Bertagna Leads Crimson Six To Tourney Championship

DETROIT. Mich. A pro scout in the press box shook his head as he turned to one of the other scouts. His eyebrows were raised and his mouth was open. "I don't believe it. I just don't believe it," he muttered.

Down on the ice, a frustrated Michigan Tech hockey team couldn't believe it either But time after time. Harvard goalie Joey Bertagna shut the door on the third-ranked Huskies, making some truly incredible saves as the Crimson icemen skated away to a solid 4-2 victory, and the championship, in the eighth annual Great Lakes Invitational Tournament.

Despite Bertagna's heroics, the writers and scouts left him off the all tournament team, choosing Boston University's Ed Walsh instead Walsh was joined by teammates Paul O'Neil (who set a tournament record with five goals) and Vic Stanfield, Local Line members Dave Hynes and Bob McManama, and Tech defensemen Jim Nahrgang.

The "oversight" didn't bother Bertagna, "We won the championship, that's what counts," he said in the in locker room after the game. "But when I realized three B.U. guys made the all-tournament team to our two. I wondered who had won, us or them?"

The undefeated Crimson whipped a tired Michigan Tech squad that had gone two overtimes the night before to beat the Terriers, 5-4. The Huskes jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first ten minutes of the first period, outskating and out-checking the slow Terriers.

But B.U. hung on, cutting Tech's lead to 4-2 by the end of the period. B.U. then mounted a furlous attack in the third period, finally purshing the tying goal past Tech goalie Morris Trewin with only eight seconds remaining to force the overtime.

Western Style

Crimson coach Bill Cleary was worried about the Western style of hockey that Tech would throw against Harvard "I warned the team that they play rougher out here, and the referees send to let a lot of stuff go," Cleary said. "But we hit harder than they did."

Harvard came into the four-team tournament second-ranked nationally and the favorite. The Crimson pulled a weak Michigan six as its first-round opponent, while the highly-regarded Huskies drew NCAA defending champ B.U.

The effects of an 11-day layoff were hardly unnoticeable as the Crimson manhandled the Welverines, 8-4, to gain a spot in the finals. Michigan's diminutive freshman goalie, Robbie Moore, who stands 5-5 and wights 140, turned aside 40 shots, while Bertagna and sub Steve Perry handled only 19.

After the Michigan game, Cleary stood in the locker room with his arms folded and said he was pleased with the win. "I was worried about the layoff," he said. "But the kids played real well, Defense is what made the difference--they got two shots in the first period."

The defense may have starred against Michigan, but the Michigan Tech game belonged to Bertagna. The senior netminder was brilliant against the Huskies, coming up with 32 saves, many of them at close range. Bob D'Alvise, Tech's leading goal scorer, was robbed three times, all inside ten feet.

In the opening night contest, the Crimson threatened to run the Wolverines out of Olympia Stadium and all the way back to Ann Arbor, scoring three times in the opening period. Harvard took advantage of Michigan's lack of speed almost immediately, scoring with just 30 seconds goal. McManama picked up a blocked shot that the Michigan defense was unable to clear and showed it in the right corner for a 1-0 lead.

McManama notched goal of the period 12 minutes later on a power play, and the contest was no longer in doubt. Bill Corkery also picked up two goals, and tourney MVP Hynes added one.

For Michigan natives Bob Goodshow, Dave Hands, and Larry Desmond, the tournament was a goal homecoming Goodenow and Desmond each scored a goal in the Michigan victory, and Desmond added another one against Tech.

Two Quirk Goals

The Crimson apparently learned a lesson from the Tech-B.U. game, as they outskated the Huskies right from the opening whistle. Hynes and Desmond popped in two quick goals in the first four minutes.

Harvard's power play was working to perfection against Michigan Tech, as the Crimson scored three goals while Huskies sat in the penalty box. Referee Mel Martinello kept the box busy, calling 17 penalties, nine on the Tech.

Most of the Tech penalties were senseless, as they picked up two charging infractions and one for interference.

McManama also notched a goal in the Tech game, sending to Local Line goal production to 25 in seven games.

Harvard gets back into Ivy League action Saturday night against a puzzling Cornell squad that has lost only two games, but by scores of 9-0 and 9-1, B.U. shocked the Redmen in Ithaca (no one beats Cornell at home), and then Army upset them 9-1 last week.