20th Annual UConn Hockey Classic Recap
On December 29th and 30th, 2012, UConn hosted the 20th annual UConn Hockey Classic. In the first game, No 18 Minnesota State played Brown college. Minnesota State scored a goal late in the first and half-way through the third period to build a 2-0 lead. Brown then scored a shorthanded goal with seven minutes left, but MSU scored an empty-netter to seal a 3-1 win and go to the championship. In the second game of the first round, UConn played rival AIC. Just over a minute into the game, Trevor Gerling scored for UConn, his third of the season, to put UConn up 1-0. Over ten minutes later, Brant Harris charged past the defensemen, and on a slight breakaway, deked around the goalie and scored. But 21 seconds into the second period, AIC scored to make it a 2-1 game. Nine minutes later, UConn’s Trevor Gerling scored again, to make it 3-1, and start a rally of three goals in a 6:52 span, to make it 5-1 going into the final period. In the third, Ambroisie and Harris scored to give UConn a 7-1 lead, leading them to a 7-2 victory, to advance to the championship to play Minnesota State. Matt Grogan earned his first start in almost two years.
In the consolation game, Brown played AIC. Only 15 seconds into the game, AIC scored to take a 1-0 lead. Twelve minutes later, Brown tied the game, and went on to score two power-play goals in the final two minutes of the period to gain a 3-1 lead. Seven minutes into the second, AIC got back with in one, on an even-strength goal. But not even a minute later, Brown scored again, to take a 4-2 lead over the Yellow Jackets. For the first twelve minutes of the third, the two teams battled to no goals, but in the next five minutes, Brown scored three goals, to seal a 7-2 win over AIC for Brown. AIC was handed their third straight 7-2 loss, as Brown claimed third place, and AIC came in last in their first appearance in the tournament.
In the Championship game of the classic, UConn took on Minnesota State. I went with my dad, friends Alex, and Seth and their dads Mr. Wearne and Mr Beecher. It was my friend’s Seth first time seeing UConn play. Just over ten minutes into the game, UConn suprisingly took the 1-0 lead. Sean Ambroisie took the puck over the blue line, and passed to Tyler Bouchard who shot it off the post and in, for his third goal in four games. I had gotten a cow bell for Christmas, and I was gald I got to use it when UConn scored. Despite the lead, UConn was outshot in the first 12-4. During the first intermission, Seth, Alex and I went to buy a snack, and in my opinion, brought back a meal (I got a big pretzel, Alex got a big platter of nachos and cheese, and Seth got two drinks, a big pretzel, and a huge bowl of popcorn!) In the first five minutes of the second, Minnesota State recorded two goals to take a 2-1 lead, going into the third period. It was to finally get to see both of my friends again, and during the second intermission, I shwoed my friends UConn’s trophies, and talked to them, then ate some more! Fun!!! During the third, UConn outshot MSU 7-6, but had to pull their goalie since they hadn’t scored. With 20 seconds to go, UConn stole the puck from a MSU player an shot the puck, and Billy Latta just over the crossbar! MSU went on to score an emptynetter, with 7 seconds to go, and claim the championship with a 3-1 win. UConn was represented on the All-Tournament Team by Brant Harris and Jacob Poe. We were all disappointed that UConn lost, but we all had a great time!
2 Comments
Fifth line from the bottom on the left side showed you just revised the w and the o. No big deal. The article was excellent again and it was nice your friends were there and you could have a nice time.
As always it was a great night spent together as friends – Thankfully you didn’t get out of control with your new cow bell which would have got us all ejected from the arena!