1974 PLAYOFFS

QUARTERFINALS

Willard Division


1 Portarra Whales vs 4 Port Alrene Anchors (PA wins 4-1)
Adding another great chapter to a fierce rivalry, in a total shocker, the Anchors shut down the league-leading Whales en route to an upset in 5 games behind the stellar play of Ferdy Haight in the net and a more balanced attack with Lou D'Angelo and Dimitri Ranko leading the charge.


2 Fort Bevin Rockets vs 3 Trowburgh Herons (TRO wins 4-2)
In the highest-scoring series in playoff history, the Rockets and Herons provided the fireworks, particularly Adam Oreskovich and Trowburgh posting games of 7 and 6 goals scored. The 31 total goals scored by both teams set a new playoff series record, the previous being 23. Despite a strong start, the Rockets faded late in the series as the Herons blasted their way to a win in 6 games.

Hatch Division


1 Kirlow Kodiaks vs Chasonne Heralds (CHA wins 4-3)
The Hatch Division produced a pair of exhilarating 7-game marathons beginning in Kirlow where the Heralds jumped out to a surprising 2-game lead as their squad suddenly found some chemistry and Gary Wiz seemed to find new legs. The Kodiaks fought back as both teams played fast and tightly, including a pair of OT finishes. Ultimately the Heralds pulled off the upset with 2 goals in Game 7.


2 Portarra Pioneers vs Kavalos Electrics (PTP wins 4-3)
Despite their 3rd-place finish, the Electrics were given no chance against the Pioneers who lead the series 3-1. Kavalos, with their strange ability to win despite their shallow roster, came back to tie up the series and force a Game 7. They weren't able to upset the Pioneers but it was a fantastic, highly entertaining series that stamped a new identity for both expansion teams.

SEMI-FINALS

Willard Division


3 Trowburgh Herons vs 4 Port Alrene Anchors (PA wins 4-0)
Ferdy Haight allowed only a single goal in the entire series as the Anchors blitzed the Herons in a nearly clean sweep. Oreskovich was good but the rest of the team wilted under the pressure as Trowburgh couldn't build on their first playoff run.

Hatch Division


2 Portarra Pioneers vs 4 Chasonne Heralds (CHA wins 4-1)
In a fantastic battle between Paul Kauffman and Geno Pasternak, the Heralds jumped out to a three-game lead to put the Pioneers on their heels with a suddenly invigorated team. The games were tightly contested but the Pioneers didn't have enough juice to extend the series past 5 games.


Up next: 1974 Marcotte Cup: Anchors vs Heralds
(a wild series that will require seatbelts! Buckle up!)

C&C appreciated on the updated playoff graphics

1974 MARCOTTE CUP CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS




4 Port Alrene Anchors vs 4 Chasonne Heralds
In a battle of underdogs, the Anchors meet the Heralds as both teams are on historic playoff runs as 4-seeds in their divisions. Ranked 6th and 9th in the league overall respectively, both teams underachieved in the regular season and limped into the playoffs only to catch fire at the right time. The biggest difference between the teams is the drastic gap in differential, with the Anchors posting a +13 and the Heralds scraping together a -19 that best illustrates their rosters. The Anchors feature the brilliance of Ferdy Haight and a deep squad while the Heralds feature two aging veterans in Paul Kauffman and Gary Wisniewski. Anchors forward Lou D'Angelo was a longtime Herald and part of the infamous Gary Wiz trade in 1972, who will also be facing his longtime former team. Historically, the two teams have met twice in the championship, in 1961 and 1962, each winning once.

Game 1: CHA 1 @ PA 2 (OT) – In a fantastic first game, both teams battled back and forth, with the Anchors eventually scoring in overtime on a one-timer by Lou D'Angelo.

Game 2: CHA 0 @ PA 1 – The brilliance of Ferdy Haight was on full display as the Heralds were frustrated all game long. A deflection off of Dimitri Ranko stood up as the winning goal.

Game 3: PA 1 @ CHA 2 – Back in Chasonne, the Heralds dug in their heels as Paul Kauffman led them back into the series in a hard-fought game that saw Gary Wiz rediscover some magic on a beautiful goal.

Game 4: PA 0 @ CHA 3 – With their moxie back, the Heralds pummeled Ferdy Haight all game as he allowed 3 goals in a rough game for him as his team couldn't break through some stout defense from Kauffman and a vintage performance by Von Wentz.

Game 5: CHA 1 @ PA 3 – The Anchors stormed back with a deluge of their own as Jerry Haake scored twice for Port Alrene. Gary Wiz scored another beauty but it wasn't enough as D'Angelo capped it off to put the Anchors ahead in the series.

Game 6: PA 0 @ CHA 1* – “The Earthquake Game” – In a wild day that will forever live in infamy, Game 6 got started fairly quietly in Chasonne as both teams were playing at a high level in the first period. Midway through the second period a brief rumble was felt in the building at the Song City Forum that shook the seats and buckled the ice in places. Play was stopped briefly as the referees inspected the ice and allowed the game to resume. A few minutes later, during the rising commotion of fans and players on the bench wondering what was going on, a second rumble ripped through the arena as a large earthquake erupted from the Tonahat Mountains south of the city. The referees were slow to stop the game and Dimitri Ranko sent a puck past Von Wentz during the confusion that was counted as a goal. Anchors fans were celebrating being close to their 4th Marcotte Cup win but a minute later, city officials closed down the game and initiated an evacuation as the building seemed to be unstable.

Later that evening, the owners and coaches from both teams met with league referees, Commissioner Hatch, and city officials to determine how to proceed. It was determined that the goal scored by Port Alrene during the chaos should be disallowed and the game would be resumed in the closest available THL-caliber arena the next day. Kirkenport's Kirk Coliseum was chosen as the new site due to its proximity between the two cities. Despite protests by Anchors fans and players, the game was resumed the next day with an adjusted 0-0 score with play beginning midway in the second period. With momentum completely rearranged and now playing in a rival arena and city, the timbre of the series turned. Both Ferdy Haight and Von Wentz played tightly but a magnificent one-timer by Gary Wisniewski late in the third period officially won the game for the Heralds to force a seventh game.

Game 7: CHA 2 @ PA 0 – With the world still buzzing from the “Earthquake Game” and both teams working with short rest after the added travel times and stress of an extreme weather event and unusual circumstances, Game 7 back in Port Alrene started slow and made a weird series get even weirder. Two different goals were disallowed by the refs for both teams as the game developed a sort of frenetic pace and feeling. Chasonne's Robert Bertucci finally scored an official goal late in the second period. With both teams skating fast and hitting hard, a nasty fight between Allen Lombardi and Mike Mandelkow landed both players in the penalty box. Wisniewski scored an insurance goal midway through the third as the Anchors were unable to find the scoresheet in the decider as Wentz added another vintage start to his resume. After the final buzzer sounded, Anchors fans began pelting the ice with trash and beer bottles in protest and the Heralds squad had to be escorted by police. Despite the wild circumstances, the Heralds pulled off a masterful and miraculous upset on a magical playoff run. Forward Gary Wisinewski was awarded Series MVP to cap off a brilliant career in what may likely be his last game.

1974 Marcotte Cup Champions: Chasonne Heralds (3)

Up next: An offseason to turn pro sports on its axis

Congrats to the Heralds, the hockey gods shined bright on you in the end there.

FC Macbeth wrote:

I can't imagine an earthquake happening DURING a hockey game!

 
How about during a baseball game?

Hope that was the inspiration for the story! (It’s the most bizarre sporting event in history and you still hear about it at least once a year in the Bay Area. Have to watch the 30 for 30). That chuckle and their recent disappointing turn of events makes it just enough to accept that the Heralds won despite my distaste for the horn players. I’ll happily give a * next to that trophy win.

Also, the Heralds have to give some type of credit to the city of Kirkenport for the title. I mean they relied on the coliseum to shift momentum. It is truly a magical building. Maybe give a nod to the KirCol when engraving the trophy, it’s the least the team could do... or maybe just bring the cup to the mile and buy a round.

That would be an interesting book:

“The Quake That Cost Port Arlene A Championship: The Bizarre True Story”