ST. PAUL, Minn.--In the Twin Cities, it will be known forever as the goal that silenced 15,000 screaming Minnesota Golden Gopher fans and their beloved hockey team.
But on the banks of the Charles, it will be known as the goal that gave Harvard Coach Bill Cleary reason to dance all over the ice here at the St. Paul Civic Center.
Saturday night in front of a partisan crowd of 15,861 spectators from the Land of 10,000 Lakes, Crimson forward Ed Krayer tallied a goal 4:16 into overtime to defeat the Gophers, 4-3, in the finals of the 1989 NCAA tournament. As the puck skirted past Minnesota goalie Robb Stauber, Crimson players hurled helmets and sticks into the air. For the first time in the 41-year history of the tournament, Harvard (31-3) was champion of college hockey and the first Crimson team since the 1904 golf squad to win a NCAA title.
"I can't even describe the feeling," said Krayer, whose title-clinching goals was his third of the tournament, "It was unbelievable. I just couldn't believe it."
Freshman defenseman Brian McCormack set up Krayer's goal with a slap shot from the left side of the blue line. Stauber made the save, but the Minnesota defense couldn't clear out the puck.
In stepped Krayer from the right side of the net. A backhand shot. A slow roller across the crease and into the net. Golden Gophers staring dejectedly at the red light. A group of Crimson players hugging Krayer.
Dance, Coach Cleary, dance. Followed by the rest of the Harvard players.
"I just hopped over the boards, along witheveryone else. It was a great feeling," seniorAllen Bourbeau said. "It was madness. That's theonly way to describe it. Pure madness."
But even madness must have its method. And themethod of this Crimson squad, the best in schoolhistory, was simple: control the game.
"In overtime, we decided that we had to stayaggressive and not become tentative like we didagainst UVM [three weeks ago, when Harvard lost tothe Catamounts, 3-2, in the ECAC semifinals],"Hobey Baker winner and Crimson Captain LaneMacDonald said.
Visions of UVM, however, reappeared for a briefmoment when Minnesota defensman Tom Pederson fireda shot past Harvard goalie Chuckie Hughes with7:53 left in the overtime period. The state ofMinnesota thought the Gophers had wrapped up thetheir first national title since 1979. Pederson'sshot, however, hit only post.
"It wasn't going in," said Hughes, who finishedthe game with 33 saves. "You just forget about itand keep playing the game."
And it was a game that will certainly beremembered as a tournament classic. Both teamsskated, both teams relied on solid goaltending anddefense, and both teams scored clutch goals.
"To me, it's a tribute to the way the gameshould be played," Cleary said.
The Gophers took a 1-0 lead at the 13:36 markof the first period when Jon Anderson scored hisfourth goal of the tournament off a pass from BenHankinson.
Minnesota tried to open the game up late in theopening period when the officials whistled theCrimson for three successive penalties. ButHarvard's penalty-killing unit, led by theAll-America duo of MacDonald and junior C.J.Young, shut out the Gophers.
"They killed those penalties well," saidMinnesota Coach Doug Woog, who admitted that hissquad was a little bit tired after its win Fridaynight against Maine in the semifinals. "But Ithink if you're a little bit more fresh, you comeout on the ice with more gusto."
Harvard tied the game, 1-1, with 13:30remaining in the second period, thanks totournament MVP Ted Donato's first goal of thenight.
While Minnesota's Todd Richards watched fromthe penalty box, MacDonald skated into the zone,passed the puck back to Bourbeau, who quicklydished it off to Donato. The sophomore forwardfired a shot that screamed past Stauber.
In the third period, Donato broke a 2-2 tie atthe 12:53 mark when he stuffed in a rebound off ashot from freshman Kevin Sneddon.
But with the partisan crowd screaming from allsections of the Civic Center, the Gophers stillhad a little go-go in their skates.
"I knew it wasn't over," Donato said."Minnesota is too good a team to just give up."
Minnesota got its chance to even the game whenJohn Weisbrod was called for a questionablecross-checking penalty as he was shifting lines atthe 14:46 mark of the final period.
With 12 seconds remaining on the Gopher powerplay, Pederson passed the puck to Pete Hankinsonby the right side of the net. Hankinson's shotslipped past Hughes, and the score was tied, 3-3.
The Crimson almost won in regulation, butStauber blocked a Mike Vukonich shot in front ofthe net with 2:16 left in the game.
Vukonich and his Crimson team-mates would justhave to wait until the overtime period.
"I think a lot of people doubted that we wouldever win a national title," Cleary said. "I thinkit proves that our kids can play hockey againstanyone."
Even when it's against 15,000 screaming fansand their beloved hockey team.
Crimson, 4-3 at St. Paul Civic Center
Minnesota 1-1-1-0--3Harvard 0-2-1-1--4
First Period--1, M, Anderson (B.Hankinson, Olimb) 20 6:24. Penalties--H, Krayer(Cross checking) 13:21; H, Carone (high sticking)15:33; H, Melrose (holding) 17:39.
Second Period--2, H, Donato 13(Bourbeau, MacDonald) 6:30; 3, H, MacDonald 31(Young) 10:29; 4, M, Miller (Pitlick, Chorske)13:01. Penalties--M, Pitlick (elbowing) :56; M,Richards (holding) 5:57; M, Chorske (hooking)7:22; H, Sneddon (hooking) 11:08; M, Chorske(interference) 17:09; H, Caplan (elbowing) 18:44.
Third Period--5, H, Donato 17 (Sneddon,Vukonich) 12:53; 6, M, Hankinson 16 (Pederson,Skarda) 16:34. Penalties--M, Pederson (roughing):46; H, Carone (holding) 7:29; H, Bourbeau (highsticking) 9:59; H, Weisbrod (cross checking)14:46.
Overtime--7, Krayer 12 (B. McCormack)4:16.
Saves--M, Stauber 10-8-5-1--24; H,Hughes 10-8-13-2--33.
Power Play Opps: M, 2-8; N, 1-5.
A: 15,861.
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