UMD Men's Hockey Punches Ticket to Frozen Four after 3-2 Victory Over Boston U

The University of Minnesota Duluth men’s hockey team punches its ticket to this year’s National Collegiate Athletic Association Frozen Four in Chicago. Sophomore forward Adam Johnson’s overtime power play goal in the NCAA West Regional final just 1:57 into the extra frame handed the Bulldogs a 3-2 victory over Boston University.

Johnson had his hands full with trying to corral the puck before being able to fire it home.

“I took a one-timer and the shot got blocked. I was fortunate enough to get it back on the wall and I saw an opening. I just tried to fake a shot and get that guy to bite and shoot it by him. I found the corner and it was a good feeling, I’m really happy for the boys to get the win.”  

The overtime victory hurls the Bulldogs back to their first NCAA Frozen Four since winning at all in 2011.

“It was a real good hockey game, back and forth, but I’m more excited for our team, our program and our seven seniors that have kind of gone through two years of tough defeats in the region final,” said UMD head Coach Scott Sandelin, “to have the opportunity to go to Chicago and get to the frozen four is pretty exciting for all of us.”

BU got the ball rolling tonight as freshman forward Clayton Keller’s backhand shot rung off the post and found the back of the twine to hand the Terriers a 1-0 lead 7:59 into the opening period.

When scoring first this season, BU was 14-2-0 but that meant very little to senior forward Alex Iafallo as his wraparound goal knotted things up at 1-1 with just 17 seconds left in the first period.

A scoreless second period with UMD establishing a consistent pace in it set up for an eventful third period. The Bulldogs held the Terriers to just three shots in the middle frame.

11:38 into the third period, freshman forward Joey Anderson broke the tie burying a rebound out front off of his own shot to hand the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead. With time winding down, it was starting to look like UMD would take care of business in regulation. This is where Patrick Harper comes in. Skating into the Bulldog zone with haste, the freshman forward fired a wrist shot passed freshman goaltender Hunter Miska high blocker side for the equalizer.

UMD will have the next week off from games before heading to Chicago for the Frozen Four April 6-8. The Bulldogs will play the winner of the Harvard- Air Force game their first game in Chicago.

Photo Courtesy of Jim Rosvold