Box Score

POTSDAM, N.Y. (3/16/08) – Sophomore David McIntyre (Pefferlaw, Ont.) scored 7:36 into the second overtime to lift the Colgate men’s hockey team to a 3-2 victory over No. 7 Clarkson on Sunday, Mar. 16, at Cheel Arena. The win gives the Raiders a berth in the ECAC Hockey Championship at the Times Union Center in Albany next weekend, Mar. 21-22, as they take the quarterfinal series in three games.

After taking a heads-up pass from freshman Kevin McNamara (Chestnut Hill, Mass.), junior Tom Riley (Ottawa, Ont.) toe-dragged a defender at Colgate’s offensive blue line, and the puck was poked ahead. McIntyre grabbed it just inside the zone, and he had an open lane along the inside of the right faceoff circle. McIntyre skated in untouched to just below the hash marks, and flipped the puck into the net over the blocker of Clarkson senior goalie David Leggio, prompting his teammates to jump over the boards and swarm him in a huddle of jubilation.

Colgate becomes the first No. 8 seed to eliminate a No. 1 seed since the 1979-80 season when eighth-seeded Cornell knocked off top-seeded Boston College in a single-elimination quarterfinal game. The Big Red went on to win the league title with a 5-1 victory over Dartmouth in the championship game that year.

With 52 saves on the night, Dekanich broke both the Colgate career and single-season saves records. The career record, which now stands at 3,040 stops, had previously been set by Jeff Cooper in 1985, and it stood at 3,023 saves for 23 years. Dekanich has broken the single-season record for the third consecutive season. His new standard is 1,012 stops, and he is the first Raider goalie to record 1,000 saves in a single campaign.

Clarkson drew first blood with a shorthanded goal 10:08 into the first period. Junior Tyrell Mason was called for two minor penalties at the 8:36 mark, giving Colgate four minutes worth of power play. However, it was the Golden Knights who used the opportunity, generating three quality shorthanded scoring chances, netting their goal on their first trip down the ice.

Colgate controlled the puck in its attacking zone, but turned it over along the far boards. Freshman Lauri Tuohimaa picked up the loose rubber and went to clear it, but the puck hit a linesman just inside the red line. Junior Chris D’Alvise recovered and streaked toward the Raider goal with one defenseman to beat. He scored over the blocker of Colgate senior netminder Mark Dekanich (North Vancouver, B.C.) from close range.

Senior Mike Werner (Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.) nearly got the tying goal with about six minutes left in the first period. He received a pass from classmate Dustin Gillanders (Kyle, Sask.) from the right-wing boards, and took a hard shot from the slot that hit the crossbar and dropped straight down. Referee Chip McDonald reviewed the play at the next whistle, but he ruled that the puck never crossed the goal line.

On the next shift, Mason knocked Dekanich over into his own net to give the Raiders their third power play of the game. But McNamara prevented Clarkson senior Steve Zalewski from getting the Golden Knights’ fourth shorthanded chance of the evening just over a minute into the extra-man attempt, and drew a holding call that neutralized the Raider power play chance.

Before McNamara’s penalty expired, McIntyre was called for tripping, giving Clarkson a short 5-on-3 power play, during which freshman Bryan Rufenach hit the right post. Thanks to a handful of stellar saves by Dekanich, the Raiders were able to escape the period down just 1-0 after being outshot 15-4. As the buzzer sounded on the opening frame, Colgate earned another break, as Clarkson senior Nick Dodge was called for goaltender interference, setting up a 4-on-4 start to the second period.

Once McIntyre returned to the ice, the Raiders used their ensuing power play to even the game at 1-1. Colgate set up in their offensive zone and began cycling the puck. Senior Tyler Burton (Langley, B.C.) sent the puck up to senior Jesse Winchester (Long Sault, Ont.) in the right circle, and he crossed it up to freshman Wade Poplawski (Winnipeg, Man.) at the left point. Poplawski ripped a shot on net from the left point, and Leggio made the save, but Burton jammed home the rebound for his 22^nd goal of the season.

Colgate took a 2-1 lead 16:44 into the second period on another power-play goal. Clarkson was forechecking deep in its offensive end, but junior Tom Riley (Ottawa, Ont.) took the puck from McNamara behind his own net before breaking it out. He sent it ahead for McIntyre just before his linemate hit the blue line, and McIntyre shot from between the circles. Leggio bobbled the puck, dropped to his side, and the biscuit slid over the goal line for McIntyre’s third goal of the series.

With just over 15 minutes left in the third period, a Clarkson scoring chance led to a scrum in front of the Raider net during which Dekanich got pinned with his leg at an odd angle. He was slow to get up, but appeared to be alright. However, on the ensuing faceoff, the Golden Knights were able to tie things up. Dodge won the faceoff to Dekanich’s right back to Mason at the left point. Mason shot through traffic, and freshman Scott Freeman tipped the puck past a screened Dekanich at the 4:57 mark to make it a 2-2 game.

Leggio recorded 29 saves in the loss as his Golden Knights outshot the Raiders 54-32 on the evening, including 14-11 during the overtime sessions. Colgate finished 2-for-9 on the power play, and shut down all eight Clarkson extra-man opportunities.

Colgate will play second-seeded Princeton, who advanced with a 2-1 quarterfinal series win over Yale, in the semifinals of the ECAC Hockey Championship at the Times Union Center in Albany on Friday, Mar. 21. The game is scheduled to start at 4:00 p.m.