Beaney wins 400th career game

Author: Jeff Patterson

Justin Gaines '08 is going home. The Wisconsin native and his teammates gained admission to the Frozen Four when they beat UMass-Dartmouth 3-2 in the NCAA quarterfinal game at Kenyon Arena, playing as the road team.

The Corsairs, who had only lost two games all season, were given a first-round bye, but due to a technicality - they had failed to fill out the necessary paper work to host a quarterfinal game - had to travel to Middlebury to play a home game. The Panthers dressed in their away whites, sat on the away bench and warmed-up on the opposite side of the rink.

In an effort to familiarize the team with their new quarterfinal quarters, the players practiced like the road team.

"Thursday and Friday, we put our water bottles over there. I addressed the team over there," said Coach Bill Beaney who won his 400th career game on Saturday. "There was really no difference. I think it just added extra incentive for the team to win."

Mickey Gilchrist '08 agreed. "It wasn't too bad, especially once we were out there on the ice," he said, "But there were several times when I looked over to the wrong bench."

If there was anyone on the team used to playing in Kenyon Arena as a "visiting" player, it is John Sullivan '10. As a senior at Albany Academy last winter, Sullivan played against the Middlebury junior varsity team, dishing out four assists and scoring two goals, including the game-winner in overtime.

On Saturday, with the stakes even higher, Sullivan also scored the game-winner. In the middle of the third period on the power play, the first-year forward found some open space in front of the net and, seconds later, some open space in the back of the net to deposit the John Sales '07 feed. After Sullivan's flip over Jeff Green's goalie glove, he jumped into the arms of Tom Maldonado '08 and the crowd of 2,440 erupted.

"I've been snake bit for a while in terms of scoring," said Sullivan after the game, "but if I could pick just one time, I'd choose to score in this situation."

Sullivan's linemate Eric LaFreniere '07 opened up the scoring when he tipped home a slap shot by Brett Shirreffs '07. LaFreniere's last three goals have started Middlebury scoring binges.

"We're two small guys," said Sullivan, "so we have to fight hard every shift."

Netminder Ross Cherry '08 kept the Corsairs off of the scoreboard for the first 9:24 of the game by stopping a two-on-none breakaway. However, Paul Carr tied the game at one on a short-handed goal.

Thirty-one seconds into the second, Gilchrist combined with Jamie McKenna for the lead.

"He hit me right on the tape with the pass," said Gilchrist. "The goalie over-committed thinking that Jamie was going to shoot. But after two years of playing with him I knew he was going to find me." Two years of playing together certainly has produced a dominant duo: in the 50 games they have played together, Mickey or McKenna has assisted on the other's goal 28 times.

Jeff Grant's 25th goal of the season knotted the game at two, setting the stage for Sullivan.

Cherry did not let anything get by him in the final frame to finish with 18 saves. "Everything stayed with him," said Beaney. "It wasn't his best night, but he found a way."

Cherry's career playoff record is now at 12-0. "Middlebury has always been successful in the playoffs because the goalies have been able to step up," said Gilchrist.

The Panthers will make their way out to America's Dairyland and the town of Superior to prove that they are the superior team in America. They will face off against Manhattanville at 5 p.m. on March 17 for the right to play the winner of the Oswego-St. Norbert game.

Gilchrist has never been to Wisconsin before, but his Uncle Dan played college hockey for the Badgers. Playing with the father of current NHLer Dany Heatley, Uncle Dan was on the '70 WCHA Championship team. Reverse the numbers and you'll recognize that Gilchrist and his teammates will be playing in Wisconsin for the '07 Championship.