2008 Woodie Awards
Wildcats avenge earlier defeat, knock out Friars
Ryan Holt '09
Issue date: 3/22/07 Section: Sports
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After going on a three-game win streak-including a thrilling 7-1 blowout of No. 3 UNH-to make the playoffs, the Men's Hockey Team made a quick exit from the tournament when it concluded its 2006-07 campaign in the Hockey East Quarterfinals. The Friars lost 6-0, on March 8, and 4-0, on March 9, at the University of New Hampshire.
After a rough start, the Friars drastically improved down the stretch, becoming one of college hockey's hottest teams. Every night, they proved to be a tough match-up against many formidable opponents.
The Friars finished eighth in Hockey East, arguably the nation's toughest conference, where five of the 10 schools qualified for the NCAA Tournament, the most of any conference. They played one of the most difficult non-conference schedules in the country, including games against two No. 1 seeds in the tournament, Clarkson and Notre Dame.
The Friars defeated many of the nation's top teams including No. 1 seed New Hampshire, Hockey East Champion Boston College, and perennial power and NCAA qualifier, the University of Maine.
"It was an up and down year. We had a great team, high expectations, only losing three guys," said senior Co-Captain Tony Zancanaro.
The Friars struggled early, failing to win consecutive games until January. From that point, however, their game drastically improved. Most nights, even in losses it can be argued, they played better than their opponents.
"We were one of the best toward the end," said Zancanaro. "We could play with anybody. We out-shot, outplayed a lot of our opponents, no matter who they were."
Out-shooting and outplaying, yet coming up short was the story of the year. This team clearly left it all on the ice.
I think guys worked hard all year long," said Zancanaro. "Some nights we didn't have the whole lineup going. We had a lot of inconsistencies but it got consistent toward the end,"
Often, the Friars would double their opponent's shot total, only to come up short regarding goals. Some nights there would be spectacular goal tending, others a bad bounce or two, others would be hitting the posts, and others would be just plain bad luck. Wins against the Friars were some of the toughest attained in the Hockey East.
After a rough start, the Friars drastically improved down the stretch, becoming one of college hockey's hottest teams. Every night, they proved to be a tough match-up against many formidable opponents.
The Friars finished eighth in Hockey East, arguably the nation's toughest conference, where five of the 10 schools qualified for the NCAA Tournament, the most of any conference. They played one of the most difficult non-conference schedules in the country, including games against two No. 1 seeds in the tournament, Clarkson and Notre Dame.
The Friars defeated many of the nation's top teams including No. 1 seed New Hampshire, Hockey East Champion Boston College, and perennial power and NCAA qualifier, the University of Maine.
"It was an up and down year. We had a great team, high expectations, only losing three guys," said senior Co-Captain Tony Zancanaro.
The Friars struggled early, failing to win consecutive games until January. From that point, however, their game drastically improved. Most nights, even in losses it can be argued, they played better than their opponents.
"We were one of the best toward the end," said Zancanaro. "We could play with anybody. We out-shot, outplayed a lot of our opponents, no matter who they were."
Out-shooting and outplaying, yet coming up short was the story of the year. This team clearly left it all on the ice.
I think guys worked hard all year long," said Zancanaro. "Some nights we didn't have the whole lineup going. We had a lot of inconsistencies but it got consistent toward the end,"
Often, the Friars would double their opponent's shot total, only to come up short regarding goals. Some nights there would be spectacular goal tending, others a bad bounce or two, others would be hitting the posts, and others would be just plain bad luck. Wins against the Friars were some of the toughest attained in the Hockey East.