Four Years in, Rondeau has Found his Groove
It was the biggest game in the century-long history of Yale hockey. Starting in goal last March for a squad dreaming of a national championship was Ryan Rondeau ’11, an almost forgotten player who had sat on the bench for the past four months after allowing five goals on just 19 shots in November 2009.
Despite North Dakota being clear favorites in the NCAA tournament’s Northeast Regional, Rondeau stonewalled the Fighting Sioux for 60 minutes. His 34 saves on 36 shots ensured that Yale advanced to the next round against Boston College with a spot in the Frozen Four on the line.
Against Boston College, though, Rondeau collapsed. The eventual national champions scored on him five times in less than two periods. One of their goals was a bouncing, 170-foot clearing attempt that took an inexplicable bounce past Rondeau and into the net. Minutes later, head coach Keith Allain ’80 pulled his starting goalie for Billy Blase ’10, but the goals kept coming. Boston College won 9–7 and the Elis’ season was over.
Complete article can be accessed via the Daily News Web site by clicking here.
