A heated rivalry hit the ice in PNC Arena Monday night, as the NC State club hockey team defeated the UNC-Chapel Hill club hockey team 5-3 in a game that saw tempers flare and fights break out.
The Wolfpack topped the Tar Heels to win the Governor’s Cup for the second-straight year, as a flurry of second-period goals pushed NC State past UNC. NC State got two goals within 30 seconds midway through the middle frame to take a 3-2 lead and never looked back. UNC picked up the tough loss despite a hat trick from forward John Beeson.
“It was fun seeing the enthusiasm in the guys and listening to them, knowing they wanted it,” NC State head coach Mike Gazzillo told PackTV. “Looking up and seeing the crowd, that’s what it’s all about. It’s all about the fans that come out to this game. We play them twice a year anyway, but when you get to do it in this venue. You have the band. It was just a lot of excitement.”
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper was on hand to deliver the ceremonial puck drop, and also spoke to fans on the ice following the intense game.
“I’d say it was an enthusiastic game. Both teams played well,” Cooper said. “Congratulations to the NC State Wolfpack on the victory tonight.”
NC State started the game with an early goal to take a 1-0 lead, but Carolina bounced back to tie things going into the first intermission. UNC continued to gain momentum, jumping out to a 2-1 lead on Beeson’s second goal of the night with 18:30 remaining in the second.
However, NC State took control of the game, and back-to-back goals scored shifted things to a 3-2 Wolfpack lead. A long-distance snipe from senior captain Luis Gimenez tied things up, and a deflected goal from senior Eric Webb pushed the Pack ahead.
Webb would tally again later in the second period to push the NC State lead to 4-2, as a hard shot from junior Ellis Rushford was beautifully deflected by Webb into net.
“Recently I’ve changed my game,” Webb told PackTV. “I’ve tried to focus on putting the puck in the back of the net and scoring. Tonight it was just a simple play on that tip, staying in front of the goalie and screening.”
NC State added an insurance goal to start the third period, as graduate student Ryan Lenzmeier notched a short-handed goal. UNC would make up one goal late in the game, as Beeson completed his hat trick.
It was clear that no love was lost between the two teams throughout the game, as a number of small fights had to be broken up by officials. The tensions culminated in the waning seconds of the game, as an unwarranted hit by UNC’s Peter Kelly on NC State junior goalie Joey Hall resulted in a full-line brawl that saw multiple players ejected from the game.
“All these guys have been playing hockey for 15 years,” Webb said. “They know what’s right and what’s wrong. Obviously, on a play like that where your goalie gets hit in the head and one of your guys has three guys on him, of course you’ve got to do something.”
Teams were separated and the game drew to a close. Gov. Cooper presented NC State senior captain Sam Banasiewicz with the Governor’s Cup. The two teams will meet again later this season on Jan. 26.
