The busiest day of the Tournament produced the first two Frozen Four finalists in Minnesota-Duluth and Michigan along with four other winners in North Dakota, Denver (which creates a rematch of the WCHA Final Five championship), Notre Dame and New Hampshire.
East Regional Final:
Minnesota-Duluth 5
Yale 3
FINAL
The Frozen Four will have a local Minnesota flavor; however instead of the Gophers it is their neighbors to the North representing the State of (College) Hockey after a 5-3 win over Yale. Duluth’s first Frozen Four since 2004, the Bulldogs were able to defeat the Yale Bulldogs 5-3 due to once again taking advantage of penalties. After Yale failed to convert on a 5×3, Duluth scored three power play goals in the second period to build an insurmountable 5-1 lead.
West Regional Final:
Michigan 2
Colorado College 1
FINAL
Michigan was able to make a 2-0 lead in the third period hold and defeat their second WCHA opponent in as many days. Penalty calls were aplenty as both teams went 1-7 on the poweplay but goals by Scooter Vaughn and Lee Moffie were enough for the Wolverines to reach the Frozen Four for a record 24th time.
Midwest Region:
North Dakota 6
RPI 0
A close game for twenty minutes turned into a blowout as North Dakota ran rampant on the Engineers of RPI with four second-period goals and a 21 save performance by Aaron Dell. North Dakota now faces Denver in a rematch of the WCHA Final Five final which they won in double overtime.
Denver 3
Western Michigan 2
FINAL/2 OT
Jason Zucker scored 11:14 into double overtime to complete a late rally for Denver. After being down to Western Michigan 2-0 with five minutes left and the Broncos looking to be the fourth consecutive team to upset the Pioneers, Denver came back with goals by Kyle Ostrow and Matt Donovan to tie the game at two. After back and forth action in the extra periods, Western Michigan’s first tournament appearance in fifteen years ended in disappointment as Zucker’s goal in Denver’s second consecutive double overtime game gave the Pioneers their first tournament win since their seventh national championship in 2005.
Northeast Regional:
New Hampshire 3
Miami 1
FINAL
Mike Sislo’s goal thirty-nine seconds into the third period alongside Kevin Gourmas’ two goals gave the Wildcats a 3-1 victory over top seed Miami. After giving up a goal in the first minute, New Hampshire clamped down on the RedHawks behind New Hampshire goalie Matt DiGirolamo’s 21 saves. The host Wildcats (with the regional being held in Manchester, NH) now play Notre Dame for a Frozen Four berth.
Notre Dame 4
Merrimack 3
FINAL/OT
Anders Lee’s second goal of the night 5:18 into overtime proved to be the difference as the Fighting Irish overcame a shaky first period to beat Merrimack. After being down 3-1 to the Warriors in the second period, Lee was able to score his first goal before Notre Dame took over in the third period and overtime.