When it comes to sports, hockey often doesn’t get the glory it deserves. It’s rare to see more than one NHL game on TV every night and only four states (Minnesota, Michigan, North Dakota and Massachusetts) even know college hockey exists. While the NUIM basketball finals are moved to famed Welsh-Ryan Arena, floor hockey’s championship games are played in its normal setting, Patten Gym. Nonetheless, here’s a recap of Monday’s hockey championships.
Co-Rec
Fighting Quakers 6, Pike / Tridelt 2:
The two biggest questions for the Quakers coming into the co-rec final were “could they shut down or at least contain Pike’s Sam Wheeler” and “would their goalie, Patricia De Boer, come up big when tested.” The answer to both was a resounding “Yes”. The Quakers dominated puck possession with three guys on the “ice” versus Pike’s two, and shadowed Wheeler all game with one of their defenseman. Jeff Weishaar scored the first three Quaker goals, ending up with four on the night and the Quakers had the game won late in the 2nd period.
MVP: Jeff Weishaar
White
Fighting Quakers 2, Neutral Zone Parent Trap 0:
In white league sports it’s rare to see a team with a regular season loss end up in the championship game. Two losses, and you should probably count on an early playoff exit. But Neutral Zone Parent Trap (2-2 in the regular season and #14 playoff seed) won 4 straight games by a combined 5 goals to earn a birth in Monday’s final. The Quakers opened the scoring in the first period when Jeff Krimmel fired a wrist shot past the Parent Trap goalie. He scored again with five minutes to go in the 3rd period sealing the victory. Quakers goalie Simeon Wrobel came up huge all night, stopping several point-blank scoring chances. The white league championship capped off a two-title quarter for the Fighting Quakers, a nice rebound from a disappointing football season.
MVP: Simeon Wrobel
Purple
ZBT 2, Pike 1:
The top 2 purple league teams duked it out in front of a raucous crowd. More than 75 rowdy fans from both frat houses crammed into the cozy Patten Gym sideline. Pike controlled the tempo early, but ZBT took a page from the Quakers defensive scheme and had a man follow Wheeler the entire game. Weishaar started the scoring midway through the first period. ZBT held the lead through an uneventful second period, but failed to convert on two power play opportunities. With four minutes to go in the 3rd period, Bill Pulte scored the equalizer for Pike. Overtime seemed imminent, but with only 32 seconds left, ZBT’s Adam Croft took the puck down the right side and wristed a shot past the screened Pike goalie.
MVP: Adam Croft
