2009 Coupe Balbuzard Final
| Current Season: VHL 2024 | |
|---|---|
| Event | 2009 Coupe Balbuzard |
| Boston Spirits | Connecticut Bandits |
| 4 | 3 |
| Date | July 12th, 2009 |
| Venue | Spirits Arena |
| MVP | Grant Haakeson (BOS) |
| Attendance | 25,041 |
The 2009 Coupe Balbuzard Final, often nicknamed the Boston Supernova or the Game of the Century, was the final game of the 2009 Coupe Balbuzard ice hockey tournament. The game was contested between the Boston Spirits and the Connecticut Bandits, and held at Spirits Arena (now Charley Milner Arena).
The Boston Spirits won the game 4 – 3 with a goal from Grant Haakeson in overtime to claim their sixth Coupe Balbuzard. This victory also sealed their second consecutive Double, the only time such a feat has been accomplished in VHF history.
The game recieves its nicknames from its cultural importance, because of the Spirits' contention for the decade's star. As the culmination of an unparalleled success streak from the Spirits towards the end of the 2000s decade, victory or defeat in this game alone was said to be the difference between winning or losing the decade's star. With their victory, Boston did indeed go on to win the star, although not without controversy.
Background[edit | edit source]
As the final game of the VHF decade (not of the real decade, as the 2010 campaign would begin in October 2009, but the final game of the ten seasons the VHF would be considering in awarding the decade's star), commentator Walter Cobb said that "ten years of history built up to this moment." The Providence Doves had started the 2000s in dominant fashion, winning five titles, four Earle Trophies, three Coupes Balbuzard, and two Doubles, as well as a 50+ Season, by the end of VHL 2006 (the seventh campaign of the decade). This streak of dominance was unparalleled in VHF history, and by then many considered it a foregone conclusion that the Doves would win the decade's star. By comparison, at the end of the 2006 season, the Spirits, who were the second-best performing team at that decade, had two titles, two Earle Trophies, and two Coupes Balbuzard (and no Doubles).
In 2007, the Spirits managed a 50+ Season, but failed to win either the championship or the Coupe Balbuzard. This left them with a deficit of three championships, two Doubles, two Earle Trophies, and one Coupe Balbuzard to make up in only two seasons—calling for nothing short but two perfect campaigns, claiming every trophy possible, if they were to stake a serious claim for the decade's star.
But despite the near-impossibility of such a task, Boston set about doing just that. The Spirits pipped the Doves (of all teams) to the 2008 Earle Trophy by just a single point, beat the Salem Loggers [3 – 2] in the Playoff semi-finals, then defeated the Doves [3 – 2] in the finals to claim a necessary championship over their rivals. The Spirits dominated the 2008 Coupe Balbuzard, winning the final against Vermont 4 – 1, and giving them their first Double.
Their performance carried into 2009, as the Spirits completed another 50+ Season en route to a 4th title of the decade.
The 2009 Coupe Balbuzard final was thus the culmination of an astounding overarching comeback from Boston. After years of effort, the 2009 Coupe Balbuzard finals alone would determine whether they won a fourth cup and second Double, and potentially earn a second star on their crest.
Cultural importance[edit | edit source]
Because of Boston's Coupe Balbuzard victory the year prior, the game was held at their own home arena. Lavish celebrations were held after their victory, on which Theodore Maxwell, owner of the Spirits, later commented:
We were working with the City's office in the days before the game to set up all those fireworks and festivities in case we won. And it was a scary thing to do—I mean, we hoped we weren't jinxing ourselves by setting up all these things, you know! I was worried it would put a lot of pressure on Charley [Milner] and the rest of the boys but, at the same time, if we don't celebrate winning in hockey, then, are we really Valorian? And if any win deserved celebrating, it was that one—it was the greatest sporting performance I'd ever witnessed.
After their victory in this game, Boston went on to win the 2000s star, thanks to in large part to their historic years-long comeback achieved as late as possible.
The game, along with the years-long buildup leading to it and Boston's eventual star victory, was the subject of the 2016 documentary Supernova.