Sturgeon Destroys Beaver Dam; Hamilton College Wins Hockey Championship

So yesterday … Hamilton College and Hobart College faced off for the NCAA Division III Men’s Ice Hockey Championship, the final contest of the NCAA tournament. For Hobart, a win would give the Statesmen four consecutive championships; for Hamilton, it would give the Continentals their first men’s title (the women’s lacrosse team won an NCAA championship in 2008).

This was a battle. Hobart claimed the first goal off a power play in the first period; Hamilton responded with an even-strength goal 15 seconds into the second period. Then it was a defensive blockade; Hamilton’s Axel Reid figuratively “stood on his head” to stop over 30 shots; while Hobart’s goaltender Damon Beaver held off a 13-10 Hamilton shot barrage int he third period.

So … we’re going to overtime.

And in overtime, Hamilton freshman Curtiss Simpson picked up a pass from a line change, and fired it into the net past Beaver … game over, Hamilton wins.

If you want to watch the whole game, I have it embedded here; I actually have it cued up to the big goal rush by Curtiss Simpson.

Oh man, I could watch that play over and over again.

With that victory, Hamilton ends Hobart’s 69-game winning streak. It also stops Hobart from claiming a fourth straight NCAA hockey championship.

What a way to start the week. Incredible. Just straight-up incredible.

That NCAA championship banner will look spectacular hanging from the Sage Rink rafters.

Can not wait to see it the next time I visit campus.

This totally works for me.

Totally.

“Dear is thy homestead, glade and glen // Hobart ain’t gonna win here again…”