By: Jared Shafran, News Staff
What a week it’s been for the Northeastern men’s hockey team.
Last Monday the Huskies took the Boston College Eagles, the undisputed No. 1 team in the country, into overtime in a Beanpot final for the ages.
While preparing for their weekend series, which included two more games against those same Eagles, the news came that they would be without their head coach and one of his assistants.
The Athletic Department announced Friday that it is conducting an internal investigation of the program for possible NCAA recruitment violations. During the time of the investigation, head coach Greg Cronin and assistant coach Albie O’Connell have been suspended indefinitely, leaving assistant coach Sebastien Laplante in control of the team.
In Laplante’s first game, the team went down 3-1 in the first period and it looked like the beginning of a blowout. But the Huskies came out and scored three straight goals in the second period, taking a 4-3 lead and, as Cronin would say, ‘injected the believability’ that they could beat BC yet again.
Whatever Laplante said in the locker room after the first, it worked. The two teams traded goals once again in a game that had a similar blueprint to the one a few days earlier. But this time, nothing could be settled in overtime and the game ended in a 7-7 tie.
Saturday night the teams met for the final time of the regular season at Matthews Arena. The Huskies played a complete 60 minutes of hockey and proved once and for all that they could knock off the Eagles, outlasting them 2-1 and earning Laplante his first career win as a head coach. Sophomore goaltender Chris Rawlings stood tall all game, the defense weathered the constant pressure of the talented BC forwards, and freshmen forwards Brodie Reid and Braeden Pimm scored goals.
For this team to go through a week like that, where things went from bad to worse, and still come out on top, taking 3 points from a team that had won 13 out of their last 14 games before this three-game series, that says something.
The rest of the league is definitely taking notice of the drive these Huskies have shown, as NU was named Hockey East Team of the Week on Monday.
Whether the violations were intended or accidental, not having your leader on the bench with you for the most crucial part of the season could cripple a team. But not this one: the Huskies have refused to fold despite adversity from all sides this season.
With the win, the team officially clinched a playoff spot, putting it back in the postseason after a one-year absence. The final two weekends of the season will now determine seeding for the quarterfinals. The chances for a top-four seed and a home playoff series are very small, as the Huskies opponents, New Hampshire and Boston University, are two of the best teams in Hockey East.
It’s no secret this team feeds off its fan support they get at games. The sold-out atmosphere at Matthews is unique and different than any other barn. Games like Saturday’s when the building really comes to life make it tough for any opponent who comes into the arena.
However, with spring break looming, some students will be away from the area. If you’re on co-op and will be in Boston for either or both of the next two weekends, get out there and support our team. If this week was any indication, they’ll do their best to repay you with inspired play, and maybe even claim a victory or two.
