Quinnipiac is back in the Frozen Four with some unfinished business to attend to.
The only time the Bobcats made it to the NCAA’s top four they were shutout by Yale 4-0 in 2013. Now with no Bulldogs standing in their way, Quinnipiac has a date against the team with the most Frozen Four appearances in tournament history on the horizon.
But first, the Bobcats had to survive an early scare in the East Regional Championships after allowing an opening power play goal to the UMass-Lowell River Hawks three minutes into the contest. However, three straight goals in the second in just over seven minutes of play, including a sick backhanded tally from injured alternate captain Sam Anas, put the contest away for the tournament’s No. 1 overall seed.
Bobcat goaltender Michael Garteig had to make just 14 saves in the contest as Quinnipiac poured it on in the other end with 35 total shots in the 4-1 victory.
Quinnipiac will take on Boston College in the early game of the semifinals on April 7.
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For the first time since 2005, the Denver Pioneers are headed back to the Frozen Four after doubling up on Ferris State 6-3. A day after pulling the upset over St. Cloud State, the Bulldogs fell apart in the final five minutes as they allowed three goals in a shade over two minutes of game time. After exchanging even blows through the first period with four goals between the two teams, Ferris State managed to tie the game in the third after Denver scored the only goal in the middle frame.
Denver had six different goal scorers with Dylan Gambrell, Danton Heinen and Blake Hillman each tailing three points. Hillman’s goal broke the tie with 4:32 left in the game and it was all Pioneers from there.
Denver will take on Midwest winner North Dakota in the late game of the semifinals on April 7.
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The Frozen Four is almost upon us, and here’s the bracket from the NCAA:
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