IN FRONT OF THE MIC by ADAM HILL
A
MARIAN HOCKEY
ll sports have their rivalries. Baseball has the Yankees and the Red
Sox. Football has the Bears and the Packers. Basketball has Duke
and North Carolina. Some teams play for the sheer hatred of
each other , while others play for trophies. Every year the Wisconsin
Badgers play the Minnesota Gophers for Paul Bunyan’s Axe in football.
Although lately it seems that Bucky has gained permanent possession
of the axe.
Sometimes rivalries are bigger for the fans than they are for the
players. Like in 1979, when the Bruins and Rangers played a game and
the fans and players got into a scrap. Mike Milbury, who is now an NHL
analyst, jumped into the stands and pulled off a fan’s shoe and hit him with
it.
This past weekend may have been the start of a whole new rivalry when St. Norbert and
Marian played in their first conference games against each other as a part of the new NCHA. Both
games produced some fast paced hockey and some hard hits as well as some animosity. The end
of game two got real intense with lots of chirping and even a skirmish with lots of shoving and a few
punches thrown. These two teams have all the ingredients to become rivals, and it is always fun for
the fans to have rivals.
I’m betting that one of our coaches is pretty happy that our trip was only to St. Norbert and
not to St. Scholastica or Finlandia. Assistant Coach Richie Hilton couldn’t find his keys on the way
home from the game and so when we pulled up to the Blue Line, his truck was still running. I’m
betting his vehicle was the warmest in the parking lot when we got home.
This weekend, the Sabres will renew
their rivalry with Lawrence University in the
“Battle of 41”.
My favorite moment of the rivalry
happened last season during the second of
two meetings, which produced one of the
most exciting games that I’ve ever had the
privilege to call. The Sabres trailed by two
goals heading into the third period, and a
two goal lead in the third period is the most
dangerous lead in hockey. Brian Berger
tipped in a pass from his brother Matt to
make cut the Lawrence lead in half. Then,
less than a minute later Tyler Klein scored
on a breakaway to tie the game. The crowd
Junior Rjay Berra and Senior Tanner Burton
went completely crazy, and everybody knew
something special was in the air on this evening. The game seemed to be heading to overtime
when the Vikings took a penalty with 19 seconds left in regulation. Tyler Klein lit the lamp with just
8.5 seconds left in the third to cap off a thrilling come from behind victory. The win would essentially
put a stranglehold on the MCHA North crown for the Sabres.
One last thing, I have to mention is Movember. It has just started, but I have to say Thomas
Nosella has the lead for the best mustache on the team. He is rocking the “Robin Yount-Stache”
circa 1988. There are a few members on the team who have less than flattering mustaches, but
there is almost a whole month for them to grow one.
Until next week, it’s your dream you can make it as big as you want.
SabreHockey
@MU_Mens_Hockey