE WILDCATS
Location:
Durham, N.H.
Record: 20-14-6 (10-8-6 Hockey East, fourth)
Qualified: At-large bid
NCAA Championships: None
NCAA Appearance: 24th (most recent, 2003)
Head Coach: Dick Umile
Key Players: Steve Saviano, F, Sr. (27-21—48);
Justin Aikins,
F, Jr. (10-31—41); Mike Ayers, G, Sr. (17-13-5, 2.82, .899)
What You Need to Know: The Wildcats had a mediocre
season by their high standards, but boast a talented lineup and
will be supported by the home crowd.
How They'll Advance: UNH has great talent on
its first two lines, led by Hockey East Player of the Year Steve
Saviano. Add in a potent power play (ranked seventh nationally)
and the Wildcats can do some damage offensively. The home crowd
will help, as Michigan can attest.
What Might Trip Them Up: Defensive intensity
is the key for the Wildcats. If they've got it from the start,
and can maintain it for 60 minutes, they'll be fine, but that
hasn't happened regularly. Mike Ayers, an INCH Preseason All-American,
hasn't matched his stellar 2002-03 season in goal.
| Most
Recent New Hampshire Line Chart |
| Left
Wing |
Center |
Right
Wing |
Notes |
| S.
Collins |
J.
Aikins |
S.
Saviano |
Saviano's
the player to watch, but Callander has come on lately and
has a history of scoring big goals. |
| J.
Micflickier |
N.
Martz |
P.
Callander |
| M.
Kolanos |
D.
Winnik |
B.
Hemingway |
| P.
Foley |
Addl.
D: R. Barker |
S.
Vinz |
| Defense |
Defense |
Goalies |
| T.
Horst |
M.
Mounsey |
M.
Ayers |
Inconsistency
has plagued Ayers, as well as his defense, this season. |
| M.
Hutchins |
M.
Lubesnick |
J.
Pietrasiak |
| T.
Teplitsky |
B.
Yandle |
|
NO.
4 SEED NIAGARA PURPLE EAGLES
Location:
Niagara Falls, N.Y.
Record: 21-14-3 (14-6-0 CHA, second)
Qualified: CHA champion
NCAA Championships: None
NCAA Appearance: 2nd (most recent, 2000)
Head Coach: Dave Burkholder
Key Players: Barret Ehgoetz, F, Jr. (25-26—51);
Joe Tallari, F, Sr. (15-17—32); Jeff VanNynatten, G, So.
(18-7-3, 2.73, .906)
What You Need to Know: The Purple Eagles made
a splash in their first tournament appearance, upsetting New Hampshire
in 2000. They beat the Wildcats earlier this year, so they have
the talent to pull off another surprise.
How They’ll Advance: They are the only
team entering the tournament with both rest and momentum –
they had last weekend off after beating Bemidji State for the
CHA title March 14. If they harness those positives, and get continued
strong goaltending from Jeff VanNynatten, they may have an upset
in them.
What Might Trip Them Up: Their own success back
in 2000 provides words of warning for their opponent, so they
are unlikely to sneak up on anyone. They also need production
from their big line of Barret Ehgoetz and Joe Tallari, who were
quiet in the CHA championship game until Tallari scored the overtime
winner.
| Most
Recent Niagara Line Chart |
| Left
Wing |
Center |
Right
Wing |
Notes |
| J.
Tallari |
B.
Ehgoetz |
J.
Cross |
Ehgoetz
and Tallari are an elite tandem, but other groups have chipped
in more of late. |
| S.
Bentivoglio |
A.
Clarke |
C.
Welch |
| H.
Karru |
R.
Gale |
M.
Norrington |
| N.
Komanyos |
J.
Meloff |
P.
Muniz |
| Defense |
Defense |
Goalies |
| A.
Lackner |
P.
Oliveto |
J.
VanNynatten |
Top
pair is Lackner (All-CHA) and Oliveto (CHA All-Rookie). |
| B.
Mills |
B.
Hartman |
R.
Bonk |
| D.
Hominuk |
S.
Baylis |
A.
Barton |
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