NU claims the ‘Belpot’
Shea scores twice in the title game
If the election was held today, Northeastern senior defenseman Ryan Shea of Milton would be odds-on favorite to become the next Lord Mayor of Belfast, especially if any of the 5,846 Northern Ireland fans in SSE Arena over the weekend had much to say. NU claimed the coveted Belpot Trophy, beating New Hampshire, 4-0, in the first round and outlasting Colgate, 4-3, for the title.
It’s another good bet that Shea, the son of ex-Boston College great Dan Shea of Quincy, can find plenty of newly-found ‘relatives’ ringing him up after he posted 2 goals and added three assists in a breakout performance to earn Player of the Tournament laurels. Shea hit the empty net, assisted by Zach Solow, for the game-winner.
“It feels great. We’ve won a couple of championships in the past and now we have another under our belt,” said Shea, the senior captain of the Huskies (10-4-2). “You could tell by the celebration I was pretty pumped. (Solow) gave me a great pass and I was looking at the net the whole time.”
Graduate transfer Craig Pantano of Bridgewater earned his first shutout in a NU uniform with 25 stops against UNH. Pantano backstopped the championship by turning aside 24 Red Raiders shots.
Speaking of UNH, which beat Princeton, 3-2, in the consolation behind a pair of Liam Blackburn goals, a pleasant surprise has been junior forward Kohei Sato. The 6-foot-1 Sato, who hails from Nishitokyo, Japan, comes quite naturally by his dazzling foot speed as his grandfather was an Olympic speed skater. After scoring one goal in each of his first two seasons, Sato has erupted with five lamp-lighters in 13 games this season.
“I think his experience with the Japanese National team last spring really helped him. He’s a real great kid, He wants to be coached. He wants to improve. He might be the fastest player in the league. He’s a great story. The first Japanese-born and raised player in Division 1 college hockey,” said UNH coach Mike Souza earlier this season.
Question of the Week
Which Japanese-Canadian was the 1967 Beanpot MVP, played in three Olympic Games for Japan, and served as flag bearer in 1980 in Lake Placid.? Answer below.
Record Chase
Bruins legend Tim Thomas owns the Vermont career mark for saves with 3,950 from 1993-97 but could be passed for the top spot by the acrobatic and highly competitive Stefanos Lekkas. The All-HE selection has produced consecutive seasons with saves totals of 934, 1,040 and 1,049. This season, Lekkas has 335 stops and considering UVM is surrendering 34 shots per game, Lekkas, who could make 20 more starts in the regular season, could become numero uno.
“He’s special. He gives us a chance to win every night.
We just haven’t given him enough run support so he’s had to be perfect,” said Vermont coach Kevin Sneddon ,a member of Harvard’s 1989 NCAA champions.
Slapshots
Army sophomore forward Eric Butt of Belmont, the son of Harvard crew coach Charley Butt, had both third period game-winners as the Cadets swept Canisius. Butt has 4-3-7 totals with 3 GW… UMass-Lowell senior Tyler Wall (9-0-0, 1.62 GAA, .944 SP) has been having a terrific season and had 34 saves as UML knocked off high-powered Penn State, 3-2, in the Turkey Leg Classic at Tsongas Center. Wall has shown a willingness to play the ironman role, making 446 saves in 987:12 minutes. Wall’s win was his 49th… Tough keeping up with the Mitchell(s). Maine senior Mitchell Fossier is off to a good start with 3 goals, 16 assists and 19 points. Reigning Hockey East scoring champ and ever-consistent Mitchell Chaffee of UMass has 11 goals, 7 assists… Big efforts on the weekend from Providence sophomore Sara Hjalmarsson of Team Sweden (3-3-6), who set a Mayor’s Cup record for points (6).
Also, NU’s Chloe Aurard (3-2-5) and Katy Knoll (1-4-5) and Wentworth senior George Gorodetsky (2-3-5), an Arizona State-transfer by way of Yekaterinburg, Russia.
The Bowlby siblings of Edina, Minn., kept the local travel agent busy. Tuesday, Harvard junior Henry Bowlby (4-4-8) assisted on his teams’ opening goal in a 4-2 loss to Boston College. Over the weekend junior Grace (1-1011) started on left defense for Wisconsin as the Badgers beat Harvard, 5-1, and BC, 5-3 to highlight the Inaugural Country Classic Tournament in Nashville, Tenn. Meanwhile, sister CC Bowlby, who paces Dartmouth scoring with 4-4-8 totals, had a goal and 2 assists in 5-2 win over Maine… Harvard sophomore star Lindsay Reed tied her career-high set in last year’s Beanpot semifinal upset of BC, with 52 saves against the Badgers. Daryl Watts, who won the Patty Kazmaier Award while playing for BC during her freshman year, scored Wisconsin’s third goal.
Quiz Answer
BU legend Osamu “Herb” Wakabayashi (55-90-145 in 92 games, 1966-69).