Everblades Tourney

My understanding is that this tournament is principally the result of a Cornell alum who has some affiliation with the arena or monip pro team that plays there (something like that, I probably have that all wrong). So, in a sense this is Cornell's tourney --they should seemingly have more pull with the organizers than the other schools. So how come Cornell ends up with the toughest matchup in the semifinals (as it did last year). Other schools that host tourneys usually give themselves the perceived creampuff. Now, none of the teams involved is a creampuff, per se, but I think most people would agree that Maine will likely be the strongest of the three other teams. Am I missing something? Who decides on the pairings or is it a random draw? Does Coach want the strongest opponent? (So many questions...)

I think they're rotating the pairings among the three permanent teams: Cornell-OSU in 2000, OSU-Maine in 2001, Cornell-Maine in 2002.

Who is team #4 this year? Lowell?

UMass (Amherst) I believe.

I am not the #4 team, but I will, in fact, be in attendance.

(Sorry, have to make a few "Lowell" jokes each year. No, this does not include the joke that I actually am).

ok i had to laugh at that one.
see i am used to bathroom and out-house and porta-potty jokes with my first name

as for the tourney, i think it is a great idea. rotating thru the three permanent teams is a great idea.
ok back to work

That begs the question: How come there are these 3 permanent teams and one wild card? Did these 3 agree to a multiyear commitment or have they simply been asked each year and have said yes each time?

Clarkson was one of the original four teams. I believe they were invited back and declined the offer. Not sure why. They supposedly had to spend a night in an airport due to bad weather on their return trip, but that would be a pretty lame reason.

The connection is ... Craig Brush (class of '72 or thereabouts) owns the Florida Everblades in partnership with Peter Karmanos of the Carolina Hurricanes. Brush lived in the Detroit area for many years, and had a successful business there, and knew Karmanos somehow that way, via the Detroit Compuware junior program.

Brush's son, Matt, played at Princeton from 1994-98. He had other sons, but I don't know if they ended up playing anywhere.

Adam Wodon wrote:

The connection is ... Craig Brush (class of '72 or thereabouts) owns the Florida Everblades in partnership with Peter Karmanos of the Carolina Hurricanes. Brush lived in the Detroit area for many years, and had a successful business there, and knew Karmanos somehow that way, via the Detroit Compuware junior program.

And the Harkness connection? Did they meet in Detroit?

Brush was a sophomore on the undefeated national championship team of 1970, which Harkness coached.

Craig centered the 4th line for the 29-0-0 Cornell team. The line, Doug Stewart-Craig Brush-Eddie Ambis, all sophomores (freshman were still not eligible to play then) was nicknamed "The Buzz Bombs" for their frantic skating pace - generally they'd only get a shift or maybe two a period. I spoke briefly with Craig at the Cornell hospitality room while attending the 2000 Florida tourney and he felt that certainly there was no one more appropriate to honor with naming the tournament trophy after than Ned. Ned also lives in southwest Florida now.
In the '70 NCAA tournament, if I remember correctly, Craig moved up to third line right wing with Dave Westner moving up to the second line, as Dick Bertrand was not available for the tournament. Bill Perras filled in for Craig on the fourth line.

Ambis scored the second period goal which tied Clarkson at two in the ECAC championship game of 1970--setting things up for John Hughes's last-minute game-winner [actually two--the first was called back]. Don't recall if Brush, or anyone else, got an assist on the Ambis goal. Seems to me Eddie split two Clarkson guys to get in on Bullock.

Bad weather, hotel etc had nothing to do with it...where did that come from?

Yes, Clarkson declined but it was because they decided they wanted to play in other tournaments or schedule other NC games during the semester break. I believe they would still consider a return to the Florida tourney in the future.