Men grab seventh title in 11 years

Author: Jason Lockhart

What happens when you mix a bit of mid-season struggles with the best coaching in the country and great team leadership? The seventh National Championship in eleven years. The men's hockey team successfully defended their national title at home, steamrolling past unlikely finalist St. Thomas with a score of 5-0.

"A lot of people talked about that tough stretch we had, and people doubted us, but our mindsets never changed," explained captain Brian Phinney '05, who was selected as a First-Team All-American. "We worked so hard and achieved something that no one can take away from us."

The five-goal differential was the largest margin of victory in a championship game since 1999, when Middlebury downed Wisconsin-Superior by the same score.

The previous night, the Panthers were once again on the verge of losing in the semifinals of an NCAA Championship on home ice, as they did previously in 2002 against Norwich.

Middlebury had to battle back from a 2-1 third period deficit to win 5-2 against a stingy New England College defense that upset Norwich and Manhattanville en route to their first NCAA semifinal appearance.

After failing to score on an early power play in the third period, the Panthers continued the momentum at even strength. Tim Graham '05 dug the puck out from along the boards and took a shot from the slot that rebounded out to Jocko DeCarolis '07, who poked it under NEC's goalie Scott Gray for his sixth of the season at 2:35 of the third period.

"I was trailing the play, looking for something to happen. The goalie made a nice save, but it dropped right in front of me. And I just swung," admitted DeCarolis, who also tallied a late empty-net goal.

From there, the Panthers poured it on, scoring three goals in the last 10 minutes of the third period, while only allowing one shot in the period.

Brett Shirreffs '07 scored the eventual game winner, picking up a loose puck in the slot and firing it low past Gray at 10:15 of the third period.

Mickey Gilchrist '08 grabbed a loose puck in the slot 3:01 later, and sniped the top corner for his 20th of the season.

DeCarolis scored his second of the game in an empty net after Darwin Hunt '07 took out two New England defenders with some feisty forechecking to cap the scoring with 1:03 left.

"Our thought was that if we worked hard and created a tempo for three periods that we'd get some dividends in the third," said Head Coach Bill Beaney. "And that's exactly what happened."

The following night there was no question after two periods of play, with the Panthers up 4-0 and playing flawless defense that Middlebury would win their second consecutive title. Ross Cherry '08, who claimed the starting goaltending position late in the season, made 29 saves for his third shutout of the season, but gave all of the credit to his teammates.

"It's all about the team in front of me," admitted Cherry, who ended the season tied with Yen-I Chen '06 for first in the nation with a 1.61 goal against average. "It's all about the defense, and the way they let me see the pucks. If I do leave a rebound they're clearing it out, and clearing the guys out in front of the net, and they do such a great job, and it makes it so much easier on me."

Middlebury struggled early in the first period to find their legs, allowing St. Thomas numerous scoring opportunities, but Cherry was up to the task.

"I think the first five to seven minute stretch Ross was the difference," said Beaney. "We left him out there, and he made a number of great saves."

Cherry's most impressive save came on a Panthers defensive breakdown as St. Thomas' Colin Greenlees streaked in all alone. Greenlees deked to his backhand, but Cherry slid across to make the save and keep the score knotted at 0-0.

Middlebury finally regained their composure and took control of the game 9:25 into the first period. With some gritty forechecking, Eric LaFreniere '07 was able to scoop up a loose puck in the corner and skate towards the net. He dished it out in front to linemate Gilchrist who fired it home for his team-leading 21st goal of the season.

Gilchrist's total of 21 goals by a rookie is the best record since Tim Craig scored 23 in his rookie season back in 1990.

The Panthers were not done yet in the first period as the penalties racked up by the Tommies finally came back to hurt them. As John Bottoms was off for interference, Patrick Nugent '05 found the puck in the slot and swept it in on the backhand for a 2-0 lead with 3:18 left in the period.

The Panthers once again came out slow in the second period, but Cherry once again frustrated the St. Thomas offense that was able to put up four goals past Trinity on their way to a 4-1 win in their semifinal game, and three past St. Norbert, the number one western seed, in their quarterfinal game.

The Panthers once again found their stride and began forechecking hard causing a number of turnovers in the St. Thomas defensive zone. The Panthers forecheck paid dividends as John Sales '07 intercepted Tommies' goaltender Zach Sikich's pass. Sales made a couple of nice moves in the slot and wristed a high shot over the blocker of Sikich who did not have time to recover, with 8:59 remaining in the second.

The backbreaker came with winding down in the second period as the Panthers were on their fourth power play. Phinney took a shot from the point that hopped over Sikich and into the crease. Sales came streaking in, and banged it home for his second of the game, and a 4-0 lead with less than five seconds remaining.

"I get a lot of chances when the puck squirts loose, and I just happen to be in the right place," admitted Sales. "That's what happened tonight. I got lucky, with the puck on my stick in the slot and got some lucky bounces and the puck went in for me tonight."

Hunt put the icing on the cake as Phinney intercepted a pass in the Tommies end, shorthanded, and found Hunt in the slot, who proceeded to fire his ninth goal of the season past Sikich for a 5-0 lead 7:37 into the third period.

As time wound down, the partisan crowd of 2,165 was on its feet cheering on their team for the last time this season, and witnessing the first national championship won in the Chip Kenyon '85 arena.

"I think it's special winning it at home," remarked Phinney. "These people support us all year long, and people make the long road trips. It's fun to do it at home, and give the chance for people to see it because they are a part of it. They make it all worthwhile, and it's just a special time for all of us. It was great to win it with all our friends and family in attendance."

It was the second year in a row, and fourth time overall the Panthers earned the national title with a shutout, defeating St. Norbert 1-0 in overtime in last year's championship game.

"It's been a legacy," stated Beaney. "We've built our program on playing strong defense, having great goaltending, but most importantly on a group of people who are willing to work together towards a common goal, and this group was no different."