Monthly Archives: April 2019
Last game of the season
Frozen Four Championship:
Key Bank Center; Buffalo, NY
The French Connection
UMass vs UMD in the 2018-19 Title Game.
The Bulldogs and Minutemen during warmups
For all the excitement and anticipation, the championship game did not meet the standards of either of the two semi-final games.
The opening face-off
Duluth’s Parker Mackay scored on a PPG less than 4 minutes into the first period, and never looked back. UMass looked tentative at first, and that look never really left them. The Bulldogs clogged the lanes, blocked shots, took out bodies and basically caused havoc to the fast paced offense of Massachusetts.
UMD’s Mikey Anderson, on assists by Mackay and Justin Richards, put the puck in the net in period two. Then Jackson Cates scored in the third, and that was far more than Hunter Shepard would need in the Bulldog net.
Minnesota-Duluth goes back to back, winning their second national title in a row, and third overall
The Bulldogs would skate away with a 3-0 shutout win. Parker Mackay would win the tournament’s most valuable player award. No drama in this one.
2019 Frozen Four
Key Bank Center: Buffalo, New York
Key Bank Center
The Frozen Four returned to Buffalo for the first time since 2003, when Minnesota beat New Hampshire for the title.
The Frozen Foursome has grown to a Frozen Six, but that has no ring to it, so I’m sticking with Frozen Foursome+. At any rate, we were excited to see the NCAA Championship tournament return to the hockey town in Western New York.
Alaska-Fairbanks jersey, American International, and the Pitch-Forks
The Duluth Bulldogs had their hands full with the Providence Friars on Thursday afternoon, in the first game. The game was scoreless after one period of play. Then Duluth’s Justin Richards put the Bulldogs in the lead in period two. But Josh Wilkins of the Friars quickly tied things up.
Opening puck drop; UMD-PC
Billy Exell of the Bulldogs would get the game winning goal at the halfway mark of the final period. Duluth would add two empty net goals, for a 4-1 win. It will be the third year in a row that Minnesota-Duluth will appear in the title game.
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Opening Face-off Denver vs UMass
In the late semi-final game, Denver University played the University of Massachusetts. It was the first ever visit for UMass to the Frozen Four, and Denver’s 17th appearance.
This would prove to be an interesting matchup, with a lot of emotional swings. Denver took the lead on a power play goal by Colin Staub, at the end of a 5 minute major penalty on UMass. Denver then took their own 5 minute major, right after a minor penalty, giving UMass a 5 on 3 advantage. The Minutemen would go on to score three goals before the major penalty was over. The third goal was just a beautiful shot by John Leonard. UMass would go into the first intermission up 3-1.
After the rush of the first period, there was no scoring at all in period two. It wasn’t until the halfway mark of the third frame, when the Pioneers’ Cole Guttman put the puck past the UMass goalie Filip Lindberg. Suddenly the momentum was with DU. Guttman again came up big with the tying goal, with just under 4 minutes to play.
We were on to overtime. The Frozen Foursome+ compared notes, and placed their bets.
The play in OT was back & forth. Both teams had chances to walk away with a win. Momentum came and went. The pace picked up. Tensions rose. The Curator’s stomach was in knots.
Then at the 15:18 mark, Marc Del Gaizo, rifled a shot on net, and the puck flew past DU’s Filip Larsson. UMass had a 4-3 OT victory over Denver, and would move on to face Duluth in the title game. UMass has some sharp-shooters on that team. They are fast, and play some great hockey as a unit. UMD will be facing a tough challenge, but UMD has been here before.
Should be a phenomenal final. I can’t wait for puck drop.
Final score 4-3 UMass. An empty arena, but the UMass band is still up in the rafters playing.
Niagara Falls State Park
Welcome to Goat Island
Niagara Falls State Park is the oldest state park in the U.S.. The 400 plus acre park was established in 1885. I spent an entire afternoon exploring its trails and taking in the sights and sounds of The Falls.
Niagara Falls from the American side
Compared with last autumn, when I was on the other bank with the Curator & Brazil Lucas, the crowds this week were at a minimum. From the looks of things, May 1 is the date that things open up. The lower trails were still closed off, and few, if any attractions/facilities were open.
Statue dedicated to Nikola Tesla
In 1896, Nikola Tesla sent AC power, generated at The Falls, to Buffalo for the first time, proving to the world that it could be done. Previously, the DC power generated at The Falls could only be transmitted 100 yards.
Canadian Goose enjoying lunch at The Falls
It was a beautiful day to be out walking the trails. There is a trolley that runs through the park. You can get on and off as many times as you need during a day for $3. Not a bad price when you consider that a horse drawn carriage ride around The Falls in 1895 cost $1/hour.
Waterfall leading up to Three Sisters Islands
There is a pedestrian bridge and a vehicle bridge over to Goat Island. There are actually several islands at this end of the park, with foot bridges connecting them all. Some nice views of both sides of The Falls can be had from the island, with the Niagara River surrounding you.
Niagara from Goat Island
Four of the five Great Lakes drain into the Niagara River, before it flows into Lake Ontario. 75,750 gallons of water a second goes over American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls, and another 681,750 gallons per second over Horseshoe Falls.
It will take 50,000 years, due to erosion, for Niagara Falls to cease to exist.
Friars have landed
It’s Hockey Day in Buffalo. The Providence Friars take on the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs in game one.
In the nightcap, the Denver Pioneers play the UMASS Minutemen.
Drop the puck.
Niagara Aquarium
I spent some time out at the aquarium in Niagara. I arrived just in time to see the sea lions. I’m not a big fan of “seal acts”, but at least these sea lions are not eligible to be put back into the wild. For various reasons, these animals would not make it on their own in the natural world. Some were found as abandoned pups, and others were found injured from run-ins with boats.
California Sea Lion
Australian Spotted Jelly
Lion Fish: These fish have a lifespan of 15 years, and are an invasive species in North America
Clown Fish
Juvenile Lake Sturgeon: The sturgeons at the aquarium are all hatchery raised, and will be released into Lake Ontario once they are strong enough.
Axolotl: There are no axolotls left in the wild. All habitat has been destroyed by humans. Also known as a “Mexican Walking Fish, the axolotl is not a fish at all, but an amphibian.
Harbor & gray seals
Niagara River Gorge
Niagara River Gorge
I finally broke free, stretched my legs a bit, and ventured out to the lower Niagara River Gorge. After brew pubs, and Ted’s Hot Dogs, I needed to wear off some calories.
The Whirlpool on the Niagara River
I stopped by Devil’s Hole State Park, which historically, was an important portage around The Falls & rapids of the Niagara River. A 6.4 mile trail loops between Devil’s Hole and Whirlpool State Park. The trail runs the rim of the gorge, overlooking the river, but another route runs along the river’s bank. I did the two trails in a loop. To get to the trail along the riverbank, one has to venture down a series of rock stairs. I’m not sure when they were built, but the park was formed in 1924, and they look original to the park. Not that I’m complaining, the more rustic the better, in my opinion.
At any given time, only 25-50% of the water that should be flowing through the gorge and over the falls, actually does so. The rest is syphoned off for hydroelectric power. The romantic in me would love to see The Falls and The Gorge with full power. Just for a day. Or two…
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