March 17, 2008
Oshie, Lamoureux Get Sioux to St. Paul
by Virg Foss/Staff Writer
GRAND FORKS, N.D. — North Dakota senior goalie Jean-Philippe Lamoureux has a strong grasp on history — and dramatics.
After Lamoureux (10 saves) and the Fighting Sioux beat Michigan Tech 2-1 tonight to advance to the WCHA Final Five beginning Thursday in St. Paul, Lamoureux skated over to the stands and tossed his goalie stick to a kid in the crowd.
He had reason to celebrate. The victory in the deciding game of the Best-of-3 series sent the Sioux to the Final Five for the sixth straight year with an opportunity down the road of making their fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Frozen Four.
"I remember being at (Sioux) game when Jason Blake (UND 1996-99) scored an overtime goal," Lamoureux said. "I was standing by the tunnel, and he gave his stick to a kid a couple of feet away from me. I thought it was pretty cool."
The Sioux needed to be cool tonight to handle a gritty Michigan Tech team that finished ninth in the WCHA in the regular season, but put up a strong fight against the second-seeded Sioux.
Junior center T.J. Oshie, delivered all the offense the Sioux needed with his 16th and 17th goals of the season, tops on the team.
He gathered in a saucer pass just inside the blue line from linemate Ryan Duncan and sailed in alone to deke Tech goalie Michael-Lee Teslak (22 saves) and score on a backhander at 11:27 of the first period to fire the first salvo for the Sioux, tying the game 1-1.
Then Oshie wasted little time in putting the Sioux ahead for good.
He one-timed a cross-ice pass from senior defenseman Robbie Bina just 19 seconds into the second period to make it 2-1, which proved to be the last goal of the game.
It was quite a statement goal for Oshie, who suffered a lower-body injury in a game against St. Cloud State last weekend and wasn't sure he would be able to play this past weekend.
"The kid's a helluva hockey player," Michigan Tech coach Jamie Russell said of Oshie. "He's a difference-maker. He's not long in this league. He's going to be a difference-maker at the next level as well. He's a terrific hockey player. He plays hard, too. He's strong defensively, he's good on faceoffs, he's solid on his skates, he's a strong kid. He's impressive."
The Sioux had to survive a harrowing final 36 seconds after Teslak was lifted for an extra attacker. But Lamoureux shut the door, making five of his 10 total saves in the closing period.
The 11 shots the Sioux allowed on goal is their lowest of the season Lamoureux had lots of help from his friends. Sioux forwards and defensemen blocked 23 of Tech's 52 shots attempts before they reached Lamoureux.
"I thought it was a very even series," UND coach Dave Hakstol said. "Various times in all three games we had an opportunity to extend the lead. Tonight in the second period, we had some opportunities where I thought we could build the lead. But they (Huskies) are so darn tough to play against. Teslak made some timely saves in that second period."
The Sioux outshot the Huskies 14-2 in the second period, but had to settle for a 2-1 lead on Oshie's early goal.
With the victory, the Sioux advanced to the Final Five semifinals, where they will play Denver University Friday at the Xcel Energy Center. The Sioux (25-9-4) won three of four games from the Pioneers during the regular season.
Michigan Tech applied a lot of pressure on the Sioux in the final period, but still managed just five shots on goal. "I'd use the word furious third period," Hakstol said. "I thought when the game was on the line and Michigan Tech was down, they made an awful lot of plays. Maybe the most plays out of any period through the nine periods. They were very good."
The Huskies buzzed Lamoureux in the closing seconds, but couldn't beat him. "We had a bouncing puck in the crease with one second to go, so absolutely it went right down to the wire," Hakstol said. "It's almost a shame one team had to lose this game, because both teams laid their hearts on the line."
But a hobbled Oshie delivered the goods. "For those who know T.J.," Hakstol said, "it was probably evident that physically he wasn't quite 100 percent. But you talk about mentally and being driven at 100 percent-plus, that's something you can't replace and that's something he brings to the table."
Oshie scored three of UND's seven goals on the weekend, none bigger than his two tonight.
"There was a little frustration there (from the injury) through the three games," Oshie said. "But I'm an older guy, I'm a leader, I've got to play through this. That's what I tried to do."
The Sioux bounced back well after giving up the tying goal with 5.5 seconds left in regulation play Saturday night, then losing 3-2 in overtime after winning Game One 4-0.
"It was a good challenge for our team," Oshie said. "They rose to the challenge. It feels good."
oshie is the BEST player in the nation and should be a hobey candidate
Mar 17 2008, 9:11 am by SARGE, MN
Oshie Should not be a hobey candidate just because there are other people in the nation that deserve it more than him. How about Ryan Lasch? He led the WCHA in scoring, never got arrested. Richard Bachman for CC should be above Oshie on the list also. Led CC to the regular season title and he is a freshman. But he played like a upperclassman. Also, how about Garret Roe for SCSU, Nodl? These were the top three scorers and one of the top goalies. Don't get me wrong, Oshie is a very good player, not the best player in the nation. How about Kevin Porter for Michigan? Nate Gerbe for Boston College? These two player are the best in the nation. Also, none of these player were never arrested twice in one year.
Mar 19 2008, 5:17 am by
nice internet search
Mar 19 2008, 8:58 am by
Yaaaaaaaaaaaawn. Next.
Mar 19 2008, 9:17 am by Joe, Mpls., MN
oshie should be a hobey candidate.... he is easily one of the most dynamic players in college hockey. Some see "arrest" and assume bad things, thats not always the case.
Mar 19 2008, 9:19 am by
Haha, yeah arrest = great kid. It's a shame he's on that track already.
Mar 19 2008, 1:00 pm by Seth, ST. Cloud baby!
If you know the Grand Forks Police Department you'd realize why the event got to an arrest.
It's ridiculous those two hockey players were arrested for what is the fault of the apartment complex where they were stranded for 1.45 hours.
Necessity is a term used in this case.
You can't keep Oshie out of the Hobey Baker race because of GFPD and the Hitler mission they are on in that community. There was (4) DWI's on the very next night. Why weren't those mug shots on USA Today, MSNBC?
These people but lives in danger. These kids were doing what every college hockey player does. Having fun while enjoying the good times in their lives.
Shame on all you people for cutting these kids down. You've all done things were you too, I'm sure should have been arrested.
Why doesn't college hockey look at Nate Hegamo and cut this kid down. Everyone is sorry for him ... he's facing FELONY charges.
Mar 19 2008, 1:11 pm by Pronger, Grand Forks
There is no doubt T.J. Oshie deserves all the credit and praise he's given. I'm wondering though if it may be wise to keep the hype about him a bit more low key ... unless Oshie and Sioux fans are eager to see him depart before his senior season. As recent news have shown, the Blues are not too shy to sign their prospects before the official end of their college career.
Mar 19 2008, 1:29 pm by Pete, Minn.
Pete, I think Oshie may already know what everyone else knows about him. Unfortunately, I have zero belief that he'll be wearing the green and white next year.
Mar 19 2008, 10:45 pm by Jeff, Fargo
I am pretty sure that he care what you people think or say about his life. Especially when he is in the NHL next year. At least there the things he does good will outweigh the things he does bad. Pretty sure that a hobey isn't going to help his chances on moving up to the NHL. You people will have to find someone else to point fingers at and who's it going to be??? Probably the next best player in the league who enjoys having a good time. So why don't you get off his back about his personal life because he doesn't show how good his away from the ice, he proves it everytime he is on the ice, hurt or not.
Mar 20 2008, 11:03 am by
Comment on this Article
