The Western Collegiate Hockey Assosiation has reigned supreme in this year’s NCAA men’s ice hockey tournament. Each team that has advanced to the Frozen Four is from the conference, with Colorado College, Denver, Minnesota, and North Dakota all advancing toward college hockey’s ultimate prize. Each took a dramatic path to get there, with five games decided by one goal, and three of those going to overtime.
The Colorado College Tigers, with two of the three finalists for the Hobey Baker Award—Marty Sertich and Brett Sterling—on their top line, survived a first-round scare by Colgate. They eked past Michigan after an early deficit to lock up their spot. Against Colgate, the Tigers only yielded 17 shots, but still allowed five goals. CC, however, sent 39 of their own on net, powering them to a 6-5 victory. The Michigan Wolverines led CC 3-0 early in the second, but the Tigers opened their game up and scored four unanswered goals for the win.
The Denver Pioneers—last year’s national champions—knocked off the Bemidji State Beavers and New Hampshire en route to their spot. The Pioneers were ranked number one in the nation entering the tournament, but didn’t look like a top team against the Beavers. The Pioneers got an overtime deflection goal that endured a lengthy review in that game, despite solid pressure by the Beavers. Denver handily dispatched of New Hampshire in the regional final, 4-2, getting a hat trick from their scoring leader, Gabe Gauthier.
The Minnesota Golden Gophers needed two overtime victories to advance. They peppered Maine goaltender Jimmy Howard with 37 shots in regulation, but were unable to find the twine. Just 1:46 into overtime, Evan Kaufmann one-timed a shot past Howard for the 1-0 victory. Minnesota faced another defensive battle against the Cornell Big Red, who were riding a 19-game unbeaten streak. Barry Tallackson scored on his own rebound for the Gophers in the regional final, however, and sent Cornell packing.
While the other finalists were all number one seeds, the North Dakota Fighting Sioux took a more unlikely path to the Frozen Four. The Sioux dominated the Boston University Terriers in the first round, 4-0, behind a two-goal performance by Colby Genoway and a 29-save effort from goaltender Jordan Parise. The Boston College Eagles, the region’s top seed, gave the Sioux more of a challenge, but not by much. After North Dakota took a 4-0 lead, the Eagles got back within two, but the Sioux’s attack proved too much, and they cruised to a 6-3 victory.
The Frozen Four games will take place in Columbus, Ohio, and a national champion will be crowned this weekend. Denver will take on Colorado College in the first semifinal, tomorrow at 2 pm, and North Dakota and Minnesota face off at 7 pm. The national championship game will be Saturday at 7 pm.
