After over a decade in this profession, it becomes hard to leave me feeling surprised.
I learned from Brian Rowell, my managing editor at The Daily Press in Escanaba, that no two days are ever alike in this business. To an extent, he’s 100% right. That’s what makes this job so fascinating.
When I walk into Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center on Saturdays for Minnesota State hockey doubleheaders, I keep the words Brian taught me in mind.
What could possibly happen? How are these games going to go? Why in the world did I wear a short-sleeve shirt in a hockey arena when it’s well below zero outside?
OK, that last one was self-inflicted. But you get the point.
Saturday brought plenty of weird moments. I mean, how often do you see a shot in warmups get deflected so high that it lands in the catwalk high above the rafters of the arena?
That happened before the women’s game. Never seen that before — and probably won’t see it again.
That game ended in a 3-0 loss to Minnesota Duluth. The Bulldogs first goal was 3 inches away from the right ear of junior goaltender Hailey Hansen. The second whistled 3 inches past her left ear. The third and final goal was perfectly placed in the top corner, a shot most players can make once or twice in 15 attempts.
Oh, and there was the excitement surrounding head coach Shari Dickerman. She’s leaving for Milan this week as an assistant coach for the United States women’s hockey team.
In 2006 she was the final player cut from the Olympic roster. Now 20 years later, she’s on the coaching staff. What an unreal, full-circle moment for Dickerman.
Then came the men’s game. A game where the Mavericks were desperate for a positive outing.
They’ve lost seven of their last eight games at that point. The top six forwards were in a lull. And with Augustana (which I’m learning as the new guy in town is a heated rivalry) coming into town, this game was going to be crucial.
And within two minutes junior center Luigi Benincasa left the game to get stitches for a cut in his arm. The Vikings first shot was a point-blank one-timer that even the greatest goalies to ever play the game would have no chance of stopping.
Things looked bleak for MSU. A 1-0 hole against Josh Koati with its first-line center immediately injured is not a recipe for success.
Yet, there was no panic.
In fact, the Mavericks got the game tied in the second period. And guess who got a tip in front of the net? Here’s a hint — it wasn’t Mario.
Benincasa got the tip off Tristan Lemyre’s shot. The Mavs were tied 1-1, and the 4,808 fans came to life.
Then came the third period. Well, kind of. This is the part of the story where Brian’s words come to life again.
Members of the ice crew began tending to a part of the ice in the crease nearest to the student section and the Maverick Machine. Suddenly both MSU and Augustana went back to their locker rooms as the zamboni came onto the ice.
For the first time in my career, a hockey game was delayed. And it was delayed for “unacceptable ice conditions.”
Much like the crazy shot where the puck landed (and probably remains) in the catwalk above the rafters, this was a first. For 20 minutes everyone sat restlessly waiting for the third period in a heated, crucial rivalry game.
And then, the action began. And then, MSU’s lull came to an end.
Junior Ean Somoza netted two third-period goals in front of the net. Lemyre buried a shot eerily similar to the third shot that got past Hansen earlier that day.
Four unanswered goals. How crazy is that?
But wait, there’s more. With 5:14 left in the game, well, that’s when the extra layer of confusing weirdness was placed.
If I had a dollar for every time MSU and Augustana were pushing and shoving after the whistle blew, I’d have enough money to grab a few slices of pizza from the Pizza Ranch booth in the arena. But Augustana’s Cole Burtch learned the same lesson Paul Blart did while fighting off villains — nobody wins with a headbutt.
Burtch was issued a five-minute major and a game misconduct for … headbutting? I mean, I know Happy Gilmore took his skate off and tried to stab somebody with it. But headbutting someone? Yeah, it was another first for me.
At the end of the night, the Mavericks earned a crucial 4-1 win. But man, was that the weirdest win I’ve ever witnessed.
Yet, at the same time, I was right.
I mentioned in last week’s weekend preview that what if this was the game where things turned for MSU? That it’s a game we remember going forward?
Well, the second part of that is 100% true. But that first part, well, only time will tell. But I have a gut feeling (and no, it’s not bad Taco Bell) that when we reflect on the season that this will be the game where everything turns around for the Mavericks.
It just so happened that the game was a reminder that no two days on this job are ever the same.
And for that, I am grateful.
Mitch Vosburg is a multi-time award-winning sports writer and photographer who proudly serves as sports editor for The Free Press. He can be reached at mvosburg@mankatofreepress.com. Follow him on X (@realmitchvburg) and on Instagram (@themantheycallmitch).