Providence downs Boston University for first national title in hockey – CBSSports.com

No matter who won the 2015 NCAA national championship hockey, it was going to be a storybook ending. It was either to be the culmination of a resurgent season for one of college hockey’s proudest programs in Boston University or the first title for an underdog that few had given a chance. Everyone loves an underdog and Providence College delivered the Cinderella story.

Providence is national champion in hockey for the first time in the program’s long history after dropping BU 4-3 in the national championship game in Boston.

The program has boasted numerous All-Americans, Hobey Baker candidates and future NHL players over their illustrious history, which began in 1926. Saturday night, however, is the shining moment for Providence Hockey, built by head coach Nate Leaman and a group of players that believed in his vision.

Providence was led to the title by goaltender Jon Gillies, a Calgary Flames draft pick and perhaps the most significant recruit Leaman coached at Providence. Three straight years of great performances from Gillies and a career save percentage just north of .930 helped bring the program to this point.

In the end, it was the bounce of the puck that helped Providence achieve its ultimate goal of bringing the program’s first nation title. With the Friars trailing 3-2 late in the third period, Kyle McKenzie’s seemingly harmless dump-in got caught up in the pads of BU goaltender Matt O’Connor who couldn’t find it. By the time he knew where the puck was, it was already over the goal line, tying the score and leaving the higher-seeded Terriers in shock.

Just 2:19 later, Brandon Tanev collected the puck off the faceoff and found himself alone in the slot. He fired a shot that glanced off O’Connor’s shoulder and into the upper-right corner of the net. That made it 4-3 with 6:17 to play.

After that, Providence shut the door on a BU team that had poured 40 shots on net over the first two periods and just 12 in the third. Gillies finished the night and most likely his collegiate career with 49 saves to secure the title for the Friars in the 4-3 win.

The biggest story coming into the game was Hobey Baker Award winner and future top-two NHL draft pick Jack Eichel who had 70 points to lead the nation. Providence held him to one assist despite allowing six shots on net to college hockey’s best player. He is likely to be in the NHL next season, which means he will finish his collegiate career with 71 points in 40 games. It was a brilliant showing for the 18-year-old All that was missing was the fairy tale ending.

Hockey is a funny game and that’s especially true in the college ranks. Anything can and often will happen, but that’s what makes it great. Providence won the title despite coming in as the 15th of 16 seeds in the national tournament. They might have gotten a friendly bounce here or there, but in the end it was a title earned over nearly 90 years of varsity hockey by the right group at the right time.