But Sheridan--who finished his stick-swinging with a slam against the arena wall after a late-game ejection--found no solace in McCormack's manners.
He took the senior down early in the third period with a low slice. McCormack tried to get up. He tried again. And again. But his hyperextended knee just wouldn't cooperate.
McCormack, who missed last year's Beanpot with a broken collar-bone, may be sitting down for three weeks. The official word on Drury is one to two weeks.
So when the real bumping and bruising began, McCormack and Drury were riding the bench. Ahead? A long busride home--with ice packs--and a longer sit in the stands during tonight's Beanpot semifinal.
But they weren't supposed to be thinking about the 'Pot. No one was.
But it was hard to avoid.
"All over New England, it's a big deal," said Drury, a Trumbull, Conn. native. "It means a lot to me. I'm disappointed I'm not going to play."
Crimson, 4-1 at West Point, N.Y. HARVARD 1-1-2--4 Army 0-1-0--1
First Period: 1, H, Mike Vukonich 15 (John Murphy, Kevin Sneddon) 5:03. Penalties--Mike Kelsey (elbowing) 1227; H, Tim Burke (cross checking) 1621.
Second Period:2, A, Scott Schulze 6 (Rich Sheridan, Al Brenner) 14:10; 3, H, C.J. Young (Tod Hartje, Vukonich) 15:18. Penalties--A, Scott Tardif (tripping) 8:41; H, Scott Barringer (Cross checking) 12:20; H, Young (hooking) 12:46.
Third Period: 4, H, Pete Ciavaglia 14 (Burke, John Weisbrod) 0:49; 5, H, Ciavaglia (Young, Ted Donato) 10:57. Penalties--H, Barringer (holding) 2:23; A, Sheridan (hitting from behind) 3:03; H, Rich DeFreitas (tripping) 7:32; H, Bench (served by Barringer) 8:22; H, Weisbrod (10-minute misconduct) 8:22; A, Todd Traczyk (holding) 10:39; A, Brad Hamacher (roughing) 13:50; A, Sheridan (tripping, slashing, 10-minute misconduct) 15:38; A, Todd Tamburino (hooking) 18:41; A, Neil Minihane (roughing) 19:46; H, Steve Flomenhoft (roughing) 19:46; H, Barringer (roughing) 19:46.
Saves: H, Allain Roy 6-9-5--20; A, Brooks Chretien 5-5-3--13.
Power Play: H, 1-8; Y, 1-6.
Attendance: 2540.