Dustin Traylen Out at Clarkson

[Hillel Hoffmann]

[Q]Beeeej Wrote: Since I hadn't yet started following college hockey at the time, this question makes me curious enough to ask those who were around what their impressions were of RPI's national championship team in 1985.  What made them champions, and is it possible such a formula could work again?.[/q]
The 1985 RPI championship recipe, in ultrashorthand:

1. Start with really, really, really good players at all positions.

2. If you get into an evenly matched triple-overtime game in the semifinals, win it.

3. Have your wishes fulfilled that kickass out-of-conference teams (in '85, they were Michigan State and Boston College) get upset early in the NCAA tournament, BEFORE you have to play them.

4. If you get into an evenly matched game in the finals against a low-seeded team with an unconscious goalie, win it anyway.

In other words, there is no formula, except keep getting really, really, really good players at all positions, and then get the right combination of grit and luck in the NCAA tournament. Edit: The same "formula" applied to Cornell's legendary teams.