How I spent my spring break: Days 4 & 5

I've just come to the realization that tomorrow, my life will return to normal. This week has been amazing and I don't want it to end. Nothing else has mattered -- school, work... Nothing has crossed my mind. I've just been hanging out with the boys, watching some hockey, and having the time of my life. After tomorrow's game, I'll head back to reality, but for now, I'm living it up.

Friday
The four remaining teams -- Penn State, Illinois, Oakland and Delaware -- took the day off to rest up before the semi-finals. Our day consisted of lunch at the mall (where I made a stop at Build-A-Bear!) then heading to the rink for practice. The team looked much better than Tuesday, but then again, they hadn't just spent four hours cooped up on a bus after getting up at the wee hours of the morning. After practice, we had dinner before heading back to the hotel. Some of the guys went to a movie, but I opted to stay back and do some work -- which of course didn't get done.

Saturday vs. Illinois
Today was a waiting day, as our game didn't start until 4:00. It was nice not to rush in the morning, but it didn't help the nerves at all. After lunch and going back to the hotel for a little, we headed to the rink to watch the Penn State/Delaware game. Though Delaware was up 1-0 when we got there, Penn State came out on top with a 5-2 victory.

Then the nerves got to me.

I realized that if OU somehow managed to beat Illinois, we'd be playing Penn State in the finals.

But they still had to beat Illinois.

If the Illinois game wasn't the textbook definition of a semi-final thriller, I don't know what is. It was a hard-fought game by both teams and OU looked like a goner early in the game (sad to say, but I thought for sure they were done with all the penalties they took early on), but they overcame the odds and knocked off the #3 seed. Talk about an upset!

The first period was scary, as neither team scored. But OU turned up the heat in the second off goals from JP Ferrari and Will McMahon. Illinois added a goal before the buzzer to cut the Grizzlies' lead in half.

Then, the unthinkable happened.

With less than a minute and a half left, Illinois pulled their goalie for an extra attacker. Only 1:19 remained when they tied it up 2-2.

But never fear, Super Will saved the day.

Before the face off following the goal, Hogan told JP to win the draw, then send it back to the D. He wanted the defense to chip it into the neutral zone and Tim Michaels did the job perfectly. He got the puck up to Cooper who fed it across the ice to McMahon. Illinois defense tried to get the puck, their forwards got caught up and McMahon walked in all alone on goalie Mike DeGeorge. He had all the time in the world, and of course, if you know McMahon, you know he delivered.

Fifty nine seconds left in regulation and the Grizzlies held the lead 3-2. All they had to do was hold on for those 59 seconds and they would meet Penn State in the finals.

I honestly don't remember anything else about those 59 seconds. All I know is that when time expired, the whole team stormed the ice and from my eagle's eye view, I've never been more proud of them.

For everyone who jumped off the bandwagon in November, for everyone who said they'd never make it to the tournament, let alone past the first round, the Grizzlies proved them wrong.

I'm not really sure what to expect going into tomorrow's game, but I do know that all I can do is hope for the best!