Terrier players think Black Bears have edge vs. Lakers

MILWAUKEE – Boston University’s Terriers, 6-1 losers to Lake Superior State in Thursday’s NCAA Tournament semifinal and losers of four of five games to Maine, think the Black Bears will beat the Lakers in Saturday’s final.

“I think Lake Superior is going to have a lot of trouble with Maine,” said BU junior defenseman Dan Donato. “Maine has a lot of great skaters and they’ll be a handful for Lake State. Maine has to play their game.”

“Maine is definitely a better team,” said BU winger Jon Pratt. “We had a lot of opportunities against Lake Superior State, but we didn’t capitalize. Lake Superior does play tough defense through center ice. ”

“Maine will win,” predicted senior defenseman Kevin O’Sullivan. “Maine’s got quick forwards and they’ll send four lines at you for 30-second shifts. They can fly.”

BU winger Mark Bavis said, “Lake Superior is solid. They do a lot of little things well. But Maine has a lot of guys who can fly, and they can really get the offense going.”

“Maine is very explosive and Lake Superior has great defensive zone coverage,” said BU center Jacques Joubert. “Lake State will try to keep the game close and look for scoring chances in the third period. Maine is definitely faster. It’ll be interesting to see how Maine does.”

“The big question will be how Lake State handles Maine special teams,” said BU Coach Jack parker. “It’s a great matchup. Maine has terrific offensive ability and Lake State locks on and plays along the boards well. You’ve got a team that has proven itself all year and a team (Lake Superior) that’s playing terrific hockey now. There are two contrasting styles.”

Is there a significant difference between last year’s Maine team that lost to Michigan State 3-2 in the quarterfinals and this year’s team?

“This team got the goal it needed against Michigan,” said junior defenseman and alternate captain Chris Imes.

“We’re more confident of our ability,” said senior center and captain Jim Montgomery. “We’ve got more scorers.”

Several Lake Superior State players will have a tie to Maine. They will actually be wearing them to the rink.

The Lakers, as is the custom, received a free pair of shoes for playing in Maine’s Dexter Hockey Classic on Jan. 2-3. The Lakers lost to Brown (6-4) but rebounded to beat Miami (5-2) in the consolation game.

“Yeah, I’m still wearing them,” said Laker right winger Dean Hulett. “They’re great shoes. They’re really comfortable.”

Waterville philanthropist Harold Alfond, whose financial generosity prompted the building Alfond Arena and the eventual addition to it, is expected to be on hand for the final along with Governor John McKernan.

An apparent tying goal by Patrice Tardif with 10:43 left in Thursday afternoon’s NCAA Tournament semifinal against Michigan was waved off under unusual circumstances.

Tardif slid the puck inside the far post, but the net had been lifted and the puck rolled under it and into the corner.

“Neither the on-ice officials nor the goal judge witnessed the puck crossing the goal line before the referee at the blue line blew the whistle,” explained Laing Kennedy, the chairman of the NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey committee. “The whistle was blown after the goal cage was raised off the ice.”