Green Knights Show Guts

St. Norbert Green Knights: 2011 National Champions

As promised from the earlier article, I'm going to shed light on the NCAA Division III Hockey National Champion St. Norbert Green Knights.  If you love sports as much as we do here at SNO Tap, then chances are you love statistics and are always intrigued by eye-popping stats whether it be individual accomplishments or program success.  St. Norbert's hockey team has had both. 

When the horn sounded and the 3rd period came to an end on Saturday night at Ridder Arena in
 Minneapolis, the SNC Hockey team had added another piece of hardware to its already sophisticated decorated capsule inside the Schuldes Sports Arena.  The 2011 National Championship trophy will sit aside the 2008 National Championship trophy.  Consider that just below this shelf, sits multiple Runner-Up trophies from 2004, 2006, and 2010.  Resting peacefully beneath that hardware sits plaques recognizing DIII Frozen Four berths in 2003 and 2007.  For those counting at home, that means in the last 9 NCAA DIII Frozen Fours, SNC has been to seven.  Consider that the team the Knights fell to in '04 and '06, Middlebury, has eight National Championships and one Runner-Up trophy. 

HC Tom Coghlin is the wizard behind the bench.
(All photos courtesy of Green Bay Press Gazette)

Under Head Coach Tom Coghlin, the program's win-loss statistics are mind-boggling.  Since Coghlin was named head coach prior to the '94-'95 season, he has a record of 390-108-40, which makes him the winningest head coach in NCHA history.  Against NCHA opponents since that time, he has amassed a record of 192-54-26.  Who said Charlie Sheen knew about 'winning'? He has had 20+ wins in 13 of his 18 seasons.  In NCHA play, Coghlin's teams have been regular season champions 12 times, including seven straight from 2002-2008. 

They have won the Peters Cup, the postseason conference tournament, nine times; including the last two.  In their home games, local fans are have been treated to a record under Coghlin of 232-37-15. This year the Knights were 14-0 at home, the only collegiate hockey team in the nation to go undefeated and untied at home.  The only thing this guy hasn't done is fill the water bottles. 

The other category that Coghlin and his assistants should receive zambonis of credit is recruiting.  They have players on the roster from Canada (obviously) and Sweden, as well as Utah, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.  However, the real backbone of their two recent National Titles have been anchored by 'Great Wall' goaltending and styming defense.  In 2008, Kyle Jones stole the show in net. Nick Tabisz, a freshman on the '08 team, played significant time that season and is a three-time 1st Team All-American.

B.J. O'Brien proved why he is the two-time MOP at the Frozen Four

 In net, Division 1 transfer, B.J. O'Brien wrapped up one of the more decorated resumes in school history.  In last year's National Championship game, O'Brien made a miraculous 70 saves in a 2-1 OT loss.  He earned the Most Outstanding Player award last year, and naturally secured the repeat by making 39 saves against Norwich in the semis and 18 in the title game. 

This year alone, B.J. was the NCAA DIII leader in GAA (goals against average), save percentage, and winning percentage and was tied for shutouts with four.  Along with Tabisz, they had the right recipe to secure the country's best scoring defense.

Nick Tabisz was the catalyst on defense.
Just so happens he tallied the GW Goal on Saturday to help
SNC secure its second title.

It's shouldn't be hard to predict how this team will turn out next year, but the Knights do lose 11 seniors including O'Brien, Tabisz, and a host of key members of the recent success for St. Norbert. Others include three-time letter recipients Adam Hammerbeck, Mike Bernardy, Scott Pulak, Dusting Walz, Brandon Longley, and Blake Bashor. Enforcer Taylor Langford also exits as a National Champion. 

A key area to keep an early eye on next year is what Coghlin and his staff have up their sleeve to challenge Mike Martin, the goaltender entering his Sophmore campaign.  Anchoring the last two titles have been out-of-this-world netminders.  Either way, expect St. Norbert to reload and be in the thick of things come next March.

-Patrick Luce

Daily Debate: Who Ya Got?

It seems like this game has been somewhat under the radar with all the coaching moves and the NFL playoffs but Auburn and Oregon will meet for the National Title tonight in Glendale, AZ.  So, the obvious question is..Who ya got?



If I were a betting man I'd be putting my money on Auburn.  Both these teams are known for prolific offenses and I think the game will come down to which defense can come up with a few key stops.  The Auburn defense is by far the most athletic and fast defense the Ducks have seen all year and I'm not sure if they will be able to wear the Tigers down like they have all of their other opponents.  Nick Fairley should be able to cause some significant disruption to the Ducks' spread offense.  The only chance the Ducks have is to try and get him running side to side and tire him out.

Therefore, I'm taking the Auburn Tigers for this years' BCS National Title.

-Eric

I've already put in my two cents on how I think the game will end (see below). I'm taking my Ducks.

-Mitch

Eric, while I agree with most things said on there... what about the Ducks' defense?  They around the top 20 nationally, I do think they deserve some credit.

Big key to the game will be the play of Darren Thomas, quarterback of the Ducks.  The Tigers have shown the inability to stop the pass all season, but they have been alright due to a heavy pass rush. I think Thomas could have a breakout game.  For the Ducks, stopping Cam Newton is like trying to stop me from doing the Dougie when it comes on, nearly impossible.  I kept having flashbacks to the Ducks struggling against Terrelle Pyror, a homeless man's Newton, in last year's Rose Bowl. But this is a new team.

I think this is the best National Championship game we have had since 2005.  Both teams are evenly matched.  One thing about both teams is they don't quit. Both have seen large deficits during a game (See Stanford and Alabama) so if one starts 21-0, don't turn off the television. I will take the Ducks by a field goal. Oregon 38-35  

-Charlie.