Gerbe finally gets trophy he wanted
DENVER - Would you like to know Nathan Gerbe's shoe size? His favorite color? His opinion on the reeling American economy?
It's not known if he likes to take long walks on the beach in the rain, but give it time. We'll find out.
There's little hockey information left to unearth about the Boston College junior forward, except that he is the best player in college hockey playing at the peak of his game.
Gerbe scored a pair of goals and assisted on two more while he reached a slew of benchmarks and sparked the Eagles to a 4-1 victory over Notre Dame last night in the national championship game at Pepsi Center.
When the final second disappeared off the Jumbotron hanging over the ice, Gerbe unbuckled his helmet and threw it, along with his gloves, into the air as he sprinted toward the BC goal, where John Muse was fending off delirious teammates.
Gerbe showed off another otherworldly skill as he jumped, getting about 3 feet of air, not including his skates, and landed in the happy pile of Eagles.
"It's something for the team to share with memories. It's footprints in each other's hearts forever with this trophy," Gerbe said.
This was BC's third straight trip to the final, and Gerbe's third straight shot at a forever kind of title. Like his teammates, he knew he had to push to the end to finish the title run properly.
"They're hard to get, these trophies," said BC coach Jerry York.
Notre Dame could not figure out how to contain Gerbe and simultaneously create offense. The Irish were built as a defensive team, so they had fewer resources when scoring was demanded.
Gerbe's first goal, at 2:23 of the second period, demonstrated his ability to slip into spaces that weren't there the moment before. As the Eagles passed the puck around the Irish zone, shifting positions and trying to find an open lane, Brian Gibbons spotted Gerbe sneaking down inside the left circle and got him the puck. Gerbe's wrist shot flew over goalie Jordan Pearce for his 34th goal of the season.
Gerbe finished another flutter of BC shots with a flourish 3:14 later, putting the puck past Pearce as he stretched out on the ice, stick and arm fully extended.
That's when the sign went up in the sold-out Pepsi Center, a young woman held up a placard proclaiming: "Gerbe for Hobey Baker! We demand a recount!"
Gerbe, one of three finalists for the Hobey Baker Award that went to Michigan's Kevin Porter Friday night, said he never had his eyes on that prize.
"The biggest thing is this trophy right next to us," Gerbe said. "It's great when you can play and win a national championship. Now I can call myself a winner. You can call everyone in the locker room a winner."
Gerbe tied the record for goals in an NCAA Tournament with seven. Three others share the mark, the last being Tony Amonte for Boston University in 1990. Gerbe also tied for fourth-most goals in a Frozen Four with five. He's the first player to score five Frozen Four goals since BU's Dave Silk in 1977. He was the Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player, of course.
Gibbons, a freshman from Braintree, Mass., who stepped in on a line with Gerbe and sophomore Ben Smith this season, wore a postgame grin that simply took over his face. Playing with Gerbe is a heck of an introduction to college hockey.
"It's awesome," said Gibbons, who picked up two assists in the game. "I'd say I'm surprised at some of the things he does, but I'm not anymore.
"He's so good. You can't put it into words. I'm so happy I got the opportunity to play with him and Ben."
Jeff Jackson, coach of the Irish, was as dazzled as the spectators.
"As much respect as I have for Kevin Porter," Jackson said, "if they named the Hobey Baker after this weekend, they may have changed their mind. [Gerbe] is a heck of a player, he's dynamic, and God bless the small guy because he plays fearless.
"He reminds me of another hockey player that used to play for BC, Brian Gionta, although he might be even quicker than Brian."
Gerbe, drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the fifth round in 2005, has a decision to make on his collegiate future. "I haven't thought about it at all," Gerbe said. "I try not to think about the future."
Now it's time for the extras: there's a trip to the White House, a visit to Fenway Park to throw out the first pitch, a time to celebrate.
In the words of freshman Joe Whitney, "I don't even know what to do, I'm just so happy to be a part of it."
