A Moment Like This
Well, I've certainly waited a lifetime. And some of you have, for this post.
Well, I still don't know what to say. Seriously, I have been avoiding writing anything all day and now I am sitting here staring at the computer screen.
I feel really terribly that I half-arsed the recaps this weekend. It was the greatest weekend of hockey I have ever witnessed and I was speechless. Or, typeless. Partially because I had 2 final exams on Saturday in rather challenging classes, and 1 more today, so I was completely out of it mentally. Not to mention that the games made me UNBELIEVABLY STRESSED OUT. And we all know how I stress out under normal circumstances.
Last night I watched the most amazing game of my life. I mean, wow. tDogs were locked and cocked. 4 lines of forwards, 3 pairs of defencemen, and 1 goalie who were rollin', rollin', rollin', rollin'. MacGregor Sharp has been My Guy for two years now, and he just EXPLODED in this tournament. It was like a giant SCREW YOU to the WCHA All-Conference Team voters (other than me). And Stalock proved why he is HEAD AND SHOULDERS AND KNEES AND TOES above every other goalie in the WCHA. And tUMD showed everyone who watched exactly what kind of team they are: the deepest, most complete team in that tournament. What did UMTC's superstar top line do against them? How about Hobey Baker winner Ryan Duncan? DU, the most potent offense in the WCHA? Yeah. One lousy deflection off a skate in the play-in game.
tUMD's defence was so incredible that in the 9th period they played this weekend, they allowed one shot on goal.
I care very much about what happens next weekend, because of course I do not want this delicious insanity to stop. But this weekend stands on its own. Many of the highlights of this program are bittersweet. Making the Frozen Four... making the championship game... league runner-up: all have a patina of loss tarnishing the accomplishment. The Broadmoor trophy is the result of 5 thrilling wins against improbable odds. And it is a championship. UND fans, Gopher fans, BC fans will probably laugh at us for our glee; they only care about the "real" trophy. Well, that's fine. Take your 5, or 7, or however many National Championships, and tell me what it was like to win the first one. Oh, you weren't alive in 1949? Or 1959? Hmm, maybe more of you were alive in 1974. But for the fans at the time, the first Broadmoor, the first MacNaughton, the first NCAA title... those were a big deal. This is tUMD's first Final Five championship, and I was there to see it. Amazing.
It has been a day now and I am still exhilarated every time I think about it. I can't imagine how our team feels right now.
I'm just rambling like a crazy cat lady right now, so I'm going to stop. I'll probably write more tomorrow, if I can get my thoughts together.
It's still amazing.
Well, I still don't know what to say. Seriously, I have been avoiding writing anything all day and now I am sitting here staring at the computer screen.
I feel really terribly that I half-arsed the recaps this weekend. It was the greatest weekend of hockey I have ever witnessed and I was speechless. Or, typeless. Partially because I had 2 final exams on Saturday in rather challenging classes, and 1 more today, so I was completely out of it mentally. Not to mention that the games made me UNBELIEVABLY STRESSED OUT. And we all know how I stress out under normal circumstances.
Last night I watched the most amazing game of my life. I mean, wow. tDogs were locked and cocked. 4 lines of forwards, 3 pairs of defencemen, and 1 goalie who were rollin', rollin', rollin', rollin'. MacGregor Sharp has been My Guy for two years now, and he just EXPLODED in this tournament. It was like a giant SCREW YOU to the WCHA All-Conference Team voters (other than me). And Stalock proved why he is HEAD AND SHOULDERS AND KNEES AND TOES above every other goalie in the WCHA. And tUMD showed everyone who watched exactly what kind of team they are: the deepest, most complete team in that tournament. What did UMTC's superstar top line do against them? How about Hobey Baker winner Ryan Duncan? DU, the most potent offense in the WCHA? Yeah. One lousy deflection off a skate in the play-in game.
tUMD's defence was so incredible that in the 9th period they played this weekend, they allowed one shot on goal.
I care very much about what happens next weekend, because of course I do not want this delicious insanity to stop. But this weekend stands on its own. Many of the highlights of this program are bittersweet. Making the Frozen Four... making the championship game... league runner-up: all have a patina of loss tarnishing the accomplishment. The Broadmoor trophy is the result of 5 thrilling wins against improbable odds. And it is a championship. UND fans, Gopher fans, BC fans will probably laugh at us for our glee; they only care about the "real" trophy. Well, that's fine. Take your 5, or 7, or however many National Championships, and tell me what it was like to win the first one. Oh, you weren't alive in 1949? Or 1959? Hmm, maybe more of you were alive in 1974. But for the fans at the time, the first Broadmoor, the first MacNaughton, the first NCAA title... those were a big deal. This is tUMD's first Final Five championship, and I was there to see it. Amazing.
It has been a day now and I am still exhilarated every time I think about it. I can't imagine how our team feels right now.
I'm just rambling like a crazy cat lady right now, so I'm going to stop. I'll probably write more tomorrow, if I can get my thoughts together.
It's still amazing.
6 comments:
Sharp and Stalock are frekin' ridiculous right now, actually very happy for your progrum, you guy's are very deserving.
So much for the "by the third period they won't have any legs left". 1 SOG for DU. I literally could not speak for most of Sunday after cheering loud for our Dogs all weekend. And hopefully it will be the same at the John next weekend. I can't WAIT!! Nothin's gonna stop us now!
Thank you, H4H. Sadly, your wish for Hexy did not come to fruition this year.
I really don't care how many championships UND, DU, UM, and Michigan have; anyone who enjoys the game had to be amazed at the whooping UMD placed on the Sioux and Pioneers this weekend. Everyone is usually psyched-out by the Gophers in the cities and that's probably the only reason that game was close. This past weekend was not only good for UMD, but also for college hockey. A UMD/UND final would be great (for me), but a UMD--Yale or Ohio State final would be great for the game (Oops...Bulldog fans are licking their chops at those last two names).
CSSFNY,
It was incredibly cool to see how many fans from other teams were genuinely excited to see the Bulldogs win on Saturday. It reminded me to some extent of UAA's appearance in the tourney a few years ago; another victory for the have-nots.
-RWD
i thought the dogs won the ff in the early 80s...???
mom
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