In the biggest upset since the U.S. men’s hockey team defeated Russia at the 1980 Olympics, the HBS Blades fell to Tuck in the men’s A team final at the McArthur Cup www.replicaforbest.co.uk. In Vegas, HBS was a five-to-one favorite to win the cup after demolishing Tuck during its home tournament just a month before, but in a one game playoff, anything can happen, and it did.
Tuck jumped out to a quick lead, scoring two goals in the first period. Down 2-0 at the first intermission, Coach Andrew Hendrie (OF) spoke to the team in the locker room, reciting a piece from Any Given Sunday: “I look around, I see these young faces, and I think… I’ve made every wrong choice a middle-aged man can make. I pissed away all my money, believe it or not. I chased off anyone who’s ever loved me, and lately, I can’t even stand the face I see in the mirror. You know when you get old in life, things get taken from you. That’s part of life. But you only learn that when you start losing stuff. You find out life’s this game of inches. And so is [hockey]. Because in either game, life or [hockey], the margin for error is so small.. On this team, we tear ourselves and everyone else around us to pieces for that inch. That’s a team, gentlemen. And either we heal, now, as a team, or we will die, as individuals. That’s [hockey], guys. That’s all it is. Now, what are you going to do?”
From that point on, HBS played inspired hockey, making it 2-1 when a fired-up Brian Wannop (OC) blasted a shot past the sprawling Tuck goaltender at 4:09 of the second period. Then HBS evened the score in the third period when super-handsome defenseman Mike Kreger (OC) rushed the puck down the ice past two Tuck defenders and fired a quick snap shot. The Tuck goaltender gave up a juicy rebound that new co-Captain Joe McElroy (NF) top-shelved to tie it 2-2. HBS dominated the final minutes of regulation play, firing ten shots at the Tuck goaltender and pinning the Tuck team in its defensive zone to end the third period.
In overtime, HBS continued to pressure Tuck, firing a barrage of shots often missing by only inches. The game went to a shootout and the HBS Blades, whose excellence is based on team play and sacrifice, lost to Tuck 2-1. But a look over the stats shows that HBS dominated; HBS led time of possession (30:34 to 14:26) and shots on goal (42 to 20).
In the end, the B-School Blades played in one of the most memorable hockey games in recent history. There was emotion, drama and a tragic ending that only added to the memories of this legendary season replica breitling Aeromarine . Incoming co-Captain Mark Angeloni (NG) stated, “This is the best group of ECs I’ve ever played with.”
People will be talking about players like Lenny Li (OA) and Chris Biedrzycki (OA) for years to come. It will be hard to replace the leaving ECs next year as the Blades are no longer giving out athletic scholarships due to massive losses in their endowment. At the height of the bull market, team investment officers Marc Weiner and Steve Young capitalized instead of expensed team jerseys.
The HBS B team finished a strong second in its division, defeating Sauder and the Harvard Medical School to make it to the final. Despite outstanding goaltending from Scott Werry (OJ), HBS B fell to Wharton 3-0 in the championship game.
Overall, the tournament was a success replica breitling bentley 6.75, as 14 teams descended on Cambridge for the 25th annual McArthur Cup and no one was arrested.
McArthur Cup Awards
Conn Smythe – Edward Rawlinson (OG) (2.20 GAA, .934 SV%)
Excessive Odor Award – Alex Roe (OA)
World’s Best Dad – Chad Hufsey (NB) (Recent Father)
Fashionably Late – Pat Kelly (NB) (Has never played a full game)
Iron Man Award – Matt McKnight (HKS joint degree) (Played in both A & B tournaments)
Drama Queen Award – Scott Prime (OE)
Sketchy Uncle Award – James McNally (OB) (Old guy in the locker room)
B-School Blades EC Recruiting Update
Chris Hontvet (Partner OH) – Signed a UFC Contract
Garret Overlock (OI) – Drafted by the AHL (Adult Hockey League, Boston MA)
Jon Hill (OF) – Signed with the KHL (Khazak Hockey League) but may decline to pursue investment banking
Ron Spreeuwenberg (OG) – Picked up on waivers by Sasquatch Law
Results
A Tournament
W 9-0 HBS A vs Suffolk
L 4-3 HBS A vs Tuck
W 6-4 HBS A vs Michigan Alumni
W 7-6 HBS A vs NYU Stern (Semifinal)
L 3-2 (Shoot Out) HBS A vs Tuck (Championship)
B Tournament
W 6-4 HBS B vs Harvard Medical
L 6-5 vs Sauder
W 4-1 HBS B vs Sauder (Semifinal)
L 3-0 HBS B vs Wharton (Championship)
HBS Hockey 2010-2011 Outlook
With talented players like Dan Monahan (NG) and Phil Dreyfuss (ND) returning, the Blades should start the season as the top-ranked team in the North American Business School Hockey League. The team’s new co-captains are Joe McElroy (NF) and Mark Angeloni (NG). There are rumors that the class of 2010 alumni team will be looking for revenge at the 2011 McArthur Cup.
AUTHOR’S BIOGRAPHY
Buzz is a gentleman and a scholar from Section E. When not playing hockey, he likes to write poetry.
