| West Point edges RMC in �a real dandy of a game�
By Patrick Kennedy (Kingston Whig Standard) Monday, February 09, 2004 - 07:00 Local Sports - From 86-year-old John Matheson to five-year-old Ryan Savoie, the large raucous crowd was the decisive winner at Saturday�s Royal Military College-West Point hockey tilt at the Memorial Centre. Well, the crowd and the visiting West Pointers, who eked out a 3-2 triumph. The 71st edition of the longest-running cross-border shinny skirmish was once again contested with fiery desire and heart, both teams motivated by something unknown to most of today�s millionaire players: School pride. Throw in an international border and that pride extends to country. �That was a real dandy of a game, fast-skating, tough and clean, the way it should be,� said retired Major Danny McLeod, the erstwhile RMC athletics director and hockey coach who�s had a bird�s eye view of these encounters since 1961. Even the trio of on-ice National Hockey League officials came away entertained, and they�re used to working in big-league barns. �Both teams skated very hard, played hard and hit hard, but they were also disciplined,� said 10-year referee Greg Kimmerly, who was joined by NHL linesmen Derek Nansen and Steve Barton after McLeod, the league�s former supervisor of officials, made some calls. �It was hard-nosed hockey. From our standpoint, that was a very entertaining game to work.� Unlike 80 years ago when West Point�s first road trip to a �foreign� country � permission granted, incidentally, by the secretary of war � ended in defeat, their successors capitalized on two second-period lapses to snap a 1-1 deadlock and craft a two-goal lead after 40 minutes. Palaldins coach Kelly Nobes preferred the term �bad bounces� to lapses. At any rate he wasn�t about to point fingers, not after �a great performance� by his team. �We forechecked, we created chances, we managed the puck well down low,� Nobes said with conviction. �The difference was that West Point was a bit more opportunistic. �I couldn�t ask any more out of those 20 guys,� he added, motioning towards the Paladins dressing room. �We certainly played well enough to win.� Prior to the game Black Knights� assistant coach Brian Riley suggested to a bystander to �keep an eye on our goalie [Brad Roberts], No. 15, maybe No. 6� as possible standouts. This guy Riley has a future in handicapping. Accordingly, Messrs. Roberts, Seth Beamer and Jon Boyle were integral in the win, which combined with last year�s 4-0 shutout in New York comprised the Yanks� first back-to-back victories since an imposing seven-year run (1991-97). During that dark period the West Point pucksters outscored the Canuck cadets 39-9. West Point leads the overall series 37-28-6. New Hampshire products Beamer and Chris Garceau each had a goal and an assist, Garceau netting the eventual winner late in the second period. Roberts, last year�s defensive player of the year in the Black Knights� Atlantic Hockey League, was superb when called upon. As was RMC�s Blair Robertson, the busier of the two puck-blockers. West Point outshot RMC 31-20 including 15-5 in the middle frame. Defenceman Brent Maurice was in on both RMC goals, opening the scoring on a power play midway through Period 1 and setting the stage for a wild finish with an assist on Matt Reid�s marker five minutes into the third. Down by a goal, the Paladins pressured and pounced on every loose puck in the final 20 minutes. Whenever a pinching RMC defence was caught gambling, goalkeeper Robertson kept it a one-goal contest. Roberts, who was particularly sharp in a RMC-dominated first period, was also the beneficiary of a couple of fortuitous bounces, such as the puck�s gentle hop over the stick of a Paladins player parked in front of a yawning West Point cage in the final period. �It�s disappointing to lose but I thought we gave a terrific effort and fought hard the whole way,� said Aylmer native Maurice, whose screened point-shot with 13 seconds remaining missed by inches. West Point head coach Rob Riley called it a typical game between the two military schools. �It was about what we expected, close and competitive,� said the 18-year coach who took over the coaching reins from his father Jack, who had them for 36 years; assistant Brian is Rob�s brother. �These games are always hard-fought and tight. �We tired out their defence in the second period and got a couple of nice bounces, and of course [goalkeeper] Roberts was solid.� The outcome no doubt pleased the square-jawed fellow who introduced himself as Bill Lennox. He�s better known around the United States Military Academy as Lt.-Gen. William J. Lennox, Superintendent. His presence was expected but not guaranteed, especially after Friday�s freezing rain blanketed the area and forced the school�s taekwondo, debating, rifle and pistol-shooting teams to remain at home. (The Black Knights hockey team arrived in Kingston the previous night). Even with his clout, Lennox was only able to round up a propeller-driven C-12 military plane at the last minute, �and I have to have it back tonight,� the career soldier said, chuckling. �I wouldn�t have missed this game for anything,� he added backstage before his introduction to the packed house. �This is a distinct rivalry but there is also a great deal of esprit de corps.� Just not on the ice, sir. |
 |
 |
| 2004 West Point Game |
 |
|
| West Point Weekend |