Georgetown Hockey

Georgetown 3, Duke 2. (Overtime) ACCHL Championship Game.

On Sunday afternoon, February 24, 2008, at the Roanoke Civic Center, the
Georgetown hockey team faced-off against Duke University in the finals of
the ACCHL Championship Tournament. It was a fitting match-up to decide the
championship because Georgetown and Duke had identical 9-3 regular season
records and were tied for first place. In addition, the teams had split
the two games played against each other during the season, with Duke
winning 2-1 on its home ice, and Georgetown winning 1-0 on its home ice.

The championship game was an intense, hard fought, end-to-end battle for 60
minutes of regulation and nearly 19 minutes of overtime. No team led by
more than one goal. Each time one team scored, the other would answer and
tie the game. Both teams gave it their all, with players diving for loose
pucks, dropping to the ice to block slap shots, and fiercely contesting
every rush toward the goal.

Georgetown came out strong in the first period, determined to set the tempo
for the game. In the first three minutes, however, Steve Russell
(Sr-Andover, MA) committed two minor penalties and the Hoyas found
themselves on the defensive. The Hoya penalty killers rose to the occasion
and successfully fought off both penalties without giving Duke any good
shots on goal. In some ways, this set the tone for the game as Georgetown
eventually stopped Duke cold on each of its 6 power play opportunities. In
contrast, Georgetown scored on 2 of its 8 power plays and that was a big
difference in the game.

After exiting the penalty box, Steve Russell redeemed himself with 8:30
remaining in the first period by scoring a power play goal to give the
Hoyas a 1-0 lead. Steve scored off a rebound, assisted by a shot from the
point by Charlie Beller (Fr-Chappaqua, NY).

During the second period, and the first half of the third period, the Hoyas
were somewhat flat and unable to catch their second wind. Duke took
advantage of the situation and scored two goals to take a 2-1 lead. Duke's
first goal was scored 5 minutes into the second period, and its second goal
was scored about 8 minutes into the third period. After Duke obtained a
2-1 lead, the Blue Devils became even more defensive minded and determined
to protect their lead. Duke packed their zone, carefully guarded the slot,
and dumped the puck into Georgetown's end on every opportunity. Duke's
defensive strategy nearly paid off--except for one big turn of events.

With about three and one-half minutes remaining in the game, and Duke
leading 2-1, the Blue Devils were penalized two minutes for tripping. With
the clock quickly winding down and only 2 minutes and 40 seconds left,
Conor Hickton (Sr-Pittsburgh, PA) made a powerful rush down the right side
of the ice with two Blue Devils in hot pursuit. Protecting the puck on his
right side and approaching the right side of the goal with reckless
abandon, Conor cut at the last second in front of the goal at warp speed,
deked the Duke goalie, and scored a sensational goal off his backhand to
tie the game. Duke was stunned and the Hoyas were ecstatic.

Conor's game-saving goal energized the Hoyas and carried over into the
extra period, when the ice seemed to be tilted in the Hoyas' favor. During
the sudden death 20-minute overtime period, Georgetown dominated the
action, outskating the Blue Devils and outshooting them 15 to 4. Duke
counterpunched on a few occasions, but was foiled by the solid play of
Georgetown goalie Greg Graham (Soph--Downingtown, PA). On the other end of
the ice, Duke goalie Steven Galanis (Soph-Glenview, IL) was being pummelled
shift and shift, and he made several fine saves to keep the score tied 2-2
for nearly 19 minutes of the overtime period.

Finally, with both teams running out of gas and contemplating the
possibility of a second overtime period, Steve Russell won a face-off in
the Duke zone. Steve's centering pass was deflected by a Duke defender,
and ended up at the top of the left circle. Hoya defenseman Charlie Beller
quickly controlled the puck and fired a wrist shot toward the goal. Aided
by a screen of the Duke goalie by Dan Lechner, Charlie's wrist shot was
perfectly placed and landed firmly in the upper right corner of the net!
This game-winner came with only 1:23 remaining in the 20 minute overtime
period.

With this fantastic finish, the Georgetown Hoya hockey team celebrated
back-to-back Championships of the ACCHL for the first time in team history.
Georgetown's victory over Duke culminated a tremendous late-season run by
the Hoyas, who won 9 consecutive league games to finish the season as
undisputed champions of the ACCHL. This victory also topped-off an
outstanding career by the Georgetown seniors, who won 3 ACCHL tournament
championships in the past 4 years. Congratulations to the Hoya Hockey team
and its coaches!