February 29, 2004
2004 ACCHL Tournament Summary
By Jesse Swanko

The Duke Blue Devils capped off an amazing comeback season by beating the Georgetown Hoyas 3-2 in the 2004 ACCHL Championship Game this weekend at the Charlottesville Ice Park in Charlottesville, VA. Duke was able to get past a tough Virginia squad in the semifinals on Saturday evening before meeting Georgetown for the title on Sunday morning. The win marked Duke’s second ACCHL Tournament championship in team history, the first since 1998, and allowed the Blue Devils to become only the fourth team in ACCHL history to capture both the regular-season title and the tournament crown in the same season. Duke senior forward Robert Fogarty was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and goaltender Clayton Jernigan earned both wins between the pipes. Here is a summary of all the exciting ACCHL playoff games…

Friday, February 27th (First Round)... (#4) Virginia Cavaliers 3 vs (#5) George Mason Patriots 2
The hometown Virginia Cavaliers, hosts of the 2004 ACCHL tournament, kicked off this year’s playoffs with a 3-2 victory in the first round over in-state rival George Mason. With a large crowd and the University of Virginia pep band on hand, the Cavs came flying out of the gates and immediately began taking the game to the Patriots with their physical play and patented two-man forecheck. Led by standout first team All-ACCHL goaltender Paul Balcerzac, George Mason’s defense was able to weather the initial storm and both teams headed to the first intermission tied at zero. Virginia once again came out strong in the second period and were finally able to solve Balcerzac four minutes into the frame when Sean Scanlin found the back of the net. The Cavaliers’ lead would not last for long, however, as George Mason responded on the very next shift to tie the game at one. Virginia would pull ahead later in the second on a goal by Jaime Trowbridge and then a goal by Alex Bronson late in the period sent the Cavs to the second intermission up 3-1. George Mason was able to cut the lead in half with a goal late in the third, but it would prove too little too late as the Virginia defense and goaltender Alex Pringle were able to shut the door. The Cavs appeared to have scored an insurance goal in the third, but the referee disallowed the marker when he ruled that it had been directed into the net by a Virginia player with a distinct kicking motion. Regardless, the Cavs were able to hold on for the one-goal win and advance to take on Duke in the semifinals.

(#3) Georgetown Hoyas 6 vs (#6) Virginia Tech Hokies 2
The second first round matchup on Friday proved to be a battle between two teams that in recent weeks have been heading in opposite directions. Georgetown finished the ACCHL regular season on fire and were able to carry that momentum into the playoffs, cruising to a 6-2 opening round victory over an out-manned Virginia Tech squad. Georgetown’s slick transition game and excellent puck control along the walls gave the Hokies fits all night, and the hard-charging first line of Sean Lynch, George Livadas, and Pete O’Byrne was able to score early and often. When Hoyas winger Michael Sussman was able to slot the fifth goal midway through the second, the game was essentially out of reach for Virginia Tech. The Hokies did score a beautiful goal late in the third that was shot from a sharp angle and headed right beneath the crossbar, but their offense simply could not mount enough pressure to neutralize the Hoyas. Although Georgetown goaltender Mark Valentino did not face many shots in the game, he was able to come up with a few key saves to preserve the lead. With the victory Georgetown advanced to the semifinals to take on NC State.

Saturday, February 28th (Semifinals)... (#2) NC State Wolfpack 1 vs (#3) Georgetown Hoyas 6
After playing the late first round game on Friday night, the Georgetown Hoyas might have been expected to come out slow in the early semifinal game on Saturday morning, especially against defending ACCHL Tournament champions NC State. The Hoyas proved everyone wrong, however, by exploding off the blocks and unloading an offensive flurry on the stunned Wolfpack, ultimately taking the game easily 6-1 and earning redemption for a loss dealt to them by NC State just a week earlier in the regular-season finale. Georgetown notched the game’s first goal in the opening minutes when a shot from the point was deflected in front and slid right through the legs of NC State goaltender Will Roumanis. The Wolfpack quickly responded to tie the game at one, however, when winger Wes McDaniel broke down the left wall, cut to the middle, and fired a shot past Georgetown goaltender Mark Valentino. McDaniel’s goal would prove to be NC State’s only tally on the day, as after that it was all Georgetown until the final horn. The Hoyas scored two more goals in the first and then two early in the second, the latter of which was a beautiful one-timer by Devon Falvey on a two-on-one. With his team down 5-1, NC State coach Mike Young replaced Roumanis with backup Nick Brown, but the change did not provide the spark for which Young was hoping. Although NC State carried the play for the end of the second period and most of the third, they could not break through the Georgetown defense, and the trademark homerun passes from standout defenseman Nick Sabo to speedy forwards Jon Klein and Brandon Gregor simply were not connecting. The Wolfpack’s best chance to score again came late in the second when forward Nick Olsen picked up a loose puck with Valentino out of the net, but he fired a backhander over the gaping cage. The Hoyas notched their sixth goal of the day when Pete O’Byrne headed in on a breakaway and slipped the puck beneath a diving Brown. Georgetown was then awarded a penalty shot late in the third when an NC State defensemen was ruled to have covered the puck in his own crease, and although George Livadas failed to convert, the Hoyas rolled to the sizeable 6-1 victory and earned the first spot in Sunday’s ACCHL championship game.

(#1) Duke Blue Devils 3 vs (#4) Virginia Cavaliers 2
Saturday’s second semifinal game featured the day’s marquee matchup, the top-seeded Duke Blue Devils against the hometown Virginia Cavaliers. The two teams split a heated regular-season set in Charlottesville three weeks earlier, and tensions were high in this one right from the opening whistle. Backed by their large and vocal home crowd, the Cavaliers came out hitting and tried to control the game early with their physical forecheck. Duke took the lead first, however, when All-ACCHL first team forward Steve Lake took a feed from his brother Jeff, the newly crowned ACCHL regular-season MVP, broke down the left wall, cut in at the hash mark, and ripped a wrist-shot past Virginia goaltender Alex Pringle. Play then went back and forth for most of the first period until Virginia was ultimately able to tie the game at one on a breakaway goal by Robbie Kelso. On the play Duke forward Ben Tyson had played most of his shift without a stick and valiantly dove to sweep the puck out of his own zone with his glove. Trying to pick up the loose puck caused by Tyson’s hand pass, Steve Lake and his own defensemen Issey Kato collided in the neutral zone, leaving three Blue Devils out of the play and allowing Kelso to walk in alone, at which point he went to the backhand and slid the puck beneath sprawling Duke goaltender Clayton Jernigan.

After heading to the first intermission with the teams tied at one, a rash of penalties determined the course of the game in the second. As the intensity picked up, Duke found themselves on the wrong end of six straight calls, ultimately ending up shorthanded for fifteen of the period’s twenty minutes. Following a particularly vicious scrum behind the Duke goal after Jernigan had covered a loose puck, Duke forward Joe Crotty was assessed a major penalty and a match penalty, resulting in his removal from the contest and effectively ending his playoff run. Despite their manpower disadvantage, Duke was nevertheless able to take the lead again on a short-handed goal by Robert Fogarty. While killing a penalty, Fogarty picked off a pass deep in the Virginia zone and walked in alone on Pringle, rifling a shot over his glove and under the crossbar before the stunned Cavalier goalie could react. Virginia was able to tie the game again shortly thereafter, though, while on a power play resulting from a delay of game call on Jernigan for covering the puck outside the crease. While on the rush, Cavs defenseman Mike Martyak fired a shot from the blue line that missed the net but rebounded sharply off the rear boards. As Jernigan turned to play the bounce, a collision involving a Virginia forward and Duke defenseman Ryan Eick bowled him over and the puck squirted into the net. Martyak was awarded the tally. After killing more penalties, Duke took the lead for the third time on another unassisted goal by Robert Fogarty. This time Fogarty picked up a loose puck in the right circle, slipped the puck between the defenseman’s legs, and while falling to his stomach reached out with two hands and slapped the puck between the legs of Pringle. The dramatic goal gave Duke a 3-2 lead heading into the third. According to Duke forward Brian Markowitz, “The fact that we were able to escape the second period with a lead after playing that many minutes shorthanded was an utter miracle.”

As the third period progressed and Duke clung to its slim one-goal advantage, goaltender Clayton Jernigan emerged as an absolute wall between the pipes. The Cavaliers threw everything but the kitchen sink at Duke in the third, ultimately outshooting the Blue Devils 45-26 on the day, but they simply could not solve Jernigan. As the clock wound down and Virginia pulled their goalie, Duke’s Ben Tyson was assessed a minor penalty for hitting from behind, a call that effectively gave the Cavaliers a 6-on-4 advantage for the final minute. In a wild flurry in the final seconds Virginia had one shot hit the post and saw Jernigan absolutely rob a two-on-one down low to preserve the 3-2 victory and propel the Blue Devils into the championship game. As the final horn sounded the Virginia frustration boiled over and several of their players left the bench to attempt to square off with the Duke players that were on the ice. An ugly scene erupted with both benches clearing, but after much clutching and grabbing order was eventually restored and no major penalties were handed out.

Although Duke made it into the finals with the win, the price for victory was high as second team All-ACCHL defenseman Calvin “Hollywood” Hui was forced to leave the game with seven seconds left with a dislocated shoulder. Hui fell awkwardly while trying to block a shot in the final flurry and then ended up on the bottom of a pile in the crease. He was tended to immediately by the medical staff on site and then taken to the hospital for x-rays. When all the dust had settled, Clayton Jernigan and Robert Fogarty were Duke’s Mad Dog Players of the game. Duke had 25 penalty minutes in the contest while Virginia only had 16.

Sunday, February 29th (Championship Game)... (#1) Duke Blue Devils 3 vs (#3) Georgetown Hoyas 2
Sunday’s ACCHL championship game between the Duke Blue Devils and the Georgetown Hoyas featured the league’s two hottest teams down the stretch and arguably the league’s two best offenses going head-to-head. Regardless, both teams came out of the blocks slow, Georgetown feeling the effects of two games in the previous two days and Duke still recovering from their draining battle with Virginia on the previous night. Duke was also without regulars Joe Crotty, who was out serving his suspension, and Calvin “Hollywood” Hui, who dressed but did not see the ice due to his shoulder injury. Georgetown began to control play deep in the Duke zone and ultimately struck first when forward Pete O’Byrne tipped teammate Bret McLeod’s shot from the point past Duke goaltender Clayton Jernigan. The Blue Devils were able to tie the game at one later in the first period on a goal by defenseman Issey Kato. On the play Jeff Lake stole the puck behind the Hoyas net and then absorbed a crushing hit from two Georgetown defensemen. With forward Justin Bieber tying up his man in front of the net, three Hoyas were out of the play and the puck squirted loose to Kato in the high slot, who then flipped a wrist-shot over the glove of Georgetown goaltender Mark Valentino. After Georgetown forward Sean Lynch rang a shot off the crossbar that would have put the Hoyas ahead, Duke took the lead 2-1 late in the first period when the “Great Lakes” tandem of brothers Jeff and Steve combined on a picture perfect give-and-go in the neutral zone. Jeff poked the puck free to Steve, who then wheeled around and banked a pass off the left boards back to his brother. Jeff then gained the blue line and blistered a slapshot that found daylight through the legs of Valentino. Following the Lake marker, Duke headed to the locker room with a one-goal lead.

Both teams were noticeably more tired in the second, and Georgetown was able to tie the game at two halfway through the frame. Forward Chris Murphy gained the Duke zone along the right wall and played the puck into the corner. Duke defenseman Drew Evans closed on the loose puck but lost his stick in the process. After his attempt to kick the puck out of the zone failed, the puck found its way back onto the stick of Murphy who had circled the net and was now able to flip a shot over Jernigan’s blocker. Just as it seemed Georgetown had gained the momentum, Duke jumped back on top on a goal by David Bradley. Bradley gained the Georgetown zone on a two-on-two rush with linemate Ben Peterson and upon reaching the left circle unloaded a wristshot along the ice that slipped between the legs of Valentino and found the back of the net. Bradley’s goal would ultimately prove the tournament clinching tally for the Blue Devils.

As the teams came out for the third, Duke was looking to shut down the Hoyas and preserve a one-goal lead just as they had done the night before against Virginia. In much the same way as the Cavaliers, Georgetown threw everything they had at the Blue Devils, but again they could not solve Jernigan. In fact, the Hoyas outshot Duke 38-26 on the day. Playing without stalwart Hui, the Duke defensive corps of Ryan Eick, Drew Evans, Issey Kato, and Kevin Ford was outstanding in the third, clearing bodies from the crease and controlling play in the corners. Following the game, Duke assistant coach Bill Williams would go on to praise his defense: “With Calvin out we knew everyone back there was going to have to step up, especially Ford. And just as he as done all season Kevin rose to the challenge and played his best game. Eick also absorbed a ton of minutes. I just do not know how the big guy does it.”

After Steve Lake was stopped on a breakaway with just over a minute remaining, Georgetown pulled their goalie for one final push. The forward line of Jeff Lake, Steve Lake, and Robert Fogarty were able to control every faceoff in the final seconds and Duke held on for the 3-2 victory, giving the Blue Devils their second ACCHL tournament title in team history and touching off a wild on-ice celebration. Ryan Eick, Issey Kato, and David Bradley were all chosen Duke’s Mad Dog Players of the Game. ACCHL commissioner Michael Dettmers then awarded the Georgetown Hoyas the second-place medals and the entire Duke roster the first-place gold. He then presented Duke’s Robert Fogarty with a plaque for the tournament’s most valuable player and captain Jeff Lake with the Commissioner’s Cup. The Blue Devils then posed for series of pictures with the cup, including one with captains Lake, Evans, and Jesse Swanko, one with the eight seniors, and one with the entire team.

When asked to comment about his team’s victory, senior Ben Peterson said, “I cannot believe we have been on this team for four years and finally won the cup, actually two cups. It really is unbelievable how far we have come in four years. To these rookies winning it might have seemed easy, but the seniors have been there and we know it is not easy.”

Senior and assistant captain Jesse Swanko commented on the play of some of his teammates: “I have been on this team with Fogarty for four years and seen him score a lot of goals, but his play this weekend, especially as a defensive forward, was absolutely superb. He took it to a whole new level and definitely deserved the MVP. And Clay between the pipes, what can you say? He was amazing. We could not have won it without him.”

Finally, after scoring the cup-winning goal, senior David Bradley delivered the quote of the weekend: “All tournament Coach Selman kept telling us we were getting closer and closer to ‘Bannerville.’ First we were six periods away, then five. He could see it in our eyes that we wanted to be there. Now that we won, we drove our bus right down main street of ‘Bannerville’ and parked her in front of the town hall.”

TOURNAMENT NOTES
Duke’s Jeff Lake and Steve Lake became the first pair of brothers to be on the same ACCHL tournament winning team in Duke history. Drew Evans is also part of a pair of brothers who have both won the ACCHL championship while wearing the Duke sweater, as his older brother Jaime was a standout defenseman on the squad that took home the cup in 1998. Jaime was on hand for both games this weekend… Duke's Robert Fogarty was named No. 1 star of the ACCHL Seminfinal game vs. Virginia while Dave Bradley was named the No. 1 star of the ACCHL Championship. As noted above, Fogarty took home ACCHL Tournament MVP honors as well... Duke seniors Jeff Lake, David Bradley, Jesse Swanko, Calvin Hui, Ben Peterson, Brian Markowitz, Robert Fogarty, and Josh Wirth all played their last game in a Duke uniform. Jesse Swanko concluded a two-year term as team president and David Bradley finished a two-year stint as vice president… Five Duke players played in all 21 Blue Devil games this season: Dave Bradley, Jesse Swanko, Issey Kato, Ryan Eick and Justin Bieber... Duke Ice Hockey would like to thank all the parents, fans, and siblings, especially Eric Markowitz, that followed the team all season, as well as the Charlottesville OMNI Hotel and Abbott Trailways bus company for their excellent accommodations during the ACCHL tournament... Duke also extends a special thanks to both manager Matt Crawford and team physician Ron Olsen for their dedication and all their hard work this season.