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The national team of GERMANY added battle-tested defenseman JUSTIN KRUEGER of the American Hockey League’s Charlotte Checkers to its roster just in time for the important mid-week clash with neighboring Austria in the Helsinki-based group at the 2013 IIHF World Championships in Scandanavia.

Krueger, the son of the former Switzerland national team coach who led the Ivy Leaguers from Cornell University to the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference title and a subsequent appearance at the annual NCAA men’s ice hockey tournament in 2010, formally became available after Charlotte were knocked out of the AHL playoffs by the Oklahoma City Barons on Saturday, May 4th; however, the 26-year-old blueliner, who will be appearing at the annual IIHF World Championships for a fourth consecutive campaign, missed Germany’s contest with Russia on Sunday (May 5th) as well as the Slovakia match on Monday while still traveling to Finland.

Krueger was chosen in the seventh round (# 213 overall) of the 2006 National Hockey League Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes and totaled 15 points (one goal) in 69 AHL regular season contests for the Checkers this term. The intelligent third-year professional, who skated his rookie 2010/11 season with SC Bern in Switzerland’s crack Nationalliga A before signing an entry level contract with the Carolina organization, will bring a fair amount of valuable experience to trainer PAT CORTINA’s defensive corps in Helsinki. Indeed, the Germans have brought three defensemen to this year’s IIHF affair who have never before appeared at a major international event.

The registration of Krueger, who reportedly was paid a total of $ 105,000 by the Hurricanes to skate this entire season in the AHL, means that Germany have reached its full compliment of 22 skaters.

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Germany defenseman JUSTIN KRUEGER of the American Hockey League’s Charlotte Checkers, the quintessential stay-at-home type whose father, Ralph Krueger, is the current head coach of the Edmonton Oilers in the National Hockey League as well as a former West Germany national team member, himself, has already made three appearances (23 ga, 1 go, 3 pts) at the annual IIHF World Championships in his brief professional career.

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Slovakia goal-scoring hero TOMAS ZABORSKY of Russian Kontinental Hockey League club Avangard Omsk originally began his professional career in the New York Rangers organization after being selected in the fifth round of the 2006 National Hockey League Draft but spent the majority of his rookie season in the East Coast Hockey League after failing to earn a regular place with the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Rangers’ top affiliate in the American Hockey League.

2006/07 … 59 ga … 19 go … 43 pts …… Saginaw (OHL jrs)
2007/08 … 68 ga … 31 go … 69 pts …… Saginaw (OHL jrs)

2007/08 ….. 2 ga ….. 0 go ….. 1 pts …… Hartford (AHL)
2008/09 ….. 8 ga ….. 1 go ….. 3 pts …… Hartford (AHL)
2008/09 … 28 ga ….. 4 go … 12 pts …… Charlotte (ECHL)
2008/09 … 19 ga … 10 go … 16 pts …… Dayton (ECHL)

2009/10 … 43 ga ….. 9 go … 26 pts …… Assat Pori (Finland)
2010/11 … 47 ga … 23 go … 33 pts …… Assat Pori (Finland)
2011/12 … 52 ga … 35 go … 59 pts …… Assat Pori (Finland)
2012/13 … 52 ga … 21 go … 41 pts …… Avangard Omsk (Russia KHL)

Zaborsky established himself as a legitimate threat in his second term with Finnish elite league side Assat Pori and has continued that goal-scoring trend despite a lucrative move to Russian club Avangard Omsk of the multi-national Kontinental Hockey League at the start of this past season.

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Slovakia left wing VLADIMIR ZABORSKY (67) of Russian KHL club Avangard Omsk hammers Russia center SERGEI MOZYAKIN of Metallurg Magnitogorsk, the 32-year-old veteran who led the Kontinental Hockey League in scoring this season for the third time in his career, along the boards during the 2013 IIHF World Championships – Group Helsinki contest at the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland.

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Slovakia defenseman VLADIMIR MIHALIK (56) of HC Slovan Bratislava, the first round selection (# 30 overall) of the Tampa Bay Lightning at the 2005 National Hockey League Draft who only ever skated 15 NHL games over the course of four seasons of professional hockey in North America before returning to Europe, and veteran Germany left wing MICHAEL WOLF of Islerlohn Roosters battle for position in front of the net during the 2013 IIHF World Championships – Group H contest at the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland.
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A pair of third period goals from a debutant player once considered not even good enough by the New York Rangers to sustain a regular place with the American Hockey League affiliate rallied defending silver medalist SLOVAKIA to a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over hard-luck GERMANY in Group H play at this year’s IIHF World Championships.

The result was a most frustrating loss for the Germans, who came into the Helsinki clash having beaten Slovakia in eight out of twelve all-time contests at major international tournaments including the last three meetings on the trot. Trainer PAT CORTINA’s side did do yeoman’s work at both ends of the ice for long stretches of time, however, two of the goals conceded by Germany were given away rather cheaply. Still, on the whole, the Germans were a bit unlucky to not get at least something from the game and now find themselves having earned just one of nine possible points in the Group H standings.

In the wake of Germany’s failure to qualify for the men’s ice hockey tournament at the XXII Winter Olympic Games to be held in Russia next winter, both Cortina and current Deutsche Eishockey Bund president UWE HARNOS remain under a white-hot spotlight at this year’s annual IIHF affair. Some German supporters who found their way to Finland feel that the root cause of the national ice hockey team’s problems may not entirely rest with the trainer. Just outside Germany’s VIP box at the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki was prominently hung a large banner that read, “harNOs WAY”.

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Germany winger MICHAEL WOLF (16) of Iserlohn Roosters had already scored 42 goals on 123 appearances in all international matches for Deutschland in his career prior to the start of this year’s IIHF World Championships.
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The Germans got off to an uncharacteristically fast start against Slovakia at the Hartwall Arena and found themselves ahead with only a little over four minutes having expired off the game clock. Adler Mannheim defenseman NIKOLAI GOC floated a rising shot from the left point that veteran Iserlohn Roosters winger MICHAEL WOLF skillfully deflected down and through the legs of Slovakia netminder RASTISLAV STANA from Russian Kontinental Hockey League club CSKA Moscow. The diminutive but experienced Wolf was able to score his 10th career goal for Germany at major international tournaments despite being cross-checked in the back by Slovakia defenseman MAREK DALOGA of Czech Extraliga club HC Pardubice.

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TOMAS SUROVY of HC Lev Pravda, a Prague-based representative from the Czech Republic in the Russian-dominated Kontinental Hockey League, had an excellent chance to haul Slovakia level a little over six minutes into second period after receiving a smart cross-ice pass but the 31-year-old right wing who once skated 126 National Hockey League games (27 go, 59 pts) over the course of four years in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, had his shot slam off the near post with the German netminder already beaten.

The Slovakians were actually held off the scoreboard by the Germans for more than half the contest in Helsinki before defenseman MICHAEL SERSEN of HC Slovan Bratislava, the fifth round (# 130 overall) pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins at the 2004 NHL Draft who is appearing at the annual IIF World Championships for a third year in succession, launched a long, routine shot from the right point that Germany goaltender ROB ZEPP of Deutsche Eishockey Liga champion Eisbaeren Berlin saved but did not control.

On hand in the slot to snap up the inviting rebound for Slovakia was a hustling MARIO BLIZNAK of HC Slovan Bratislava, the 26-year-old center who skated six NHL games (1 go, 0 as) over parts of two seasons for the Vancouver Canucks before signing with HC Sparta Prague in the Czech Republic Extraliga at the start of the 2011/12 campaign.

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Germany regained the lead just three minutes into the third and final period after Adler Mannheim center MARCUS KINK took a pass from veteran right wing JOHN TRIPP of Kolener Haie in the neutral ice and sped into the Slovakia defensive zone; faced with a one-on-one situation opposite NHL defenseman ANDREJ SEKERA of the Buffalo Sabres, the 28-year-old forward who serves as captain of his club team in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga, went to the backhand and produced a surprising shot that the Slovak netminder Stana got a piece of but could not keep out.

The seasoned 33-year-old who once made six appearances (3.13 avg, .890 save pct) in the vaunted National Hockey League for the Washington Capitals during the 2003/04 campaign, would not be beaten again, however, and went on to finish with 30 saves in the Group H match against Germany.

Stana, a two-time Olympian who has now been on the roster of Slovakia at twelve major international tournaments in his career, was recalled for the first time since the 2010 IIHF World Champinships held in Germany and had only played 14 games (2.75 avg) in his career at major international events heading into this year’s annual IIHF affair in Scandanavia.

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Germany’s advantage did not last for long as Slovakia promptly went on the counterattack. Pinching in from the left point, defenseman VLADIMIR MIHALIK of HC Slovan Bratislava carried along the boards and swung around behind the net before sending a perfect pass out into the slot. Ready and waiting was TOMAS ZABORSKY of Russian KHL club Avangard Omsk, the 26-year-old left wing who was chosen in the fifth round (# 137 overall) of the 2006 NHL Draft by the New York Rangers, who then shot past the German netminder Zepp first time to bring the Slovaks level at the 45:41 mark.

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The Slovaks were buzzing in the offensive zone again when disaster befell the Germans with a little over seven minutes to go in the Group H game in Helsinki. Zepp, the 31-year-old native Canadian who spent two seasons with Finnish elite league outfit Saipa Lappeenranta before transferring to Eisbaeren Berlin in the summer of 2007, sought to smother the puck but made a complete mess of his attempt. Although Germany center MARCEL GOC was in the immediate vicinity, the NHL-Crack with the Florida Panthers was caught very much by surprise and, thus, unable to lend any assistnace.

Zaborsky, meanwhile, was more than happy to accept the gracious opportunity and merely backhanded underneath the unfortunate Zepp in order to notch his third goal for Slovakia at this year’s IIHF World Championships.

The Germans created their share of chances down the stretch (while also shooting a puck off the iron) but were unable to solve the in-form Slovakia netminder Stana and fell for the third consecutive time at the Hartwall Arena in Finland. Deutschland captain CHRISTIAN EHRHOFF of the Buffalo Sabres, who spent the first half of this season skating in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga for the Krefeld Pinguine (32 ga, 8 go, 26 pts) while the NHL’s Lockout situation went unresolved, promised the results from Helsinki would improve. “We’re going to keep chipping away and sooner or later the pucks will go in.”

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Germany right wing JOHN TRIPP (21) of Koelner Haie, the 36-year-old National Hockey League veteran who has now appeared in more than 100 international matches for Deutschland in his long and well-traveled career, is thwarted by Slovakia netminder RASTISLAV STANA (31) of Russian club CSKA Moscow during the 2013 IIHF World Championships – Group H contest at the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland.
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IIHF World Championships
Group H – Helsinki, Finland
Hartwall Arena : attendance 5,078
referees : Frano (Czech Republic) and Rieber (Switzerland)

SLOVAKIA 3 – GERMANY 2

04:01 … GER – Wolf (N. Goc, Gogulla)
33:30 … SVK – Bliznak (Sersen)
43:01 … GER – Kink (Tripp, Kohl)
45:41 … SVK – Zaborsky (Mihalik, Kukumberg)
52:46 … SVK – Zaborsky (Miklik, Kukumberg)

shots-on-goal : SVK 33 GER 32 … penalty minutes : SVK 4 GER 2

SLOVAKIA : Stana – Mezei, Sekera ; Daloga, Sersen ; Vydareny, Jurcina ; Mihalik – Radivojevic, Bliznak, Kopecky ; Hudacek, Stumpel, Satan ; Zaborsky, Kukumberg, Miklik ; Bartek, Olvecky, Surovy

GERMANY : Zepp – Ehrhoff, Hoerdler ; N. Goc, Mueller, Baxmann, Ankert ; Kohl – Rankel, M. Goc, Schuetz ; Gogulla, Ullmann, Wolf ; Seidenberg, Kink, Tripp ; Noebels, Hager, Mauer ; Greilinger

Notes — Germany captain CHRISTIAN EHRHOFF totaled 29:20 of ice time while making his 80th career appearance in the national team uniform … Eisbaeren Berlin skipper ANDRE RANKEL, who was appearing in his 70th international contest on behalf of Deutschland, was the next most prominent player having skated one second more than twenty minutes for the Germans.

Adler Mannheim left wing YANNIC SEIDENBERG was chosen as Player of the Game for the Germans while defenseman MICHAEL SERSEN of HC Slovan Bratislava won similar honors for Slovakia.

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Germany right wing JOHN TRIPP (21) of Koelner Haie, the 36-year-old native Canadian who skated 43 National Hockey League games for the Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers before crossing the Atlantic Ocean to sign for Adler Mannheim at the start of the 2004/05 Deutsche Eishockey Liga season, and Russia defenseman ANTON BELOV (7) of Avangard Omsk jockey for position during the 2013 IIHF World Championships – Group H contest at the half-filled Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland.
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In a contest that was certainly much closer than the final score indicated, a hat trick from the veteran superstar and solid goaltending from his fellow National Hockey League legionnaire as well as a favorable call from the match referees late in the third period all combined to help defending gold medalist RUSSIA to a 4-1 triumph over hard-working GERMANY in the Group H round robin contest at the 2013 IIHF World Championships.

“We had more of the play,” noted Germany left wing ANDRE RANKEL of reigning Deutsche Eishockey Liga champion Eisbaeren Berlin after the game. Rankel looked to have drawn the Germans level with just over five and a half minutes remaining in the match after slipping a rebound past Russia netminder SEMYON VARLAMOV, the National Hockey League legionnaire under contract to the Coloardo Avalanche. But Germany’s star NHL defenseman CHRISTIAN EHRHOFF from the Buffalo Sabres was harshly ruled to have violated the regulations with respect to the goaltender’s crease and, thus, Rankel’s strike was disallowed.

“A controversial decision since Ehrhoff had been pushed by the opponent,” observed one German publication.

Whatever the case, Russia continued its traditional winning ways against Germany thanks in large part to three goals from NHL star ILYA KOVALCHUK of the New Jersey Devils. The 30-year-old sniper with the 15-year contract worth $ 110.0 million dollars raised his career tally to 35 goals on his 90th appearance for Russia at a major international tournament. Including the record inherited from what was the now dissolved Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the powerful Russians improved their all-time record against the Bundesrepublik Deutschland at major international tournaments to an impressive 42 wins against just two losses.

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Germany did enjoy the benefit of three opportunities with the power play in the first period alone but were unable to convert.

Despite being outshot 8-4 by the Germans in the first period, the Russians went out in front less than three and a half minutes into the second session after EVGENY MEDVEDEV of Ak Bars Kazan, the 30-year-old defenseman who had a goal and an assist in the 6-0 victory over Latvia to begin this 2013 IIHF World Championships, faked a slapshot at the point and then zipped a diagonal pass down low to the unmarked Kovalchuk, who patiently waited a brief moment before skillfully roofing the puck over the right shoulder of Germany goaltender DENNIS ENDRAS from Adler Mannheim.

Russia doubled its advantage just past the midway point of the match when highly-paid right wing ALEXANDER RADULOV of CSKA Moscow, the first round choice (# 15 overall) of the Nashville Predators at the 2004 NHL Draft, knifed in on the German net. Endras was able to repel the initial assualt to his left but Radulov collected his own rebound behind the net and quickly fed his national team linemate Kovalchuk out in front at the left side of the net. The scrambling Endras never had much of a chance as the New Jersey Devils legionnaire promptly netted his second goal of the game.

Germany had no luck shortly thereafter when inexperienced FRANK MAUER, the 25-year-old right wing who totaled 12 goals and 27 points in 52 D.E.L. games for Adler Mannheim this season, smacked his shot off the goal post in the 33rd minute of the contest.

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Germany, who were blanked 2-0 by Russia in the round robin of the 2012 IIHF World Championships last season, finally got on the scoreboard five minutes into the third period while skating on the power play. A point shot from veteran MICHAEL WOLF, the 32-year-old winger whose 55 points (23 goals) from 53 games for Iserlohn Roosters were the fourth-highest total in the D.E.L. this term, clanked off the iron but evergreen JOHN TRIPP of Koelner Haie was on hand to jam the rebound home and notch his seventh career goal for Germany at a major international event. The never-say-die Germans, who ended up outshooting the Russians 27-26 over the three periods of play, now had everything to skate for in the final fifteen minutes.

Deutschland, to review, only claimed its first-ever victory over Russia (and its predecessor, the Soviet Union) at the annual IIHF World Championships in Slovakia two years ago after Endras had turned aside all 31 shots faced when Germany triumphed 2-0 over the mighty Sbornaja.

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DEUTSCHLAND HATTE KEIN GLUECK — the half-pictured ANDRE RANKEL of Eisbaeren Berlin has the puck in the back of the net as Germany defenseman CHRISTIAN EHRHOFF (10) of the Buffalo Sabres is sandwiched between the fellow NHLers for Russia, goaltender SEMYON VARLAMOV (1) of the Colorado Avalanche and center ARTEM ANISIMOV (42) of the Columbus Blue Jackets, late in the third period of the 2013 IIHF World Championships – Group H contest at the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland.
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Three minutes after the unfortunate Rankel, who had only netted one goal in 34 career games for Germany at major international tournaments heading into this 2013 IIHF World Championships, saw his potential game-tying goal waved off by the Scandanavian match officials, the explosive Radulov rendered that questionable decision something of a moot point by bursting into the offensive zone and beating the German captain Ehrhoff in a one-on-one situation. Endras was able to halt the backhand effort from the CSKA Moscow right wing who reportedly earned $ 9.2 million dollars this season skating in the domestic Kontiental Hockey League. But, with all the instincts of a true world-class goal shark, Kovalchuk was lurking on the play and easily cashed in the rebound opportunity in order to complete his noteworthy hat trick for Russia.

With his third goal against Germany in Helsinki, the veteran New Jersey Devils superstar overtook the talented Alexander Ovechkin, who is still competing with the Washington Capitals in the Stanley Cup playoffs and, therefore, not available for national team duty in Finland this spring, as Russia’s all-time leading goal-scorer at major international tournaments.

DENIS KOKAREV of two-time defending KHL champion Dynamo Moscow, the 27-year-old right wing who is one of ten returning players from the Russian squad that celebrated the gold medal at the 2012 IIHF World Championships in Scandanavia twelve months ago, sealed the deal with an empty net goal.

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IIHF World Championships
Group H – Helsinki, Finland
Hartwall Arena – attendance : 3,705
referees : Johansson (Sweden) and Rantala (Finland)

RUSSIA 4 – GERMANY 1

43:20 … RUS – Kovalchuk (Medvedev)
30:09 … RUS – Kovalchuk (Radulov)
45:03 … GER – Tripp (Wolf, Ehrhoff) – ppg
58:20 … RUS – Kovalchuk (Radulov, Medvedev)
59:39 … RUS – Kokarev (Soin, Svitov) – eng

shots-on-goal : GER 27 RUS 26 … penalty minutes : RUS 10 GER 2

RUSSIA : Varlamov – Nikulin, Biryukov ; Tyutin, Medvedev ; Denisov, Belov ; Ryasenski – Kovalchuk, Loktionov, Radulov ; Popov, Anisimov, Perezhogin ; Mozyakin, Tereshenko, Petrov ; Soin, Kokarev, Svitov

GERMANY : Endras – Ehrhoff, Hoerdler ; N. Goc, Mueller ; Baxmann, Ankert ; Kohl – Rankel, M. Goc, Schuetz ; Gogulla, Ullmann, Wolf ; Seidenberg, Kink, Tripp ; Greilinger, Hager, Mauer ; Pietta

Notes — Germany captain CHRISTIAN EHRHOFF accumulated 33:06 of ice time … Krefeld Pinguine forward DANIEL PIETTA, the 26-year-old who made four appearances (0 go, 0 pts) for Deutschland at the 2012 IIHF World Championships last season, was formally registered for this year’s tournament and included in the line-up for the contest with defending champion Russia.

For the sake of history here, the old Soviet Union compiled a perfect record of 16 wins with zero losses or ties in matches against the old Deutsche Demokratische Republik at major international ice hockey tournaments.

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Finland right wing JANNE PESONEN (20) of Russian Kontinental Hockey League club Ak Bars Kazan, the 30-year-old veteran who racked up 32 goals to go along with 82 points in 70 American Hockey League games for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Penguins during the 2008/09 campaign, watches as Germany goaltender ROB ZEPP (72) of Deutsche Eishockey Liga champion Eisbaeren Berlin secures the puck in his glove during the 2013 IIHF World Championships – Group H contest at the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland.
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Despite skating shorthanded for the equivalent of three-quarters of an entire period, embattled GERMANY came within a minute and a half of defeating host FINLAND for the first time at a major international tournament in twenty years before eventually falling 4-3 after extra time in the opening match for both sides at the 2013 IIHF World Championships.

There is little question that the national team program of Germany is under the proverbial microscope after failing to qualify for the men’s ice hockey tournament at the XXII Winter Olympic Games to be held next year in Sochi, Russia. Against the host Finns at the Hartwall Arena, the Germans certainly came under heavy scrutiny from the match officials, who ended up assessing Canadian-Italian legionnaire trainer PAT CORTINA’s charges no fewer than nine minor penalties. Germany might have also fared better with more luck from the goal post in Helsinki, as well.

Nevertheless, Germany still earned what could prove to be a very significant point in the Group H standings against Finland and, perhaps more importantly, generated a certain amount of confidence and optimism not just among the national team players, but, indeed, the people of Deutschland, as well.

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Finland trainer JUKKA JALONEN, who has been in charge of the national team since the beginning of the 2008/09 campaign, returns only six skaters and no goaltenders from the squad that lost the bronze medal match at home in Helsinki to the Czech Republic last season. Jalonen, who steered Suomi to the gold medal triumph at the 2011 IIHF World Champinoships in Slovakia and sports a career record of 26 wins and 13 losses behind the bench for Finland at major international tournaments, has only one National Hockey League player on his roster at the 2013 IIHF World Championships but has left two places open. Forward LAURI KORPIKOSKI, the first round pick (# 19 overall) of the New York Rangers at the 2009 NHL Draft who has scored 42 goals in 197 NHL games the past three seasons for the Phoenix Coyotes, did not dress for the opening contest with Germany.

PETRI KONTIOLA of Russian Kontinental Hockey League club Traktor Chelyabinsk, the 28-year-old center who skated a dozen NHL games a collected five assists for the Chicago Black Hawks during the 2007/08 campaign, sent the Finns to the lead with a power play goal roughly ten and a half minutes into the contest after taking a cross-ice pass from JUHA-MATTI AALTONEN of Swedish Elitserien side BK Rogle Angelholm and slamming the puck into a wide open net.

But the Germans were able to equalize halfway through the match when center MARCEL GOC of the Florida Panthers, one of the two NHL players in Deutschland’s line-up, picked out FELIX SCHUETZ of Koelner Haie all alone in front of the net; quick stickhandlilng enabled the 26-year-old right wing, who spent two seasons skating for the Portland Pirates in the American Hockey League before signing with ERC Ingolstadt in the summer of 2010, to fake out Finland netminder JONI ORTIO, the Calgary Flames prospect who spent this past term out on loan with IFK Helsinki, and register his sixth career goal for Germany at a major international event.

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Germany right wing FELIX SCHUETZ (55), the fourth round selection (# 110 overall) of the Buffalo Sabres at the 2006 NHL Draft, tied for the Koelner Haie team lead with 23 goals and finished second with 41 points in 50 Deutsche Eishockey Liga contests this season.
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The Germans continued with their parade to the penalty box in the latter half of the second period, however, and Finland were, once again, able to capitalize with just over half a minute to skate before the second intermission. Right wing JANNE PESONEN of Russian KHL club Ak Bars Kazan, who appeared in seven NHL games for the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 2008/09 season, did very well to redirect the point shot from defenseman JUUSO HIETANEN of Russian KHL club Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. The Finns might have had a few more goals, though, were it not for the 22 saves that Germany netminder ROB ZEPP of Eisbaeren Berlin, the 31-year-old naturalized Canadian who spent two years with Finnish elite league side Saipa Lappeenranta after leaving the Florida Everblades of the East Coast Hockey League in the summer of 2005, recorded in the first forty minutes of play.

Despite being heavily outshot, the Germans hauled themselves level yet again only two seconds after veteran defenseman OSSI VAANANEN of Jokerit Helsinki, the highly experienced 32-year-old who skated 479 NHL games for the Phoenix Coyotes, Colorado Avalance and Philadelphia Flyers and is appearing for Finland at his ninth major international tournament, was sent off for holding early in the third period.

Goc won the ensuing faceoff cleanly and NHL colleague CHRISTIAN EHRHOFF of the Buffalo Sabres blasted a rocket right past Ortio, the 22-year-old youngster who was representing Finland at a major international event for the very first time ever, to net his fifth career goal for Germany in a major international tournament.

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Germany’s star NHL defenseman CHRISTIAN EHRHOFF (10) of the Buffalo Sabres is pestered by Finland center JUKKA-PEKKA HYTONEN (15) of Russian KHL club Amur Khabarovsk behind the net during the 2013 IIHF World Championships – Group H contest at the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki.
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Deutschland looked to be in great shape after defenseman TORSTEN ANKERT of Koelner Haie, one of three German blueliners who are appearing at a major international tournament for the first time in their careers, found the back of the net with a long, low drive from the right point. Indeed, Germany were only a little over three minutes away from upending stubborn Finland at a major international event for the first time since the 1993 IIHF World Championships in Moscow. But, alas, it was not to be.

The skillful Kontiola made a sensational play to bat the puck out of the air, baseball-style, at the side of the net and then swoop out in front to slot the black disc past the bamboozled German goaltender with a little less than a minute and a half remaining in regulation time. Goc was then boxed for tripping only just before the sixty minutes had expired, which meant that Germany were forced to start the overtime period with just three skaters defending against the Finns’ four. Just after the penalty expired, 24-year-old winger SAKARI SALMINEN of Kalpa Kuopio skated into the left faceoff circle and rifled a wrist shot that 27-year old winger VELI-MATTI SAVINAINEN of Assat Pori was able to deflect ever so slightly.

Germany had battled like a champion, nonetheless, in its first meaningful international match since the historic Olympic qualification debacle.

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On the heels of Deutschland’s historic reunification, Finland have now won fifteen times while falling just once in the 17 matches with Germany at all major international tournaments since 1991. The two nations first met at a major international event during the 1939 IIHF World Championships in Basel, Switzerland (the Germans triumphed 12-1 on that occasion). As for the all-time series at the majors between the two countries, the Finns have won 37 while the Germans have won 11 with eight matches having been tied (this is the official record of the Bundesrepublik Deutschland, of course.)
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IIHF World Championships
Group H – Helsinki, Finland
Hartwall Arena – attendance : 12,115
referees : Frano (Czech Republic) and Kirk (Canada)

FINLAND 4 – GERMANY 3 … (ot)

10:22 … FIN – Kontiola (Aaltonen, Pesonen) – ppg
30:21 … GER – Schuetz (M. Goc, Rankel)
39:27 … FIN – Pesonen (Hietanen, Kontiola) – ppg
42:34 … GER – Ehrhoff (M. Goc) – ppg
56:55 … GER – Ankert (M. Goc, Gogulla)
58:31 … FIN – Kontiola (Pesonen)
61:58 … FIN – Savinainen (Salminen, Mantyla)

shots-on-goal : FIN 38 GER 18 … penalty minutes : GER 18 FIN 6

FINLAND : Ortio – Lepisto, Heitanen ; Laakso, Mantyla ; Vaananen, Jalasvaara ; Kukkonen, Melart – Pesonen, Kontiola, Aaltonen ; Salminen, Viitaluoma, Haataja ; Savinainen, Koskiranta, Pihlstrom ; Hagman, Hytonen, Antilla

GERMANY : Zepp – Ehrhoff, Hoerdler ; N. Goc, Mueller ; Baxmann, Ankert ; Kuhl – Rankel, M. Goc, Schuetz ; Wolf, Ullmann, Gogulla ; Seidenberg, Kink, Tripp ; Greiling, Hager, Mauer ; Noebels

Notes — new captain CHRISTIAN EHRHOFF logged 29:30 minutes of ice time for Germany, including 10:36 of the last period and all but two seconds of the overtime session … MARCEL GOC, who totaled 19:54 of ice time, assisted on all three German goals and, in doing so, posted a career high for points in one game at a major international tournament.

The official record of the old Deutsche Demokratische Republik (commonly known as East Germany) against Finland at major international tournaments was eight wins against ten losses with one draw.

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Vielleicht gibt es eines Tag, dass in der beruehmte National Hockey League mit der Philadelphia Flyers schlittschuhlaufen kann MARCEL NOEBELS.

Es ist immer ein gute Erfaehrung fuer ein Eishockey-Spieler, bei den Weltmeisterschaften mit dem Nationalmannscahft zu erscheinen. Die Philadelphia Flyers und den deutschen Nationalmannschaft muss bestimmt gluecklich sein, dass nach Finnland geflogen hat der 21-Jaehrige. Es ist ein wichitger Schritt in der Entwicklung des Spielers.

Noebels hat sein richtige WM-Debuet fuer Deutschland in das erste Spiel gegen Gastgeber Finnland auch gemacht. Er hatte ein echte Chance in dem ersten Teil auch gemacht, aber der finnische Torhueter Joni Ortio von IFK Helsinki seinem Schuss blockiert. Es war noch ein gute Leistung fuer der junge Nati-Neuzugang.

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In diesem Jahr, Noebels begann mit der dritten Mannschaft der Philadelphia Flyers. Es kein Arbeit-Streit in der NHL gewesen, wuerde dann der junge deutsche Mittelstuermer warscheinlich nicht an die Trenton Titans in der East Coast Hockey League gegangen. Aber verdient Noebels eine Foerderung im Januar nach 11 Tore und 30 Punkte aus 31 Spiele in der ECHL.

Keine Ersemester-Spieler in der ECHL hatte mehr Punkte als Noebels, der zweimal mit Deutschland bei den IIHF Junioren-Weltmeisterschaften bereits erschienen.

Auch sehr gut mit dem zweiten Kader der Philadelphia Flyers hat Noebels gemacht. Die Adirondack Phantoms in den letzten paar Jahren eines der schwaechsten Mannschaften in der American Hockey League gewesen. Doch noch ansammelte der junge deutsche Angreifer 13 Tore und 23 Punkte aus 43 Spiele in der AHL.

Nur zwei Spieler fuer die Adirondack Phantoms in diesem Jahr mehr Tore als Noebels geschossen hat.

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Der neue deutsche Landspieler MARCEL NOEBELS begann seine Karriere als ein Profispieler in der East Coast Hockey League mit der Trenton Titans, der die dritte Mannschaft von der Philadelphia Flyers.

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Two experienced National Hockey League players, the Buffalo Sabres’ $ 40.0 million dollar defenseman CHRISTIAN EHRHOFF as well as Florida Panthers center MARCEL GOC, spearhead the struggling national team of GERMANY competing at the 2013 IIHF World Championships in Scandanavia this spring.

On the heels of the historic disaster that was the attempt to qualify for the men’s ice hockey tournament at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games to be held in Sochi, the disappointed Germans are looking to get the national team program back on the right track and will skate against host Finland, powerful Russia, defending silver medalist Slovakia, Olympic qualifiers Austria and Latvia, the United States as well as France in the Helsinki-based Group H.

Under the stewardship of Swiss trainer JAKOB KOLLIKER, the national team of Germany imploded at the end of the 2012 IIHF World Championships, which were also co-hosted by Finland and Sweden, as evidenced by the truly embarrassing losses (12-4 to Norway and 8-1 to the Czech Republic) to close out the tournament. Kolliker was correctly shown the door by the Deutsche Eishockey Bund after last year’s disgrace. Particularly given the colossal Olympic failure this past February, the very same marching orders will be issued to Canadian-Italian legionnaire PAT CORTINA should the Germans not give a good account of themselves this time out.

GERMANY forwards
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Philip GOGULLA – Koelner Haie ……………… (6) … 39 ga … 4 go … 22 pts
Manfred WOLF – Iserlohn Roosters …………. (7) … 38 ga … 9 go … 17 pts
Christoph ULLMAN – Adler Mannheim ………. (7) … 44 ga … 4 go … 17 pts
John TRIPP – Koelner Haie ……………………. (6) … 39 ga … 6 go … 10 pts
Marcel GOC – FLORIDA PANTHERS ………… (8) … 42 ga … 6 go … 10 pts
Felix SCHUETZ – Koelner Haie ……………….. (3) … 20 ga … 5 go ….. 9 pts
Thomas GREILINGER – ERC Ingolstadt …….. (5) … 27 ga … 4 go ….. 5 pts
Andre RANKEL – Eisbaeren Berlin …………… (7) … 34 ga … 1 go ….. 4 pts
Yannic SEIDENBERG – Adler Mannheim ……. (3) … 11 ga … 1 go ….. 4 pts
Marcus KINK – Adler Mannheim ………………. (2) ….. 9 ga … 1 go ….. 3 pts
Frank MAUER – Adler Mannheim …………….. (1) ….. 5 ga … 0 go ….. 3 pts
Patrick HAGER – ERC Ingolstadt …………….. (2) … 12 ga … 0 go ….. 1 pts
Daniel PIETTA – Krefeld Pinguine ……………. (1) ….. 4 ga … 0 go ….. 0 pts
Marcel NOEBELS – Adirondack (AHL)

(appearances on German roster at major international tournaments in parenthesis)

total international games for Germany — Ullmann 131, Wolf 123, Gogulla 112, Greilinger 106, Tripp 101, M. Goc 78, Seidenberg 68, Rankel 67, Schuetz 67, Hager 62, Kink 55, Mauer 36, Noebels 2

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Koelner Haie left wing PHILIP GOGULLA (87), the former second round selection (# 48 overall) of the Buffalo Sabres at the 2005 National Hockey League Draft who skated one season in the American Hockey League for the Portland Pirates before returning to Deutschland in the summer of 2010, netted the only goal of the game to help Germany knock off neighboring rival Switzerland in the quarterfinals of the 2010 IIHF World Championships.
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The Germans, with the noteworthy exception of the three-time Olympian Ehrhoff, are extremely inexperienced on the blue line as a whole with three regulars having never before skated at a major international tournament. And MORITZ MUELLER, the 26-year-old rearguard from Koelner Haie, has not appeared at a major international tournament since the 2009 IIHF World Championships. Therefore, the NHL veteran from the Buffalo Sabres who will be appearing at a major international tournament for the ninth time can be expected to skate 30 minutes, if not more, each time out for Deutschland.

The trainer Cortina left room for two skaters on the initial roster registered with IIHF tournament officials and it is presumed that one more defenseman will be added at a later date; one possible candidate that has been mentioned in German press is JUSTIN KRUEGER, the Cornell University graduate who is still involved in the American Hockey League playoffs with the Charlotte Checkers.

GERMANY defensemen
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Christian EHRHOFF – BUFFALO SABRES ….. (8) … 46 ga … 4 go … 10 pts
Frank HOERDLER – Eisbaeren Berlin ……….. (4) … 25 ga … 3 go ….. 5 pts
Nikolai GOC – Adler Mannheim ……………….. (4) … 24 ga … 1 go ….. 2 pts
Moritz MUELLER – Kolener Haie ………………. (1) ….. 6 ga … 1 go ….. 1 pts
Torsten ANKERT – Koelner Haie
Jens BAXMANN – Eisbaeren Berlin
Benedikt KOHL – Wolfsburg Grizzly Adams

(appearances on German roster at major international tournaments in parenthesis)

total international games for Germany — Ehrhoff 77, Hoerder 74, N. Goc 56, Mueller 49, Kohl 34, Baxmann 20, Ankert 7

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Experienced defenseman CHRISTIAN EHRHOFF, the 30-year-old native of Moers who will serve as captain of Germany at the 2013 IIHF World Championships, scored five goals and totaled 22 points while posting a plus/minus defensive rating of + 6 in 47 games for the playoff-less Buffalo Sabres in the National Hockey League this season.
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Solid, if not standout, play between the pipes is of the utmost importance to the Germans because of the harsh reality that the national team simply just do not score very many goals per game, historically speaking. The naturalized Canadian ROB ZEPP of Deutsche Eishockey Liga champion Eisbaeren Berlin, the 31-year-old native of Newmarket, Ontario, who appeared in two of Germany’s three matches at the unsuccessful Olympic qualification tournament in February, also started two games for Deutschland at the 2010 IIHF World Championships. The stock of Adler Mannheim netminder DENNIS ENDRAS, the 27-year-old national team veteran who honored as the Most Valuable Player at the 2010 IIHF World Championships, appears to have dropped a bit since Cortina has been installed as trainer.

GERMANY goaltenders
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Dennis ENDRAS – Adler Mannheim …… (5) … 18 ga … 3.23 avg … 90.8 svpct
Rob ZEPP – Eisbaeren Berlin ………….. (1) ….. 2 ga … 1.54 avg … 95.6 svpct

(apperances on German roster at major international tournament in parenthesis)

total international games for Germany — Endras 61, Zepp 19

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Adler Mannheim shot-stopper DENNIS ENDRAS (44) has posted a record of seven wins against nine losses on his 18 appearances for Germany at major international tournaments and is, in fact, the only goaltender to have been triumphant for Deutschland at a major international tournament since Dimitri Patzold was victorious at the 2009 IIHF World Championships in Switzerland.

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Germany Olympic veteran MARCEL MUELLER (25), the 24-year-old forward who had previously skated three NHL games for Toronto Maple Leafs in his career but did not have his contract Swedish club Mo Do Ornskoldsvik renewed after a lackluster 2012/13 campaign in the crack Elitserien, topped the national team with three goals during the spring Testspiel schedule but was not included by Deutschland trainer Pat Cortina in the squad bound for the 2013 IIHF World Championships in Scandanavia.
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There is little doubt that, although the record of one win against seven losses is dreadful, the Testspiele results for the national team of GERMANY this spring only mean so much. For starters, the domestic campaigns of Krefeld Pinguine and Wolfsburg Grizzly Adams did not end until after the first week of April while champion Eisbaeren Berlin and runners-up Koelner Haie did not conclude the annual Deutsche Eishockey Liga playoffs until the end of the third week in April. Furthermore, it must be said that Canadian-Italian legionnaire PAT CORTINA, who probably should be removed as national team trainer so that he might singularly focus on his duties behind the bench of Deutsche Eishockey Liga club EHC Red Bull Munich, wisely deployed a multitude of different players, many inexperienced at the international level, over the course of Germany’s eight exhibition matches.

In the wake of the disaster that was the Olympic qualification tournament, a thought to the future is every bit as important as avoiding the dreaded relegation drop at the annual IIHF World Championships …

GERMANY ‘TESTSPIELE’ RESULTS
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04/05/13 … Belarus 4 – Germany 3 … (shootout)
04/06/13 … Belarus 4 – Germany 2

04/12/13 … Germany 1 – Czech Republic 3
04/13/13 … Germany 1 – Czech Republic 3

04/20/13 … Germany 0 – Sweden 8
04/21/13 … Germany 5 – Sweden 2

04/26/13 … Switzerland 2 – Germany 1
04/27/13 … Switzerland 3 – Germany 2 … (shootout)

GERMANY goals
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Marcel MUELLER (Mo Do Ornskoldsvik – Swe) 3, Frank MAUER (Adler Mannheim) 2, Martin HINTERSTOCKER (EHC Red Bull Munich) 1, Rene ROETHKE (Straubing Tigers) 1, Bernhard EBNER (EG Duesseldorf) 1, Uli MAURER (EHC Red Bull Munich) 1, Patrick KOEPPCHEN (Hamburg Freezers) 1, Christoph ULLMANN (Adler Mannheim) 1, Patrick HAGER 1, Nikolai GOC (Adler Mannheim) 1, John TRIPP (Koelner Haie) 1, Manfred WOLF (Iserlohn Roosters) 1

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Yale winger TRENT RUFFOLO (11), the sophomore from Coral Springs, Florida, who has netted ten goals in two seasons since arriving in New Haven, and Quinnipiac’s Canadian legionnaire MATTHEW PECA (20), the sophomore winger from Petawawa, Ontario, who was the seventh round selection (# 201 overall) of the Tampa Bay Lightning at the 2011 National Hockey League Draft, compete for the puck along the boards during the so-called “Battle of Whitney Avenue” that served as the Final of the 2013 NCAA men’s ice hockey tournament at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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A late second period goal that appeared to materialize out of seemingly nowhere and a surprising follow up strike off of a rebound from a very sharp angle tilted the contest in favor of the underdog Ivy Leaguers once and for all as # 15 YALE UNIVERSITY completely shut down top ranked QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY 4-0 to win the coveted NCAA national championship title for the very first time ever in school history.

# 1 Quinnipiac had already defeated its intra-city foe from Connecticut three times previously during this 2012/13 campaign, including a 3-0 triumph in the third place consolation game of the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference playoff tournament at Atlantic City, New Jersey in late March. To review, that last loss to the Bobcats had looked as if it could very well cost the Bulldogs an invitation to the annual Sweet Sixteen On Ice. And it would have, too, had Michigan been able to conquer Notre Dame in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association tournament finale.

However, resugent Yale truly found its form once the NCAA tournament began and certainly earned the right to play in the Final of the 2013 Frozen Four after knocking off two of the nation’s three highest ranked teams. Extra time had been required in the NCAA opener against # 2 Minnesota as well as in the Frozen Four semifinal opposite the # 3 University of Massachusetts – Lowell side. In their other NCAA tournament contest this spring, the Bulldogs trailed for two periods against # 7 North Dakota before rallying to score unanswered four goals in final twenty minutes.

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Yale’s Canadian legionnaire goaltender JEFF MALCOLM (33), the undrafted senior from Lethbridge, Alberta, who posted career numbers (30 ga, 2.24 avg, .919 save pct) his final season in New Haven, tracks the puck after halting Quinnipiac’s leading goal-scorer JORDAN SAMUELS-THOMAS (19), the homegrown junior right wing from West Hartford who was the seventh round pick (# 203 overall) of the Atlanta Thrashers at the 2009 NHL Draft and redshirted last season after transferring from Bowling Green State University.
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The 2013 NCAA Final, an all-Connecticut clash watched by an audience of 18,184 spectators at the Consol Engery Center in Pittsburgh, had all the makings of a classic goaltenders’ duel with the second intermission literally only seconds away.

But then Quinnipiac shot-stopper ERIC HARTZELL, the senior from White Bear Lake, Minnesota, who was selected at the First Team (East) All-America goaltender for this 2012/13 season, went behind his own net and attempted to play the puck around the boards on the backhand. Pinching in near the left point, though, was Yale defenseman GUS YOUNG, the junior from Deadham, Massachusetts, who was chosen by the Colorado Avalanche in the seventh round (# 184 overall) of the 2009 National Hockey League Draft. Hartzell had plenty of time to get back in position, but unsung Bulldogs center CLINTON BOURBONAIS, parked in the left faceoff circle, was able to redirect the low shot from Young ever so slightly and register what has to be the biggest goal in the entire history of Yale ice hockey.

The homegrown junior from Colcehster had notched only three goals in 35 games this term for the Yale varsity coming into the 2013 NCAA Final; then again, all throughout this 2013 NCAA men’s ice hockey tournament, Yale benefited by important goals coming from the most unlikeliest sources.

The energized Bulldogs doubled their advantage roughly three and a half minutes into the final frame after Bourbonais, a biomedical engineering major who has totaled 27 assists combined the past two seasons for Yale, sent CHARLES ORZETTI into zone down the left wing. A long, routine shot was easily turned aside by the standout Quinnipiac netminder but the hustling freshman from Wyckoff, New Jersey, tracked down the rebound and squeezed the puck through the five hole of the Hartzell from a very sharp angle. Just the second goal of the season, then, for Orzetti, who only skated 19 games for the Bulldogs this term (but did appear in all of Yale’s last eleven contests).

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Yale captain ANDREW MILLER (17), the senior right wing from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, who led the Bulldogs with 18 goals and was also joint top scorer with 41 points this term, beats unfortunate Quinnipiac netminder ERIC HARTZELL, the undrafted standout (42 ga, 1.57 avg, .933 save pct) who later signed a free agent contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins, through the five hole on the breakaway at the Consol Energy Center.
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Fittingly enough, it was Yale captain ANDREW MILLER, the very same man who had lifted the Bulldogs over # 2 UMass – Lowell at the semifinal hurde by scoring a vital goal in overtime, who effectively broke the back of Quinnipiac after taking a smooth pass from left wing KENNY AGOSTINO, the junior left wing from Flanders, New Jersey, who was tabbed by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the fifth round (# 140 overall) of the 2010 NHL Draft and paced Yale with 24 assists this season.

Miller, who finished with two goals and five points in four games for Yale at this year’s NCAA men’s ice hockey tournament, would be honored as the Most Outstanding Player.

In a tactical move that was grounded in far more reality as compared to desperation, Quinnipiac removed its goaltender in favor of an extra attacker with well over seven minutes to skate in the third period but it was not long before Yale center JESSE ROOT was able to find the back of the empty net.

Yale senior netminder JEFF MALCOLM became only the fifth goaltender to post a shutout in the championship final over the long, 65-year history of the NCAA men’s ice hockey tournament. Denver University (1968 and 2004), Boston University (1972) and Boston College (2010) are the only other schools in history to have kept the scoresheet clean in the NCAA championship game. The triumphant Bulldogs, meanwhile, became just the third Ivy League instution of higher learning after Cornell (1967 and 1970) and Harvard (1989) to ever celebrate the coveted NCAA national title.

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Yale center JESSE ROOT (20), the undrafted junior center from Pittsburgh who scored three goals in the Bulldogs’ last four games of this 2012/13 season, lines up a wrist shot that Quinnipiac defenseman DANNY FEDERICO (22), the undrafted sophomore from Acton, Massachusetts, seeks to block during the all-New Haven Final of the 2013 NCAA men’s ice hockey tournament at the Consol Energy Center in the western Pennsylvania city where the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers all meet.
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2013 NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament Final
Consol Energy Center – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
YALE UNIVERSITY 4 – QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY 0

39:59 … YALE – Bourbonais 4 (Young)
43:35 … YALE – Orzetti 2 (Bourbonais, Laganiere)
49:06 … YALE – Miller 18 (Agostino)
53:02 … YALE – Root 12 (Miller, O’Gara) – eng

QUINNIPIAC : Hartzell – Davies, Tolkinen ; Federico, Dalhuisen ; Barron, Currie – Peca, K. Jones, C. Jones ; Harvey, Langlois, St. Denis ; van Brabant, Arnt, Samuels-Thomas ; Bui, Hibbeler, Goodman

YALE : Malcolm – Young, O’Gara ; Fallen, Obuchowski ; Dueck, Witek – Agostino, Root, Miller ; Orzetti, Bourbonais, Laganiere ; Balch, Wilson, Day ; Ruffolo, Cooper, Killian

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It is there, at the corner of Prospect and Sachem Streets in the almost four centuries old New England city of New Haven, Connecticut, that stands what is easily the most single most amazing ice hockey arena not just in all the United States of America but, indeed, the entire world, itself.

To this very day, architects across the globe still marvel at as well as seriously study the spectacular DAVID S. INGALLS RINK, which is, technically speaking, not actually on the campus of YALE UNIVERSITY, itself, but neither a building that exactly blends in with the rows of three-story houses in the working-class neighborhood it neighbors, either.

For more than half a century old now, the very distinct YALE WHALE, as the unique hockey arena is widely known in common parlance, has faithfully served as the home ice of every consensus First Team (East) All-America and / or future National Hockey League skater that the long and storied Yale Bulldogs varsity has ever boasted.

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Not long after the Yale varsity brought the third place trophy won at the 1952 NCAA men’s ice hockey tournament in Colorado Springs all the way back to New Haven, it was decided that the Ivy League school required a proper rink of its own if the Bulldogs could be fairly expected to compete year in and year out with the skaters of traditional arch-enemy to the north in Massachusetts, Harvard University. And so a very talented graduate of the Yale School of Architecture (Class of 1934) was recruited by JUAN TRIPPE, the innovative Chairman of the Board of Directors for Pan American World Airways who also just so happened to be a Yale alum, to design a brand new facility for a Bulldogs team then trained by MURRAY MURDOCH, the former New York Rangers left wing who had set the National Hockey League record for consecutive games played. Once Yale University president A. WHITNEY GRISWOLD had approved the architect’s plans as well as overcome the fierce opposition put forth by some of the alumni and faculty, construction on the ambitious project began in 1956.

The “exciting and prolific” EERO SAARINEN had been born in Finland but moved to the United States with his family at an early age and grew up in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, the very same place which would, one day, also serve as the hometown of one ANDREW MILLER, the captain of the 2012/13 Yale University ice hockey team. Back in in 1953, no less of a publication than The New York Times had already described Saarinen as “the most widely known and respected architect of his generation.” Indeed, Saarinen had already designed the would-be iconic Gateway Arch in St. Louis (which was not actually built until the early 1960s) and, among other things, would also be responsible for the “ultramodern, wavelike” TWA Terminal at Kennedy International Airport in New York City, the Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C., as well as the CBS corporate headquarters building in downtown Manhattan.

The distinguishing architectural characteristic of the Yale Whale is Saarinen’s arched roof, which has a maximum height of 23 meters and is considered to be a hallmark of the classic Modernist style. The reinforced concrete which serves as the novel ice arena’s humpback spine is 90 meters long. An innovative system of cables attached to the arch supports the timber frame inside the rink while another set of exterior cables, conceived by project engineer FRED N. SEVERUD, connect the arch to the outer edges of the aluminum roof in order to address forces caused by asymmetrical wind loads.

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The final tab for the Yale Whale came to $ 1.5 million dollars (which turned out to be twice as much as the original cost estimate) with the lion’s share of the financing for the new ice rink in New Haven being generously provided by the prominent Ingalls family.

DAVID S. INGALLS, SR., had enrolled as a freshman at Yale University in the fall of 1916 but was inducted into the United States Navy as an aviator by the very next spring. The native of Cleveland, Ohio, found himself in France by the fall of 1917 and eventually would earn the Navy Distinguished Service Medal for his efforts during First World War. Ingalls shot down six German planes, a total which made the Bulldogs frosh the one and only U.S. Navy fighter pilot to attain the coveted “ace” status.

Ingalls returned to Yale just in time to captain the Bulldogs varsity for the two February games in Brooklyn (the loss to Harvard and the victory over Princeton) that comprised the entire 1918/19 ice hockey schedule. The decorated World War I hero also skippered Yale again when the Bulldogs compiled a record of four wins against five losses during the 1919/20 campaign. It is interesting to note that Yale University’s outdoor rink was unplayable in February of 1920 and so the Bulldogs contested all three of its home games in Philadelphia.

By the early 1950s, after again serving as an officer in the U.S. Navy during the Second World War, Ingalls had become a member of the Board of Directors for Pan American World Airways but probably had not forgotten that he, himself, had never actually skated a home game for Yale University ice hockey team in the city of New Haven, itself.

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It was not even until the long since gone New Haven Arena appeared in 1926 that the Yale varsity began to stage all of its “home” games at the same physical location with any consistency. An indoor hockey of the very same name had been originally been constructed on Grove Street in 1916 but had never really been embraced by the Bulldogs before burning down eight years later. A replacement rink was quickly re-built, however, primarily in order to house the fledgling New Haven Eagles of the new Canadian-American Hockey League.

No fewer than five of the original New Haven Eagles had spent the previous 1925/26 season skating for the Boston Bruins in the elite National Hockey League. One of those players, the Canadian forward NORM SHAY, later settled in neighboring Hamden, Connecticut, and would become a linesman in both the Can-Am circuit and its successor, the American Hockey League. Shay’s son, Ted, later became a prominent player for the Yale University squad that finished in third place at the 1952 NCAA men’s ice hockey tournament.

The blue-shirted Bulldogs were still sharing the New Haven Arena downtown with the minor league professionals when one DAVID S. INGALLS, JR., arrived on the Yale University campus and was chosen as the captain of the freshman team for the 1952/53 season.

Dave Ingalls, like his father had before him, also became the skipper of the Yale varsity in his senior season. It was, indeed, the captain Ingalls who made a fine pass from behind the net to provide linemate JOHN AKERS with the chance to score the only goal of the game early in the second period when the Bulldogs defeated fierce rival Harvard by the minimum scoreline on March 3, 1956. This historic result would prove to be the very last time that Yale ever did beat the hated Crimson at the old New Haven Arena.

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Saarinen’s masterpiece, which was christened the DAVID S. INGALLS RINK to honor the father and son who had both captained the Bulldogs varsity, was completed in time to begin the 1958/59 campaign. Although Yale featured would be First Team (East) All-America GERRY JONES between the pipes and went on to finish that season with a respectable record of 12 wins against nine losses with one tie, the inauguration contest against Northeastern University on December 3, 1958, was not a triumphant occasion. A meager crowd of only nine hundred spectators (it was a midweek match, for the record) showed up at the newly-opened Yale Whale (which has always maintained the official capacity to hold 3,486 fans) to watch the visitors from Boston vanquish the Bulldogs 4-3.

As for the very first ever Harvard – Yale confrontation at the corner of Prospect and Sachem Streets in New Haven, at least the Bulldogs did not bow to the despised Crimson as the two teams skated to a 5-5 draw on March 7, 1959, in what was the last game of the season for both sides. Yale defenseman CHARLES SMITH had scored two quick goals to give the the hosts a 2-0 advantage after only 48 seconds but the Bulldogs would still require a second goal of the game from two-time All-Ivy League selection ED MCGONAGLE with twenty seconds remaining in order to claim a share of the spoils. Much to the chagrin of the Yale supporters, it would not be until February of 1966 (the season following the retirement of the long-time bench master Murdoch) that the Bulldogs were finally able to register a victory over its great arch-rival on the ice surface at the David S. Ingalls Rink.

It was in the 40th year of play at the legendary ice arena in New Haven that the Bulldogs varsity was, at last, able to secure an Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference regular season championship banner to hang in the Yale Whale’s faithful belly and, despite being knocked out of the 1997/98 ECAC playoffs by the eternal enemy Harvard, Yale did earn an invitation to the annual NCAA men’s ice hockey tournament for the first time in almost half a century.

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