Morrison nice surprise in Saturday win

loading...

WORCESTER, Mass. – University of Maine senior goalie Mike Morrison knew he had to be ready. But he admitted that he didn’t expect to start Saturday’s NCAA Eastern Regional first-round game against Harvard University.

Matt Yeats had started the last three playoff games, all in the Hockey East tournament, and was named to the all-tourney team.

Yeats had also played 14 NCAA Tournament games, going 11-3, while Morrison had never played in one.

But Morrison learned he was starting Friday and made 19 saves in Maine’s 4-3 overtime win on Saturday.

“I was a little surprised I got the start. I was definitely excited,” said Morrison. “Being a senior, I just wanted to do what I could to help the guys. And I’m glad the guys are getting the chance to play on Sunday.”

Yeats started in Maine’s 4-3 quarterfinal win over Boston University on Sunday.

Despite not expecting to play Saturday, Morrison said he maintained his work ethic in practice during the week “getting ready for next year [and his pro career].

“I kept my confidence up because you never know if another Garth Snow situation would happen. I just wanted to stay on my toes and keep bettering myself,” said Morrison referring to the decision by the late Shawn Walsh to pull Mike Dunham in favor of superior puck-handler Snow at the outset of the third period of the 1993 NCAA championship game against Lake Superior State.

The Bears rallied for three goals and Snow blanked the Lakers in that third period as Maine triumphed 5-4.

“He [Morrison] had an excellent game,” said his Harvard counterpart, Dov Grumet-Morris. “He’s obviously a very good goaltender. He’s a seasoned goaltender and he came up big in a big game. He got it done. I tip my hat to him.”

Grumet-Morris was exceptional as he made 33 saves.

Morrison said he tried to make sure he didn’t allow any soft goals and Maine interim head coach Tim Whitehead was pleased with Morrison’s performance.

“He made some huge saves, especially one at the end of the second period,” said Whitehead.

Black Bears need dentist

The University of Maine hockey team advanced to the Frozen Four over the weekend, but the triumph didn’t come without some painful moments.

Two Maine players had to battle more than their team’s opponents: Colin Shields sat out Saturday’s game against Harvard after having an infected tooth removed and suffering a reaction to the antibiotics he was prescribed.

Robert Liscak had a similar problem and underwent a procedure after Saturday’s game to drain an infected gum. He was able to play Sunday, as was Shields. Liscak will eventually have a root-canal procedure.

After the Bears’ Sunday victory, coach Tim Whitehead was able to laugh at his team’s dental woes. In fact, he said he’d consider adding a team dentist to the UMaine travel entourage.

“We could certainly use [one]. There’s plenty of work for somebody. It’s a good job for somebody,” Whitehead said. “It’s not like the Maytag guy or something. He’s gonna have some opportunities, but he’s gonna have to work.

He’s gonna have to play his role and do his job. It’s not a cake job.”

Yeats’ opposite omens

Matt Yeats’ Sunday win in net for the Bears got off to a rough start, as the senior goalie took a pregame tumble while trying to do something relatively simple: Skate from the tunnel to his net.

“I always skate out there and try to stop right in my crease,” Yeats said. “I tried to stop and my edge caught, and I fell.”

Yeats slid beyond the net before scrambling to his feet and taking his position in front of the net.

His troubles weren’t over.

“It happened again in the third period,” Yeats said, explaining that he lost an edge during the game. The result could have been disastrous. “They had an empty net, and luckily it hit someone and went wide.”

Yeats figured both episodes must have meant something.

“Right off the bat I [thought it meant it was going to be a rough night]. But in the third period, when they had that empty net and a shot from the point hit someone and went wide, I thought it was a good omen,” Yeats said. “I thought, ‘All right, we can do this.”‘

Whitehead’s NCAA debut

Whitehead made his NCAA tourney debut as a head coach in the Harvard game.

“But I went to three as an assistant [at Maine and at UMass-Lowell,” said Whitehead. “I felt good. I was confident in our team. I think the only time you’d feel nervous is if your team wasn’t prepared or wasn’t in good shape. I believe in our team.”