For the past year, I have wanted to write a running diary of a Dartmouth hockey game. Last Saturday was my chance -- I had to be on the radio anyway.
6:30 p.m.: Live from Manchester: your Dartmouth Big Green taking on the Wildcats of the University of New Hampshire.
6:42 p.m.: UNH is ranked No. 5 in the country at 13-6-1, and Dartmouth is 7-8-1, looking to get back to .500 on the season for the first time since November. On paper this is a mismatch. Thank God they do not play these games on paper.
6:48 p.m.: Dartmouth has three drafted players --.JT. Wyman '08, Nick Johnson '08, and Joe Stejskal '10. New Hampshire, on the other hand, has seven, including two goalies. Not sure what that tells us just yet.
7:01p.m.: It's worth noting that Dartmouth and UNH are the only two Division I schools in New Hampshire, making this a fantastic geographic rivalry.
7:09 p.m.: We are underway.
7:10 p.m.: Dartmouth goalie Mike Devine '08 tested very early in this one. Not good for your Big Green.
7:12 p.m.: Four shots for UNH in just under two minutes. Uh-oh.
7:28 p.m.: UNH with their second power play opportunity. The first one didn't go so hot.
7:33 p.m.: The second power play went a little better. UNH's Craig Switzer bangs home a rebound for a much-deserved New Hampshire goal. They have outshot the Big Green 15-3 and lead here 1-0
7:35 p.m.: That was quick. J.T. Wyman bangs home an equalizer with the puck just sitting in the crease. It wasn't the prettiest goal but Dartmouth won't complain. Nick Johnson gets the assist, meaning that while he is still tied with his father for 26th on Dartmouth's all-time goals list, he is now tied for 21st on the all-time points list.
7:44 p.m.: I have been harping on Dartmouth's inability to control the puck on-air, and it almost resulted in a UNH goal to end the first.
7:45 p.m.: The first period is over, and the Big Green and Wildcats are tied. UNH is outshooting Dartmouth 15-8.
7:59 p.m.: The second period is about to start. The Big Green need to be better in transition, and keep better control of the puck if they want to stay in this one.
8:00 p.m.: New Hampshire starts the second period with a flurry of offense but Dartmouth steadies the fort.
8:02 p.m.: Out of nowhere, Dartmouth's Joe Gaudet '10, son of head coach Bob Gaudet. Craig Switzer falls, Rob Smith '10 finds himself with plenty of space and discovers Gaudet cutting to the slot. Now THAT was a pretty goal.
8:03 p.m.: Andrew Owsiak '10 with a wrap-around attempt and Big Green are looking frisky offensively.
8:15 p.m.: Wyman gets his second goal of the game on power play chaos and the Big Green lead 3-1.
8:21 p.m.: New Hampshire gets one back on an inevitable goal. An onslaught of shots on Mike Devine.
8:26 p.m.: Thirty-four saves for Devine so far. Wow.
9:08 p.m.: I looked down for one second and the Big Green have taken a 4-2 lead. John Gibson '09 with a quick shot off of a face-off in the Dartmouth zone. Looks like New Hampshire goaltender Kevin Regan never saw it coming. 4-2. I am impressed and a bit surprised.
9:18 p.m.: Time is Dartmouth's friend right now. Upset in the making.
9:22 p.m.: Josh Gillam '10 with a fantastic shot from the circle to give Dartmouth a 5-2 lead. Manchester is a city for upsets tonight. Here we come .500.
9:25p.m.: Did I mention Dartmouth is being outshot 54-24? OUTSHOT BY 30 SHOTS? AND THEY ARE UP BY THREE GOALS?
9:27 p.m.: Craig Switzer has to commit a penalty in order to prevent J.T. Wyman from completing an empty-net hat trick. As Iceland's Olalf Sanderson once said in D2: "Two minutes, well worth it."
9:31 p.m.: UNH gets one back, but Bob Gaudet will take that in a heartbeat. 5-3 Dartmouth here in Manchester.
9:33 p.m.: 5-3 Dartmouth is your final score. Mike Devine sets a career high with 57 saves, six short of the Dartmouth record.
9:35 p.m.: The Riverstone Cup is presented to Dartmouth for the first time in three years, and deservedly, Mike Devine is the MVP.
9:42 p.m.: All in all, a successful night for the Big Green. 8-8-1 never felt so good.
