With 13:28 remaining in the closing period of the third and final game between Vermont and Dartmouth on March 13, the Catamounts shut the door on the Big Green's stellar 2004-05 season for good. Although the Dartmouth icers were unaware of their inevitable fate at the time of Mark Lutz's winning goal, their loss to Vermont in the quarterfinals of the ECACHL tournament effectively smashed any hope for an NCAA tournament bid.
When the field of 16 was announced last Sunday, Dartmouth was left out of the fray in favor of Bemidji State and Mercyhurst, who were both awarded automatic bids for winning their respective conference tournaments. Dartmouth ended the year 15th in pairwise rankings, which are often used as a projection of the 16 teams granted entrance to the NCAA tourney but lost out to ECACHL rival Colgate for the final spot.
In the first game at UVM, Dartmouth climbed back from a 2-1 deficit to win, 3-2, taking a one-game series lead. Senior captain Lee Stempniak '05 scored the game-winning goal and had one assist while assistant-captain Mike Ouellette '06 tallied a goal and two assists on the night.
Facing elimination, the Catamounts came out firing in game two. UVM notched two quick goals in the opening period. But Dartmouth clawed its way back, tying the game with eight minutes left in regulation on a Nick Johnson '08 slapper from the point. The third period ended in a 2-2 tie and the teams headed into overtime.
Dartmouth was called for two penalties throughout the extra frame, and with just 1:46 remaining in the first OT, sophomore forward Chris Myers fired the puck past Dan Yacey '05 for the win.
"We fought hard to comeback and tie the game, but we couldn't kill the two penalties in OT," said Stempniak after the loss.
The following night, UVM fans packed Gutterson Arena for the rubber-match of the best-of-three game series.
For the third straight game, Vermont struck first, taking an early lead at 13:55 in the opening frame. Two minutes into the third period, Eric Przepiorka '06 scored the equalizer. However, Dartmouth's newfound impetus was shattered 10 minutes later when Lutz beat Yacey high as the Big Green goaltender came out of the net to try and make the save.
"It's tough to lose this way but a couple of bad breaks, penalties and missed opportunities didn't help us much," said Coach Bob Gaudet. "It was a great game and a great series."
Hobey Baker Award candidate Stempniak was held pointless as the curtains fell on the senior's majestic four-year campaign at Dartmouth. Stempniak played in a school-record 134 career games and tallied an astounding total of 151 points. The fifth-round draft pick of the St. Louis Blues will now look to continue his hockey career at the highest level next year.
Graduating alongside Stempniak are forwards Nathan Szymanski '05 and Chris Snizek '05, defenseman John Ostapyk '05 and Yacey.
Nevertheless, the most significant off-season question mark will be the status of Jessiman, the 12th overall pick of the New York Rangers in 2003.
"I am not sure if I will be returning next year at the moment," said the junior forward.
Though the NHL is currently on thin ice, it is assumed that if the league is in working order by the start of next season, Jessiman will forego his final year of eligibility and turn pro.
