Great Plains Regionals A Success

GPCIHL March 11th, 2006 at 6:00AM March 12th, 2006 6:09AM

Finishing up on March 6th, the Great Plains regional tournament was a great success. While in Division I and the B Division the winners were expected, DII winner Washington University beat the odds by overcoming the undefeated University of Missouri - St. Louis Rivermen. Division III was hard fought, with the six time DIII National Champion St. Charles Community College beating St. Louis Community College - Meramec.

Representing the Great Plains in Division I for the NCRHA's National Championship will be Lindenwood University and University of Missouri - Rolla.

The Division I Regional Championship game featured best-in-the-country Lindenwood University against University of Missouri - Columbia. Lindenwood, the favorite to win the game, led the entire game, controlling Mizzou's offense by not allowing many power plays. Lindenwood's consistently strong defense kept Mizzou to just 13 shots, but still let in two goals. The game ended with a final score of 8-2, with Lindenwood's Travis Fudge scoring three goals and adding an assist.

DII

The Division II Regional Championship game was perhaps the best game of the Great Plains' season. UMSL, undefeated in the regular season and the playoffs up until that point, was the expected winner over Washington University. Washington University, coming off of an overtime win against Saint Louis University, came out strong and held the University of Missouri - St. Louis offense to just one goal after two periods. Washington University also had one goal after two, and looked to take advantage of UMSL in the third period.

The third period featured almost the entirety of the offense in the game. Washington University almost immediately went up by two goals. But UMSL's Ben Lambert countered with one of his own, decreasing WashU's lead by one. But to no avail, WashU came back once again with a great goal by newcomer Josh Matteo. With the game almost for certain a loss, UMSL found the strength to fight back with two quick goals to force a second overtime for WashU.

The overtime period was short-lived, however, with Tommy Paskvan putting in his second goal off of a deflection to end the game. Washington University goaltender David Garland finished the game with an astounding 37 saves.

Both Washington University and University of Missouri - St. Louis will be representing the Great Plains in DII for the NCRHA's National Championship.

DIII

The Division III match up between St. Charles Community College and St. Louis Community College - Meramec was another hard fought battle. With both teams consistently battling each other each game, the best-of-three series was sure to be incredible.

The first match up featured a great game where scoring went back and forth. With St. Charles leading 4-2 after the second period, Meramec came back near the end of the third to tie it 5-5. St. Charles' forward Jay Gregory put away his fourth goal of the game to win it for St. Charles with just two minutes remaining in the game. St. Charles goaltender Tim Renfert held off Meramec from tying it up and forcing an overtime. The game ended 6-5 and put St. Charles in a match point situation.

The second match up, only five hours after the previous game, had a much different feel. While Meramec scored the first goal of the game just a minute into the game, St. Charles came back to score seven straight goals. Meramec finished off the second period with a goal, cutting St. Charles' lead to five goals.

While game 1 first star Jay Gregory was held to just a goal and an assist throughout the game, St. Charles found other offensive talents to put away the win for the DIII Regional Championship. Paul VanDeman registered a goal and two assists while both Andrew Klos and Gus Maloney had two goals each. In the third period, Meramec ended the game with two goals, but St. Charles' first and second period seven-goal boost was too much for them, winning the game 8-4 for the series win.

Both St. Charles Community College and St. Louis Community College at Meramec will represent the Great Plains in the DIII NCRHA National Championships.

B Division

The B Division game was another great game in the Great Plains Regional Championship Tournament. Despite favorite Lindenwood University B winning, St. Louis Community College - Meramec B
played an incredible game, losing only 3-1. Meramec's oustanding effort was shown on the shot totals, outshooting Lindenwood 30 to 22. But Lindenwood's Jon Hilke was too much for Meramec, scoring two goals and adding an assist, while Lindenwood goaltender Adam Traw made 29 saves for the win.

Lindenwood University B and St. Louis Community College - Meramec B will both represent the Great Plains in the B Division of the NCRHA's National Championship Tournament.