When the tournament Most Valuable Player award was announced last night, Boston College freshman Nick Petrecki heard the words "with two goals" and prepared to make his way to the trophy. Coach Jerry York joked that they had to hold the defenseman back, because it was his fellow rookie - forward Brian Gibbons - who walked away with the hardware following the Eagles' 6-5 overtime victory.
Gibbons also had two goals, although it was the big, bruising Petrecki who scored the winner at 7:07 of the extra session. Petrecki's goals were the first two of his college career.
York said Petrecki's father had asked the coach recently if he thought one of his son's shots might go in this season. Petrecki certainly picked an opportune time to break through.
Harvard coach Ted Donato had said it was important to know where star BC forward Nathan Gerbe was on the ice at all times. The Crimson did a great job of nullifying Gerbe, who didn't have a point in the title game, but BC got all of its goals from players who came into the game with a total of 13 among them this season.
Gibbons said it was a lot of fun for the freshmen to contribute.
"We have a small class," he said. "We have five kids. A couple of goalies, a couple of forwards and Nick on defense. [Joe Whitney] has been racking up points all year on the power play. [Goalie John] Muse has been there, steady all year. And [Petrecki] comes up with two big goals today. I think we're contributing."
The last time the teams met, Gerbe had 6 points in a BC rout.
"They have a lot of weapons," said Donato. "It's difficult. At times, you've got to pick your poison. I think our guys were very aware when Gerbe was on the ice, but they're a good hockey team and I'm sure we're not the first to try to take him out of the game."
Dogs go under
When you can generate four goals in a game, you usually have a pretty good chance of being on the winning end. Northeastern did that in the consolation game, but the wheels fell off in the third period and it was beaten by Boston University, 5-4.NU had a 4-2 lead 11 minutes into the second but couldn't hang on. Coach Greg Cronin was more than a little miffed that his team had to settle for fourth place and now has just two victories in the last eight contests (2-5-1), with eight games remaining in the regular season.
"Obviously when you're up, 4-2, late in the second, you feel pretty good about your chances. I thought we let this game slip away," said Cronin.
Cronin was aggravated that NU has put itself in a tough spot with all league games remaining. Every point is critical.
"We can't be giving up five goals down the stretch," he said. "That was an important game for us because we're right on the bubble [pairings wise] of the NCAA Tournament. We're ranked No. 15.
"We've just got to tighten up defensively."
Sticky situation
Cronin, not one to bash the officials, didn't shy away from his anger at a non-call late in the game when BU's Colby Cohen stripped NU defenseman David Strathman of his stick and threw it into the slot. Colin Wilson wound up scoring with 3:19 left for BU's fifth goal . . . NU goalie Brad Thiessen rebounded from a tough outing against Harvard in the first round, making 40 saves against BU . . . BU coach Jack Parker elected to give sophomore netminder Brett Bennett a rest, installing Adam Kraus against the Huskies.
rising
falling 