April 10, 2008
Gerbe, BC Find Strength in 3s
by Avash Kalra/Staff Writer
Audio Spotlight
- BC F Nate Gerbe
CHN's Mike Machnik talks to BC F Nate Gerbe after his hat trick to beat North Dakota in the NCAA semifinal, 6-1.
DENVER — In Providence, R.I., in 1965, Boston College head coach Jerry York — long before he racked up 801 career victories behind the bench — scored three goals in a Frozen Four win over North Dakota. Forty-three years later, BC's Nathan Gerbe accomplished the same feat Thursday, once again sending the Eagles to the national championship game.
"I had no clue," said Gerbe, who also saw former Eagle Chris Collins score three in a FF game against North Dakota two years ago. "[Coach York] is a pretty humble guy, so he's never going to say that to me. That's stuff I have to look up."
Added the coaching legend, "That was a long way back. When I played, I was a sophomore. They were way better than we were, and our goaltender absolutely stole that game for us — it was Pat Murphy. At that time, the West was light years away from the East. It's been a great rivalry. I certainly hope Nathan's got a few left in him."
Gerbe, known for the energy and spark with which he provides his BC squad, scored in all different ways against North Dakota — one even-strength, one shorthanded, and one power-play goal. And his three tallies gave him 33 for the season, tying him with Michigan's Kevin Porter for tops in the nation.
Gerbe and Porter are, of course, two-thirds of the Hobey Hat Trick, with the winner of the prestigious Hobey Award set to be announced Friday evening in Denver. Porter is considered the frontrunner, and North Dakota goaltender Jean-Phillipe Lamoureux was believed by many to be deserving of being in the Hobey final three over Gerbe.
But on Thursday, on the biggest of national stages, Gerbe gave new meaning to the term "Hobey Hat Trick."
"Not just the goals, but in between periods, the character he brings to our club — he's just an outstanding player," said York. "He certainly fits into the long line of really high end players that Boston College has had over the span of the century."
Gerbe has led an explosive BC offense all season long — an offense that has scored over 3.5 goals per game this season and that, in recent weeks, has shown the capability to rapidly change the complexion of a game. In a March 8 game at Northeastern, the Eagles struck quickly for three goals in a 1:08 span to turn that game in their favor. In the Northeast Regional final, BC scored three goals in 1:58 to turn a 2-0 deficit against Miami into a 3-2 lead.
And in Thursday's Frozen Four victory over North Dakota, Gerbe scored two goals in less than two minutes in the first period, turning a 1-0 Eagles lead into a 3-0 advantage. The first goal came shorthanded, as the speedy 5-foot-5 Gerbe raced past 6-foot-7 North Dakota defenseman Joe Finley on a breakaway, sliding the puck between the pads of Lamoureux. Soon after, Gerbe struck again, throwing the puck on net from the right faceoff dot, sliding it under the senior netminder again.
Both first period goals were the result of Gerbe's trademark speed — something he's always known he's had to use.
"I kind of had to learn to skate fast because of my size," said the Oxford, Mich., native. "I was never the biggest kid and was never going to out-muscle anyone down low or anything. So I had to be quick to spin off, and I kind of learned that pretty young. And I came here and made strides with the coaching staff. Early in the morning, they're always giving me tips on skating drills I can do."
Gerbe's most impressive goal of the night may have been his third, a power-play tally in the second period that extended BC's lead to 5-0. Standing behind the goal line, Gerbe worked himself free, moving in front of the goal, to Lamoureux's right. With the puck on his backhand, he effortlessly flipped it over a sprawling Lamoureux for the goal.
And the hat trick.
Said York, "He's just so quick and so dynamic. He's dangerous when he has the puck. It doesn't matter what situation is on the ice. The power play goal — I've got to watch that some more. He kind of went around the net, roofed it up top. It was a pretty spectacular goal there.
"It was fun to watch Nathan work a little magic there tonight."
Gerbe now has points in his last eight games. And he has eight goals and six assists for a total of 14 points in 11 career NCAA contests.
The junior's hat trick was the third of his career, and he will now try and lead the Eagles to their third national championship in team history on Saturday night. It is of course the third consecutive appearance in the title game for BC, after three straight Frozen Four wins against North Dakota. Oh, and BC coach Jerry York is going for his third national title as a coach.
So will the third time be the charm for Gerbe, BC and York?
Well, as the college hockey world saw on Thursday, '3' just may be his lucky number.
Way to go BC! This is the first time I have ever cheered for a hockey team from Massachusetts. I liked the way the fans from NDak had their noses rubbed in their own defication (for you NDak fans, defication means poop). NDak really embarassed the WCHA today. For all you NDak fans who had smart ass comments about the Gophers-neener neener, big fat weener. I can't wait for next season where the Gophers will kick butt.
Apr 10 2008, 11:12 pm by jbuss, seattle
Bye Sue. Great effort, NOT!
Apr 10 2008, 11:28 pm by JM, Minneapolis
To jbuss...go climb your thumb. Besides Minneapolis is the center of excrement.
Apr 10 2008, 11:31 pm by H, Grand Forks
Well, it is obvious that when he has two weeks Jerry York will best Dave Hakstol. After three consecutive years I think that has been proved.
Apr 11 2008, 12:00 am by H, Grand Forks
Did T.J. Oshie play?
Apr 11 2008, 12:02 am by Pete, Minn.
Did NoDak play?
Apr 11 2008, 12:44 am by Ryan, Shakopee, MN
Definitely an embarassing loss for the Sioux. Not "Holy Cross" embarassing, though, and certainly not as embarassing as jbuss's spelling. Might want to check a dictionary for "defecation" and "weiner."
Apr 11 2008, 1:30 am by MM, Minneapolis
Like I said, Karma for changing the words to the Star Spangled Banner. This should help your Gopher inferiority complex grow during the offseason.
Apr 11 2008, 1:34 am by
MM you may want to check the numbers before echoing any comments like that. To even reference HC makes you look like an idiot. Every team that makes the tourney in some degree deserves to be there. ND fans have had a lot of fun with the HC reference. Let non ND fans have their fun with this one. Anyone who types mean spirited comments just shows how moronic they really are. For example; Pete and Ryan's comments are fun, Jbuss is a bit childish.
Apr 11 2008, 11:51 am by Joe, Mpls., MN
At least the Sioux made it to the Frozen Four! I wonder how many underage Gopher players were watching the game from their favorite pub in Dinkytown? Hmmm, let's check YouTube shall we?
Apr 11 2008, 11:55 am by D-Man, Denver
Smack from a guy in Denver? From the team that got embarrassed by Bucky? From the team that had the Frozen Four at home and gagged in the first round to a team that shouldn't have even been in the tourney. That's funny.
Apr 11 2008, 12:41 pm by JM, Minneapolis
Sue Itinerary for Frozen Four
Day 1 Wed. Sue players fly in with obnoxious fans in tow. Day 1 evening: Sue fans hit the streets at Frozen Four, get drunk, obnoxious claiming they are the best. Many get arrested, along with players Oshie and Bina. Day 2 Thurs. players have a.m. skate, then team breakfast consisting of soft foods so they don't CHOKE!!! Day 2 1pm..Sue fans roll out of bed to hit the streets again..only to realize they have to bail Gradma out of jail, as she was arrested the night before! Day 2..Game on 4pm....4:15pm...losing 6-0 the Sue pack it in for another year. Day 2 7pm...on flight home to NoDak, players and fans discuss what a great year it was and how they are going to "win it all next year" Day 2 10 pm...plane lands in NoDak, in a farmers field of course... Players rush to a local pub to watch the 2nd semifinal game on TV. End of year. at the bottom of itinerary "Please Save Itinerary for next year."
Apr 11 2008, 12:51 pm by
Congrats to Mr. Gerbe and the BC Eagles...they played the Sioux perfectly. Best of luck on Saturday.
Apr 11 2008, 1:57 pm by Siouxfan, Duluth
The mighty WCHA hasn't fared too well in this tournament. Someone from the WCHA had to make the frozen four since there were so many of them in the field to start with, but the record for the WCHA is 3-6, including a couple of poundings by BC, four "one and dones" and CC losing IN Colorado. Over-rated and over-hyped.
Go Irish!
Apr 11 2008, 2:59 pm by David, Nashua, NH
David, Where are the number one seeded Wildcats? Oh yeah, another first round flop.
Apr 11 2008, 3:31 pm by JM, Minny
Rodent Fans! Does anyone know what Lucia and his bantam team were up to yesterday, while the elite teams were getting ready to square off in Denver? Next time you hear from Oksposo, give him the warmest regards from Sioux country!
Apr 11 2008, 3:36 pm by D-Man, Denver
As a Miami fan and CCHA supporter, I have to admit that I am a little pleased to see the WCHA miss the championship game - although I don't think the BC-NoDak game was a fair representation of how good a team NoDak is. And to be fair - despite the troubles the WCHA suffered in the tourney, I wouldn't be so foolish as to claim that the league sucks. In fact - I think the NCAA tournament is a signal of things to come. In the past decade where the WCHA seemed to be dominant, hopefully the current trends is beginning to show a balancing of power between the WCHA, Hockey East and CCHA. I think it makes the non-conference matchups more exciting and hopefully attracts more attention to the game in general. I know in a place like Ohio, where hockey in general isn't really followed, that the recent success of Miami's hockey program has transformed this college town on game days.
May the best team win - but I certainly hope the Irish can represent the CCHA as national champs once again.
Apr 11 2008, 11:25 pm by LW, Oxford
Numbers checked. #15 seed team defeats #2 - biggest upset in tourney history. ND fans also not the only ones having fun with the reference. It was featured quite prominently in ESPN promo spots for the tourney. HC fans probably enjoy the memory more, though. And Joe, since you typed mean-spirited comments, by your logic, what does that show you are?
Apr 13 2008, 1:01 am by MM, Minneapolis
Numbers checked, eh. Well, out of 59 D1 teams. 16 make the tourney. A 15 beats a 2.........wow, that's huge. Your beloved sioux got thumped....deal with it....it will be OK. It's called hockey.
Apr 14 2008, 8:11 am by Joe, Mpls., MN
And in the offseason Gerbe will be signing with the Sabres.
Apr 15 2008, 12:37 pm by
