St. Paul Hockey Article Triggers Memories of Heartbreak

There was an article in Friday's St. Paul Pioneer Press Dispatch, Fairgrounds Coliseum a host of many hockey memories, that was a nice read on the history of ice hockey at the State Fair Coliseum. It brought back many fond memories just thinking of the building, and one painful one.

In the article, author Brian Murphy names the top 5 high school games ever played in the building. I know nothing of Mr. Murphy, but I would guess from his list, he went to high school in the late 1980s. That three of his picks were from 1989 is my first clue. My second is that none are from before 1989, despite the building being used for hockey since 1976. (To be fair, picking only five games from over 30 years is necessarily problematic.)

In my biased opinion, grossly omitted from the list was a section semi-final in 1981 between Alexander Ramsey (my alma mater) and Irondale. Sadly, few except us heartbroken Ramsey alumni (we're talking heartbreak of the Drew Pearson shove-in-the-back level), and the fortunate Irondale faithful, seem to remember that classic. Even though you will run across a story now and again about that Irondale team of '81 and their impressive run, you virtually never hear about the game that springboarded them into State.

The details come exclusively from memory (in a future post, I will go to the county library's microfiche file and record how accurate my memory is). Ramsey led 4-2 late in the game, with something like less than four minutes to go. It could have been 5-2, but a second breakaway goal opportunity was missed, despite the same move made on the goaltender. The puck was lifted over the sprawled goaltender, but also over the net. I also recall one of Ramsey's top defenseman slipping and falling near the blue line, allowing an Irondale player to make a rush and score. (Admittedly, this could have been a memory from a different game. Microfiche might clear that one up.)

An Irondale goal made it 4-3, but then a player (Bayer...first name escapes me) from Irondale was being taunted by Ramsey's "Bleacher Bums" for taking a late penalty. With four seconds left in regulation, and Irondale's goalie pulled, a seemingly harmless shot from the point got past the goaltender (yes, I remember his name, but don't have it in my heart to publish it), tying the score. A few years later, a friend of mine claimed she saw the goaltender look up at the scoreboard just moments before the shot.

Irondale went on to win in overtime, 5-4.

Games like this are often used by some as evidence of "destiny." I'm quite the opposite. Win or lose, I find games like this to be evidence of the randomness of sports, and how one lucky bounce, or one blown call or play (or successful play), can make the difference, rightly or wrongly, in how history is written.

Irondale fans will remember this as one fantastic game. Perhaps it did propel the team into being one of destiny, but the game itself, from this then-Ramsey sophomore's perspective, was one that never should have gotten away.

Despite the revisited scars, I thank Mr. Murphy for the article.