Wharton Journal

Issue date: 4/2/07 Section: Insider

Wharton's amateur-level hockey playoffs ended in nail-biting fashion last Monday, March 26th. The best-of-3 final series had everything: intense competition, outrageous fans, defensive battles, and great sportsmanship from both teams. In the end, the Puck Buddies, led by Joe Herger (WG07) and Wes Bieligk (WG08) claimed the trophy in never-say-die spirit that has characterized their season. The Ice Holes, led by Mark Rochelli (WG07) and Gary Patterson (WG08) put forth a valiant effort, coming up one goal short in the end. For the Puck Buddies, the season's heartbreaking injuries and insufferable post-Bonners 9 AM classes were well worth the anguish.

The outcome of game 3 wasn't decided until the last seconds of the game with an incredible solo score by Terry Hamer (WG08) right from the face-off. The Holes had taken a lead of 5 to 4 with two minutes left in the third and final period. A desperation tying goal came from Bieligk in a scramble in front of the net with 45 seconds left in the game and the goalie pulled from the ice. Hamer's final goal put the game on ice and eliminated the need for overtime. The final score was 6 to 5.

Game 2 of the series had clearly heightened the drama of the playoffs. The excitement was palpable. A throng of over 100 raucous Wharton MBAs was on their feet for most of the game, hoping for a Puck Buddies sweep. Late in the third period, Holes team center Steph Schoening made a breakaway, skirted two defenders, and fired the puck into the upper left corner of the net. The stalemate had been broken and the crowd went nuts. Game 2 of the Wharton D Hockey League Finals had been a defensive battle that would be won by that single goal. The Holes went on to victory with a score of 1 to 0 over the Puck Buddies.

Squeaking out a victory was nothing new for the Holes, who gained entry to the finals with a similar 1 - 0 win in the semi-finals over the Mother Puckers, led by Nareg Dermanuelian (WG07) and Andy Lee (WG08). The only score came with an almost identical breakaway goal by Schoening in the 3rd period. Shutting down this explosive scoring talent would be key if the Puck Buddies were going to prevail in the championship series.

After last year's "Immaculate Deflection" in game two of the League Finals, the Puck Buddies knew how quickly momentum can shift in Wharton D League Hockey. After a convincing game 1 victory in this series, the Puck Buddies came into Wednesday's game 2 confident and energized. They had chemistry on their side, not just in the form of excellent teamwork but also in liquid concoctions that have given them the edge throughout the playoffs. Todd Cavaluzzi's (WG07) "secret sauce", a homemade and probably illicit energy drink, powered the Puck Buddies to a 9 - 2 victory in the semi-finals over a very strong Drexel undergraduate women's team.

Despite a great finish to the season by the Puck Buddies, they still were not able to hold their own in the obligatory team 5-man boat race at Bonners after the final game. The Ice Holes dominated, finishing a full beer ahead of the Puck Buddies. No team in Wharton D League has swept both events since the storied Freezing Beavers of the 1988 - 89 season. Fortunately, they have one more shot this weekend at the Cheesesteak Chalice, Wharton's annual amateur MBA hockey tournament.

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