Three Stars (Week 19)

Scott Diebold

I just want to say that in the final weekend of regular season play there were a lot of tremendous individual performances with a lot on the line. That's what made this week's Three Stars a tough one for me.


First Star(s): Scott Diebold & Bryce Merriam (RPI)

While RPI did not have much to play for this weekend besides playoff seeding, they played one of their best weekend's of hockey this season. The Engineers traveled to Colgate and Cornell (two teams with a lot to play for) and beat them both. While I did not attend these games, it's pretty safe to say that they could have won either of these games without some stellar goaltending. On Friday night, freshman Scott Diebold made 49 saves in a 4-2 win over the Raiders. The Buffalo, New York native also held Austin Smith to just one assist, and allowed one goal on nine of Colgate's power-play opportunities. This was definitely Diebold's best performance of the year, picking up his second career win, his first since November 25 at RIT.

Bryce Merriam

The following night, Coach Appert went with junior Bryce Merriam at Lynah Rink, with the Big Red playing with the Cleary Cup on the line. While the Bethel Park, Pennsylvania native made only 15 saves, he held the Cornell power-play scoreless on their six attempts, making eight saves during that span. His solid performance allowed the Engineers to comeback and beat Cornell in overtime, spoiling the Big Red's chance to capture the Cleary Cup. If Dieblod and Merriam can build off this momentum, RPI could be a very dangerous team in the playoffs.

Daniel Carr

Second Star: Daniel Carr (Union)
After Friday's lost at Cornell, the Dutchmen needed to win at Colgate on Austin Smith's senior night, and for rival RPI to beat Cornell. Union needed big games from their big guns to have any hope at the Cleary Cup. Luckily, sniper Daniel Carr showed up and put in one of the best performances of his career with a hat trick and assist in the 5-3 win over the Raiders. Carr opened up the scoring with a shorthanded goal about five minutes into the game. He then scored an unassisted even strength goal to give the Dutchmen a 3-2 lead in the second period. Carr completed his hat trick a little over a minute into the final period with a power-play tally, which ended up being the game-winner. He also assisted on Josh Jooris' empty netter, which sealed the victory. So, Carr kind of scored a hat trick, within a hat trick, within a hat trick, scoring three goals, in three periods, while at even strength, shorthanded, and on the power-play.  The Sherwood Park, Alberta native has seven points (four goals, three assists) in his past three games, and is just one power-play tally behind for a tie for the nation's lead.

Raphael Girard

Third Star(s): Raphael Girard & David Valek (Harvard)
The Crimson needed two wins at home this weekend to secure a first round bye in the playoffs. Luckily for them, goaltender Raphael Girard and forward David Valek surprisingly led them to victories over both North Country teams. Girard won both games for the weekend for his second and third victories of the season and his career. The sophomore netminder has mainly backed up freshman Steve Michalek this season, but Coach Donato has given Girard the starting job for now with a lot on the line, and it paid off. On Friday night, he made 31 saves in a 4-1 win over St. Lawrence, and then made 27 saves in a 3-2 win over Clarkson.

Valek, a junior, had the best weekend of the season at the perfect time with two goals in each victory. The four goals gives the Croatia native six goals on the season and nine for his career. Against the Saints, he scored Harvard's first goal of the game 7:15 into the first to tie the game at one. It must have felt good to score for Valek, since it was his first goal since November 22 vs. New Hampshire. But, it must have felt even better to give his team an insurance goal in the third period to go up 3-1.  The following night, the Crimson were down a goal heading into the third period. But, Valek's two goals (one where Girard picked up an assist) in the final frame allowed Harvard to comeback and beat Clarkson.

David Valek

Honorable Mention:
Matt Peca (Quinnipiac): picked up an assist on each of Quinnipiac's six goals over the weekend. It's a tremendous feat, but he didn't crack the Three Stars because all of the assists were secondary assists, and there were many other worthy candidates.
Kellen Jones (QU): 2g,2a vs. Brown; 1a vs. Yale
Brian O'Neill (Yale): 1g,3a vs. Princeton
Jesse Root (Yale) 2a vs. Princeton; 2g vs. Quinnipiac
Jeremy Welsh (Union): 2g vs. Cornell; 2a vs. Colgate
Patrick Cullen (RPI): 1g (GWG),1a vs. Cornell
Matt Tinordi (RPI): 1g,1a vs. Cornell
Austin Smith (Colgate): 2a vs. RPI; 1g, 1a vs. Union
Brandon McNally (Dartmouth): 2g vs. Clarkson; 1g vs. SLU