Denver, Minnesota Complete Line-up For NCAA Frozen Four
Barry Tallackson had the game-winner in overtime Sunday to send Minnesota on to the NCAA Frozen Four |
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March 27, 2005
MADISON, Wisc. The 2005 NCAA Frozen Four is set. And for the first time in the 58-year history of college hockey¹s national tournament, four teams from one conference the Western Collegiate Hockey Association will convene to decide the next NCAA Division 1 men¹s college hockey team champion.
On Sunday (March 27) afternoon, the University of Denver Pioneers and the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers posted regional championship game victories and joined the Colorado College Tigers and the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux in the field for the 2005 NCAA Frozen Four, set for April 7-9 at Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio. WCHA-member teams went 8-1-0 in their nine NCAA tournament games over the weekend.
The Pioneers (30-9-2), behind a three-goal hat trick from center Gabe Gauthier and 31 saves from freshman goaltender Peter Mannino, won 4-2 over New Hampshire on Sunday in the NCAA Northeast Regional championship game before 3,441 at Mullins Center in Amherst, Mass. The victory gives Denver WCHA co-regular season and Final Five playoff champions an opportunity to defend their 2004 national championship in what will be the program¹s 13th Frozen Four appearance since 1958. Denver has won six NCAA crowns overall.
The top-seeded and No. 1-ranked Pioneers overcame a 2-1 second period deficit against the second-seeded Wildcats (26-11-5) with three consecutive goals over the final 22 minutes including a game-tying power-play goal from Gauthier at 18:02 of the second, the eventual game-winner from right winger Ryan Dingle at 16:17 of the third period, and an empty-netter from Gauthier at 19:37 to post the victory. UNH took their 2-1 second period lead following a penalty-shot goal by center Daniel Winnik at 13:27.
Denver owned a 46-33 advantage in shots on goal over New Hampshire and the Pioneers¹ penalty-killing units blanked the Wildcats on all five of their man-advantage opportunities. Denver, meanwhile, was 1-of-8 on the power-play. For a complete summary of the Denver vs New Hampshire NCAA Northeast Regional championship game, go to collegehockeystats.com.
In the NCAA West Regional championship game before a crowd of 9,054 on Sunday afternoon at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis, Minn., top-seeded Minnesota (28-14-1) received the game-winning goal from right winger Barry Tallackson at 4:31 of overtime to overcome Cornell, 2-1, and earn the 19th Frozen Four appearance for a Golden Gopher hockey team since 1953. Minnesota seeks their sixth national championship.
After a scoreless first period, Cornell (27-5-3) struck first on a shorthanded goal from right winger Mitch Carefoot at 13:02 of the second period.
The Golden Gophers then knotted the score at 1-1 on a goal by left winger Andy Sertich at 14:45 of the second period.
After a scoreless third period, Tallackson struck gold for the Gophers at 4:31 of the first overtime, scoring on a rebound of his own first shot and with an assist to left winger Mike Howe.
On the afternoon, Minnesota owned a decisive 39-18 advantage in shots on goal, but Cornell goalkeeper David McKee kept the Red Raiders in the hunt until the end with 37 saves. For Minnesota, Kellen Briggs stopped 17 of 18 shots and neither club could convert on the power-play, with the Golden Gophers going 0-of-8 and Cornell going 0-of-3.
For a complete summary of the Minnesota vs Cornell NCAA West Regional championship game, go to collegehockeystats.com.
Complete NCAA Regional Results:
Friday, March 25
Mercyhurst 4 vs Boston College 5 @ NCAA East Regional, DCU Center, Worcester, MA
Colgate 5 vs Colorado College 6 @ NCAA Midwest Regional, Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MI
Boston University 0 vs North Dakota 4 @ NCAA East Regional
Wisconsin 1 vs Michigan 4 @ NCAA Midwest Regional
Saturday, March 26
Bemidji State 3 vs Denver 4 ot @ NCAA Northeast Regional, Mullins Center, Amherst, MA
Maine 0 vs Minnesota 1 ot @ NCAA West Regional, Mariucci Arena, Minneapolis, MN
Harvard 2 vs New Hampshire 3 ot @ NCAA Northeast Regional
Michigan 3 vs Colorado College 4 at NCAA Midwest Regional (championship game)
Ohio State 2 vs Cornell 3 @ NCAA West Regional
North Dakota 6 vs Boston College 3 @ NCAA East Regional (championship game)
Sunday, March 27
New Hampshire 2 vs Denver 4 @ NCAA Northeast Regional (championship game)
Cornell 1 vs Minnesota 2 ot @ NCAA West Regional (championship game)
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