East Regional Wrap-Up

The Black Bears of the University of Maine took the East Regional this year and are headed to the Frozen Four. Maine had an impressive weekend scoring 11 goals in two games and also had some impressive goaltending from Freshman Ben Bishop.

Michigan State the #1 seed in this region should not be dissapointed with their efforts this weekend. The Spartans shutout New Hampshire on Saturday before losing to Maine on Sunday, but the future is looking bright for head coach Rick Comley and the rest of the team. Captain Drew Miller should return for his Senior season thus the Spartans will still have the leadership and the determination and could be one of the favorites in the CCHA next season.

Harvard was the most dissapointing team this weekend. After coming off a 16 goal outburst in the semis and the finals of the ECACHL tournament, the Crimson should have come more prepared for Maine. The Black Bears had their number all game and did not stop its relentless attack going for them. The Crimson gave up six goals in one of the worse defensive games they played all year. Final Score Maine 6 Harvard 1.

Maine continued to attack at all costs scoring three goals in the first period against Michigan State. The Spartans crawled there way back in the second. After trailing 4-1 in the second period, mostly everyone thought Michigan State could not come back. Well that was not the case as Tim Crowder and Jim McKenzie scored to make it a 4-3 game after two. The third period was a defensive period as goaltenders Jeff Lerg for Michigan State and Ben Bishop of Maine did very well. An empty net goal made it 5-3 for Maine. Michigan State scored one more past Bishop but it wasan't enough as the Black Bears won and earned a trip to Milwaukee to face the home state team the Wisconsin Badgers. It will be a tough test for the Black Bears as Wisconsin will have the home-ice advantage.

All Regional Team:

F- John Hopson, Maine (MVP)
F- Tim Crowder, Michigan State
F- Michel Leveille, Maine
D- Matt Duffy, Maine
D- Jared Nightingale, Michigan State
G- Ben Bishop, Maine

Tommorrow the West Regional will be reviewed.