“We are fortunate to have someone of Ben Guite’s experience and character to guide our program through this difficult time,” said Maine director of athletics Ken Ralph in a statement. “Ben is a Black Bear alum, a national champion, played in the National Hockey League, and has established himself as one of the top assistant coaches in college hockey. More importantly, there is no one who cares more about the University of Maine and the success of its hockey program.”
Guite, who joined Gendron’s staff in the summer of 2013, recently completed his eighth season as a member of the Maine staff. Guite served as an assistant coach for two years before being promoted to associate head coach on Oct. 14, 2015.
“I would like to thank director of athletics Ken Ralph and president Joan Ferrini-Mundy for their confidence in me to help guide our team through this difficult time,” said Guite. “At the moment, our thoughts are with Coach Red’s wife Jan, and their daughters, Katie and Allie, and we are here to support our players in any needs that they may have. Our program will honor Coach Red through our passion for Maine hockey and our effort on and off the ice. I am honored to serve on the Maine hockey staff and strive to represent all that Maine hockey means to myself, our university, our state, and our region. I will continue to give back to a program which has given so much to me both as a player, and as a coach.”
A member of the Black Bears’ 1999 NCAA national championship team, Guite spent 13 years as a professional hockey player following his graduation from Maine. Guite’s professional career spanned more than 600 games at the ECHL and AHL level along with a 175-game NHL career with Boston, Colorado and Nashville.
Guite earned his Bachelor of Arts in English from
Maine in 2000 before achieving his Masters in Business Administration from Maine in 2009.
Minnesota Duluth’s Cole Koepke tallied a team-best 15 goals during the 2020-21 season for the Bulldogs (photo: Mark Kuhlmann).
Minnesota Duluth junior forward Cole Koepke has signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning and will forgo his final season of collegiate eligibility.
Koepke was drafted by the Lightning in the sixth round (183rd overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft.
Over his three-year span, the Hermantown, Minn., native has scored 38 goals and dished 37 assists for 75 points in 104 games with UMD. He also served as an assistant captain in 2020-21 while collecting 15 goals and 23 points in 28 games.
During his freshman season, Koepke was a part of the Bulldogs’ 2019 national championship team.
Jackson Cates averaged nearly a point per game during the 2020-21 season at Minnesota Duluth (photo: Dave Harwig).
Minnesota Duluth junior forward Jackson Cates signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers Tuesday afternoon that will start this season.
Cates will forgo his final season of collegiate eligibility.
An undrafted college free agent, Cates played in 96 games for the Bulldogs, putting up 64 points (27 goals, 37 assists), winning a national championship in 2019.
During the 2020-21 season, the Stillwater, Minn., native posted 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists) in 28 games.
Zac Jones was a steady defender during the 2020-21 season on the UMass back end (photo: Rich Gagnon)
The New York Rangers announced Tuesday that the team has agreed to terms with Massachusetts sophomore defenseman Zac Jones on an entry-level contract.
In signing the contract, Jones gives up his last two seasons of NCAA eligibility with the Minutemen.
Jones skated in 29 games with UMass this season, registering nine goals and 15 assists for 24 points, along with a plus-17 rating as the Minutemen won the national championship.
Jones was named to the NCAA East Second All-American Team this season, as well as the Hockey East Second All-Star Team and the Frozen Four All-Tournament Team. He ranked second among NCAA defensemen in goals, ranked third among NCAA defensemen in points, tied for third among NCAA defensemen in shots on goal (84), and tied for eighth among NCAA defensemen in assists this season.
Among NCAA defensemen who were either a freshman or sophomore in 2020-21, Jones ranked first in points and shots on goal, ranked second in goals, and tied for third in assists. He ranked second on UMass in shots on goal, ranked third in assists, tied for third in points, and tied for fourth in goals in 2020-21.
The native of Glen Allen, Va., skated in 61 career games with UMass, registering 12 goals and 35 assists for 47 points, along with a plus-29 rating and 32 penalty minutes.
Jones was selected by the Rangers in the third round (68th overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft.
Massachusetts celebrates its 2021 national championship last Saturday night in Pittsburgh after blanking St. Cloud State 5-0 (photo: Jim Rosvold).
Fresh off its first national championship in the school’s hockey history, Massachusetts wraps the 2020-21 season a unanimous No. 1 in the final USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll of the season.
The Minutemen, up five spots from the last poll on March 22, received all 40 first-place votes in this week’s rankings.
National runner-up St. Cloud State sits No. 2, up five spots as well.
Minnesota Duluth is No. 3, up six spots, while Minnesota State is up one to No. 4, and North Dakota down one to No. 5 this week.
Boston College falls four to No. 6, Minnesota drops five to No. 7, Wisconsin is down four to No. 8, Michigan falls one to No. 9, and Bemidji State round out the top 10 at No. 10, up four spots.
No new teams enter this week’s final rankings.
In addition, nine other teams received votes in the final poll of the season.
The USCHO.com Poll consists of 40 voters, including coaches and beat writers and sports professionals from across the country.
Ty Emberson played three seasons at Wisconsin and served as team captain for the Badgers in 2020-21 (photo: Greg Anderson).
Wisconsin junior defenseman and team captain Ty Emberson has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Arizona Coyotes, forgoing his senior year with the Badgers.
The contract starts with this 2020-21 season, and he will report to the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners.
“Ty had a strong three years here as a player and as a student and he is ready to start his pro hockey career,” Badgers coach Tony Granato said in a statement. “His leadership helped us get to our Big Ten championship and helped us make our return to the NCAA tournament. He will make Wisconsin proud, like he has since he’s been here.”
A third-round pick (73rd overall) by Arizona in the 2018 NHL draft, Emberson captained the Badgers to their first Big Ten regular-season title and first regular-season conference title since 2000. UW posted a 20-10-1 record, its best since the 2013-14 season, and earned a No. 1 seed for the NCAA tournament, its first since 2014.
“We are very pleased to sign Ty to an entry-level contract,” said Coyotes GM Bill Armstrong. “Ty is a good two-way defenseman who can play in all situations. He is another good prospect for us, and we look forward to monitoring his development.”
Emberson finishes his Badgers career with nine goals and 25 assists and 34 points in 101 games, including four goals and 13 points in 2020-21. He led the Badgers with a plus-15 and ranked 13th in the nation with an average of two blocks per game in 2020-21.
Massachusetts controlled this play and the national championship game against St. Cloud State Saturday night and brought home the school’s first hockey national title (photo: Jim Rosvold).
Here is a rundown of how the top 20 teams in the USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll of March 22 fared in games since that date.
No. 1 North Dakota (22-6-1)
03/26/2021 – No. 15 AIC 1 vs No. 1 North Dakota 5 (NCAA Fargo Regional Semifinal)
03/27/2021 – No. 9 Minnesota Duluth 3 vs No. 1 North Dakota 2 (5OT, NCAA Fargo Regional Final)
No. 2 Boston College (17-6-1)
03/28/2021 – No. 7 St. Cloud 4 vs No. 2 Boston College 1 (NCAA Albany Regional Final)
No. 4 Wisconsin (20-10-1)
03/26/2021 – No. 14 Bemidji State 6 vs No. 4 Wisconsin 3 (NCAA Bridgeport Regional Semifinal)
No. 5 Minnesota State (22-5-1)
03/27/2021 – No. 11 Quinnipiac 3 vs No. 5 Minnesota State 4 (OT, NCAA Loveland Regional Semifinal)
03/28/2021 – No. 5 Minnesota State 4 vs No. 2 Minnesota 0 (NCAA Loveland Regional Final)
04/08/2021 – No. 7 St. Cloud State 5 vs No. 5 Minnesota State 4 (NCAA National Semifinal)
No. 6 Massachusetts (20-5-4)
03/26/2021 – No. 13 Lake Superior 1 vs No. 6 Massachusetts 5 (NCAA Bridgeport Regional Semifinal)
03/27/2021 – No. 14 Bemidji State 0 vs No. 6 Massachusetts 4 (NCAA Bridgeport Regional Final)
04/08/2021 – No. 9 Minnesota Duluth 2 vs No. 6 Massachusetts 3 (OT, NCAA National Semifinal)
04/10/2021 – No. 7 St. Cloud 0 vs No. 6 Massachusetts 5 (NCAA National Championship)
No. 7 St. Cloud State (20-11-0)
03/27/2021 – No. 10 Boston University 2 vs No. 7 St. Cloud State 6 (NCAA Albany Regional Semifinal)
03/28/2021 – No. 7 St. Cloud State 4 vs No. 2 Boston College 1 (NCAA Albany Regional Final)
04/08/2021 – No. 7 St. Cloud State 5 vs No. 5 Minnesota State 4 (NCAA National Semifinal)
04/10/2021 – No. 7 St. Cloud State 0 vs No. 6 Massachusetts 5 (NCAA National Championship)
No. 8 Michigan (15-10-1)
Did not play.
No. 9 Minnesota Duluth (15-11-2)
03/27/2021 – No. 9 Minnesota Duluth 3 vs No. 1 North Dakota 2 (5OT, NCAA Fargo Regional Final)
04/08/2021 – No. 9 Minnesota Duluth 2 vs No. 6 Massachusetts 3 (OT, NCAA National Semifinal)
No. 10 Boston University (10-5-1)
03/27/2021 – No. 10 Boston University 2 vs No. 7 St. Cloud State 6 (NCAA Albany Regional Semifinal)
UMass celebrates its first NCAA championship after a 5-0 victory against St. Cloud State in Pittsburgh (photo: Jim Rosvold).
PITTSBURGH — In a strange college hockey season, where the word “asterisks” was constantly thrown around, Massachusetts ended things with an exclamation point.
Behind a dominating performance from start to finish and a 25-save shutout by goaltender Filip Lindberg, UMass defeated St. Cloud State, 5-0, to capture the program’s first Division I men’s ice hockey national championship.
It was the most lopsided championship game since 2010 when Boston College defeated Wisconsin by an identical 5-0 score.
The Minutemen grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first, doubled that with dominant special teams in the second and then cruised through the final 20 minutes much to the delight of the UMass faithful who traveled to PPG Paints Arena.
The shutout for Lindberg was particularly impressive given that the junior netminder was ruled out of Thursday’s semifinal because of COVID protocols. But after Lindberg and third-string goaltender Henry Graham along with leading goal scorer Carson Gicewicz made the eight-hour drive from Amherst to Pittsburgh on Friday and passed multiple COVID tests, they were cleared to dress on Saturday.
Lindberg said he wasn’t able to skate for the last eight days. Instead he just sat in a hotel room in Amherst, doing nothing but stretching and trying to relax. The turnabout in situation for Lindberg has been a roller coaster.
“Honestly, the day I found out [I couldn’t play] that was probably the worst day I had,” said Lindberg. “But thank God we got the chance to play tonight and got the job done.”
As referenced, special teams played a critical role in the game, particularly in the middle period when UMass killed two penalties, scored a short-handed goal — a highlight-reel tally by senior Philip Lagunov — and capped the frame with a Matthew Kessel power-play goal.
“Special teams played a big role this weekend,” said UMass coach Greg Carvel. “We had to kill more penalties than we got power plays. But we try to be a really good defensive team and really good on special teams and we were both tonight.”
Massachusetts played opportunistic hockey in the opening period. Though St. Cloud State controlled much of the period territorially, the Huskies mustered just three shots on goal, though that didn’t include Veeti Miettinen’s shot off the crossbar just 90 seconds into the game.
As things settled in for the Minutemen, they found ways to capitalize on mistakes.
St. Cloud State was looking to attack in the UMass zone when defenseman Ty Farmer grabbed a loose puck and hit Aaron Bohlinger with an outlet pass. While Bohlinger was likely to be in alone, two St. Cloud defensemen collided, allowing Ryan Sullivan to jump in the play for a 2-on-0. Working the give-and-go, Bohlinger buried his first collegiate goal at 7:26 for the 1-0 lead.
After UMass killed the period’s only penalty, it was able to extend the lead late. Cal Kiefiuk picked off Sam Hentges clearing pass along the left board, curled below the goal line and fired a goal-mouth pass that Reed Lebster buried at 18:56 for a 2-0 advantage.
Lagunov then scored short-handed at 5:10 of the second and Matthew Kessel scored on the power play at 13:50 to put a stranglehold on the game.
Lagunov’s goal was one that will be shown over and over. It also changed the complexion of the game. Picking up a loose puck on the penalty kill at the defensive blue line, Lagunov accelerated up the right wing. When Nick Perbix went for an open-ice hit and missed, Lagunov was alone on netminder David Hrenak and stuffed a shot under the armpit for a 3-0 lead.
“I think at that point we started pressing a little bit,” said St. Cloud State coach Brett Larson. “We tried to make a zone entry play that was a tough play and then a one-on-one situation where we probably got a little too aggressive. I thought that was the turning point in the game when they were up 3-0.”
After killing the remainder of that penalty and another midway through the period, UMass went to the power play at 12:35 when St. Cloud State was whistled for too many men.
The UMass power play was a clinic in passing and finally Oliver Chau moved the puck back to Kessel who launched it top shelf for the 4-0 advantage.
In the third, UMass scored the only goal, a top-shelf blast by Bobby Trivigno.
For UMass, the national title is the culmination of a remarkable turnaround under coach Greg Carvel.
When Carvel arrived on campus, the Minutemen hadn’t had a winning season in 10 years. His first year, 2016-17, the team struggled to a 5-29-2 mark.
Since that time, the build has been consistent, appearing in the national title game two seasons ago and losing to Minnesota Duluth. They captured the Hockey East tournament title this season and now, 28 seasons after the program was established in Division I, the Minutemen can now call themselves national champions.
“A lot of us came in recruited by coach Carvel,” said senior captain Jake Gaudet. “He had a dream to bring it to a national level and building a culture of really good kids that work really hard and have high character.
Forward Bobby Trivigno, right, watches UMass coach Greg Carvel lift the NCAA championship trophy on Saturday (photo: Jim Rosvold).
PITTSBURGH — Bobby Trivigno missed the NCAA championship game two years ago. He didn’t miss when he took a shot in the third period Saturday night.
Trivigno scored the goal that capped off UMass’ 5-0 victory against St. Cloud State in the NCAA championship game at PPG Paints Arena.
Adding that to his two assists in Thursday’s semifinals, including the play that set up Garrett Wait’s overtime goal, Trivigno was named the Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player.
“It’s crazy. It’s literally unbelievable,” Trivigno said with a piece of the net tucked into a national champions hat. “We earned this win for sure. I’m just so happy to be part of it.”
Trivigno was suspended for the 2019 championship game after an unpenalized hit was reviewed by the NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey committee, which hands out supplemental discipline in the national tournament.
He hit Denver’s Jake Durflinger in the side of the head with his right arm in front of the UMass bench with 3:11 left in the third period of a game the Minutemen won in overtime. The punishment came the next day.
“Just where I was two years ago to now as far as emotionally is worlds of difference,” Trivigno said. “And I’m just so grateful I got to play, be part of this amazing team, program, amazing school. I’m grateful for everything.”
There wasn’t a chance for an answer last season because the NCAA tournament was canceled at the start of the pandemic. The opportunity was well-taken this week.
In overtime on Thursday, Trivigno circled behind the net and threaded a pass through the top of the crease to Wait at the back door for the putaway.
On Saturday, Trivigno ripped a shot from the left side high past St. Cloud State’s David Hrenak six minutes into the third period for the 11th goal of his junior season.
It was the cherry on top of an epic turnaround story.
“I’m so proud that we could bring it back home to UMass,” Trivigno said.
UMass goalie Filip Lindberg makes one of 25 saves in Saturday’s victory against St. Cloud State (photo: Jim Rosvold).
PITTSBURGH — Eight days before Saturday’s NCAA Frozen Four national championship game, Filip Lindberg got the news that he wouldn’t be allowed to play in Thursday’s national semifinal.
The national championship game was also up in the air, pending COVID tests this past week.
The goalie who had amassed a 9-1-4 record as the primary starter for Massachusetts this season – with a stellar 1.33 goals-against average and a .946 save percentage – was devastated to find out he would be quarantined due to contact tracing.
“I mean, honestly the day I found out, that was probably the worst day I’ve had,” said Lindberg. “That was a nightmare.”
Sidelined in a hotel room near campus back in Amherst, Mass. – as were freshman goalie Henry Graham and forwards Carson Gicewicz and Jerry Harding – a nervous Lindberg had to watch his teammates from a 500-mile distance.
“It was something else, just sitting back and watching the guys play when you want to be there and you want to help the team and you want to be a part of that, and there’s literally nothing you can do, just watch,” Lindberg said.
Matt Murray, who started Thursday and made 36 saves in the Minutemen’s 3-2 semifinal victory against Minnesota Duluth, was asked after that game about the news that UMass could be getting his fellow goalies back. He said that he was “happy to get the band back together.”
Lindberg was elated at Murray’s performance.
“‘Mur’ played unreal on Thursday,” said Lindberg. “We push each other every day out there, every day at practice. And he’s a big part of our success, too. And he’s a good guy and he keeps pushing me every day at practice.
It wasn’t until just after Thursday night’s overtime win that UMass coach Greg Carvel was told that Lindberg could be available to play in Saturday’s national championship game.
Lindberg, Graham and Gicewicz were all cleared to travel and were passengers in a caravan that made the eight-hour drive on Friday.
While riding in the car to Pittsburgh – at about 2 p.m. and after a six-hour nap – Lindberg found out that he was going to start on Saturday night.
“I was ready to play no matter what,” Lindberg said. “I rested a lot in the hotel. … So I’m happy I got the chance to play even though the circumstances were kind of weird.”
The first shot attempt Lindberg faced on Saturday night – from former Finnish junior teammate Veeti Miettinen – seemed to elude the UMass goalie. And as the puck rang loudly off the crossbar, gasps could be heard from the pandemic-limited crowd of 3,963 in the arena.
That near miss may have cast doubts to some spectators as to whether starting the Espoo native had been the right decision.
But if there were doubts about whether Lindberg should have gotten the nod, there were no doubts for his coach.
And, as Carvel explained, there had been none all season.
“Filip came to me the end of last year and told me he needed to play more,” said Carvel. “I got really angry. And I said, ‘Be better. You need to be a lot better if you want to play every game.’
“And he did. And he did it because he got mentally tougher. That’s all he needed. He had all the tools. But he needed to get mentally tougher. And this week is a great example of it.”
There was a challenge to Lindberg’s mental — and physical — toughness even in Saturday’s game.
Early in the first period, it seemed as if Murray might be called upon again when St. Cloud State’s Nick Perbix made a move toward the net. UMass defenseman Aaron Bohlinger checked Perbix, rode him into the crease and caused both players to topple over Lindberg, the net sent flying.
“To have to miss a semifinal, to not be able to skate most days, come in and get absolutely railroaded a couple minutes into the game — and he hurt his ankle on that play,” Carvel said. “But he was so good this year because of his mental toughness. That was the problem in the past.”
That transformed Lindberg into a goalie who didn’t lose after mid-January.
Previously, Lindberg lacked consistency, said his coach.
“He was very inconsistent and to me it was because he was — mentally he would get … anxious,” said Carvel. “But he dealt with that. And he found a way to fight through it. And, boy, was he good [tonight].”
Lindberg stopped all 25 shots he faced, including a third-period goalmouth flurry by the Huskies with about five minutes left to keep St. Cloud off the scoreboard.
It was the second straight shutout in the national championship game, but in 2019, it was UMass that felt the sting of a 3-0 loss in Hunter Shepard’s goose-egg performance for Minnesota Duluth.
Saturday, it was Lindberg’s turn to write Frozen Four history.
“I said this plenty of times,” said Carvel. “I think he’s the unwritten story of college hockey this year.”
UMass’ Philip Lagunov scores a short-handed goal for a 3-0 lead against St. Cloud State on Saturday (photo: Jim Rosvold).
PITTSBURGH — Goals have not been easy to come by for Philip Lagunov in his senior season at UMass.
But a short-handed dangle and finish Saturday in the second period of the NCAA championship game gave him a highlight moment and a big contribution to the Minutemen’s first national title.
Lagunov’s goal five minutes into the second period was a backbreaker to St. Cloud State’s hopes at a rally from a two-goal deficit.
The Minutemen kept pouring it on for a 5-0 victory but Lagunov’s goal for a 3-0 advantage was critical for its timing and its style.
As for remembering it? Let’s just say Lagunov’s puck-handling skills were better than his recollection.
Lagunov caught up to the puck just outside the St. Cloud State logo in the neutral zone of the PPG Paints Arena ice and had Huskies defender Nick Perbix tracking back at the middle of the blue line.
After entering the zone and seeing Perbix coming at him to dislodge the puck, Lagunov hit the brakes and eluded the St. Cloud player’s attempted right-shoulder check. The puck went between Perbix’s stick and skates, and Lagunov collected it again on the other side, at the inside of the right circle.
That wasn’t the only nice move the senior center had in his toolkit. The right-handed shooter made a slight fake on his forehand and went to his backhand as backchecking St. Cloud State forward Nolan Walker missed a poke at the puck from behind.
Lagunov’s backhand shot squeezed under goaltender David Hrenak’s left arm and bounced over the goal line for the first short-handed goal allowed by the Huskies since Feb. 21, 2020.
“The guy was diving down toward me,” Lagunov said. “I used my space to try to beat him.”
UMass’ fifth short-handed goal of the season tied for second behind Boston College’s eight. Lagunov was the fifth Minutemen player to score on the penalty kill, joining Carson Gicewicz, Bobby Trivigno, Zac Jones and Oliver Chau.
“We tried to make a zone-entry play that was a tough play,” St. Cloud State coach Brett Larson said. “And then a one-on-one type situation where we got a little overaggressive on it. And I thought that was the turning point of the game when they went up 3-0.”
Lagunov scored in two of his first three games of the season but his only other score before Saturday was against Northeastern in a Hockey East quarterfinal victory on March 14.
A turning-point goal was a big contribution Saturday.
“It’s surreal,” Lagunov said. “Having it in the senior year, it’s an unbelievable experience.”
St. Cloud State’s Nolan Walker takes the ice before the NCAA championship game Saturday (photo: Jim Rosvold).
PITTSBURGH — There was an example to follow on the other bench for St. Cloud State on Saturday.
The Huskies were shut out by UMass in their first appearance in the national championship game, just like the Minutemen were blanked by Minnesota Duluth in 2019, their first time in the final game of the season.
St. Cloud State coach Brett Larson made the connection in a somber locker room after the game.
“UMass was standing on our blue line two years ago with a similar loss and used it as fuel,” he said. “I think the taste for our guys of getting this far — this is the farthest the Husky hockey team has been. They did something special in 33 years of the program, just getting to this game.”
St. Cloud State fell into a 2-0 hole after the first period but didn’t feel like it was out of things. A short-handed goal by Philip Lagunov put UMass ahead by three en route to a 5-0 victory at PPG Paints Arena.
“I think we were just gripping it a little tight and weren’t able to quite execute plays when we got the puck early,” Larson said. “We had the jump. We had the work. But we were just gripping a little tight and forcing things.”
After the final horn, the Huskies gathered around their net as UMass celebrated. Senior center and alternate captain Kevin Fitzgerald said he was proud of the group.
“We’re like one family and we just care together,” forward Veeti Miettinen said. “That was kind of season-ending for us.”
PITTSBURGH — Photos from UMass’ 5-0 victory against St. Cloud State in the 2021 Men’s Frozen Four championship game at PPG Paints Arena.
UMass vs. St. Cloud State in the 2021 NCAA Men's Frozen Four championship game
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10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
UMass celebrates its first-ever national title last April in Pittsburgh (photo: Jim Rosvold).
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
10 Apr 21: The University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen play against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the national championship game of the 2021 Division I Men’s Frozen Four at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
UMass’ Reed Lebster (13) celebrates his first-period goal against St. Cloud State (photo: Jim Rosvold).
PITTSBURGH — Special teams helped UMass double its lead in the second period of the 2021 national championship game and the Minutemen lead St. Cloud State, 4-0, with 20 minutes standing between the them and their first national championship.
Philip Lagunov scored short-handed at 5:10 and Matthew Kessel scored on the power play at 13:50 to put a stranglehold on the game.
Lagunov’s goal was highlight reel material. Picking up a loose puck on the penalty kill at the defensive blue line, Lagunov accelerated up the right wing. When Nick Perbix went for an open-ice hit and missed, Lagunov was alone on netminder David Hrenak and stuffed a shot under the armpit for a 3-0 lead.
After killing the remainder of that penalty and another midway through the period, UMass went to the power play at 12:35 when St. Cloud State was whistled for too many men.
The UMass power play was a clinic in passing and finally Oliver Chau moved the puck back to Kessel who launched it top shelf for the 4-0 advantage.
Massachusetts played opportunistic hockey in the opening period. Though St. Cloud controlled the period territorially, the Huskies mustered just three shots on goal, though that didn’t include Veeti Miettinen’s shot off the post just 90 seconds into the game.
As things settled in for the Minutemen, they found ways to capitalize on mistakes.
As St. Cloud State was looking to attack in the UMass zone, defenseman Ty Farmer grabbed a loose puck and hit Aaron Bohlinger with an outlet pass. While Bohlinger was likely to be in alone, two St. Cloud defensemen collided, allowing Ryan Sullivan to jump in the play for a 2-on-0. Working the give-and-go, Bohlinger buried his first collegiate goal at 7:26 for the 1-0 lead.
After UMass killed the period’s only penalty, it was able to extend the lead late. Cal Kiefiuk picked off Sam Hentges clearing pass along the left board, curled below the goal line and fired a goal-mouth pass that Reed Lebster buried at 18:56 for a 2-0 advantage.
Aaron Bohlinger scores UMass’ first goal of the national championship game past St. Cloud State’s David Hrenak (photo: Jim Rosvold).
PITTSBURGH — UMass played opportunistic hockey in the opening period of the 2021 national championship game, scoring twice on turnovers to lead St. Cloud State, 2-0, through 20 minutes.
Though St. Cloud controlled the period territorially, the Huskies mustered just three shots on goal, though that didn’t include Veeti Miettinen’s shot off the post just 90 seconds into the game.
As things settled in for the Minutemen, they found ways to capitalize on mistakes.
As St. Cloud State was looking to attack in the UMass zone, defenseman Ty Farmer grabbed a loose puck and hit Aaron Bohlinger with an outlet pass. While Bohlinger was likely to be in alone, two St. Cloud defensemen collided, allowing Ryan Sullivan to jump in the play for a 2-on-0. Working the give-and-go, Bohlinger buried his first collegiate goal at 7:26 for the 1-0 lead.
After UMass killed the period’s only penalty, it was able to extend the lead late. Cal Kiefiuk picked off Sam Hentges clearing pass along the left board, curling below the goal line and fired a goal-mouth pass that Reed Lebster buried at 18:56 for a 2-0 advantage.
In a period where shots on goal were at a premium, UMass held a 7-3 advantage.
UMass forward Eric Faith works in front of the Minnesota Duluth net in Thursday’s Frozen Four semifinal game (photo: Jim Rosvold).
PITTSBURGH — There’s a moment in every hockey season that every player and coach remembers well.
Maybe it’s a great weekend against a rival. A rally in a game you didn’t think you had any part winning. Maybe it’s as simple as a certain player scoring a goal.
But for teams that advance to a national title game, typically those moments come somewhere along the road in the postseason.
For both teams in Saturday’s championship game, the special moment of the postseason certainly came on Thursday in the national semifinals.
St. Cloud State relied on a picture-perfect redirect in the closing seconds of regulation to defeat Minnesota State. And for UMass, it was an overtime game-winner by Garrett Wait that sent the Minutemen to the title game for the second consecutive Frozen Four.
What was striking about both, however, was that it appeared that each took these signature moments in stride, understanding that the biggest victory is still, hopefully, to come.
“I probably celebrated more than anyone,” said UMass coach Greg Carvel. “That’s not right, but you can tell it’s pretty steely with the kids. Mission one accomplished.
“It’s important [to stay even keeled]. We talked about it this week with the players and some returning players from two years ago. They felt the same. We scored a goal in a game but we didn’t win anything. We didn’t win a championship. We earned the right to play again.”
Certainly the challenge in front of UMass, and likewise in front of St. Cloud State, is significant. Both teams look to win their first Division I men’s hockey national championship in school history. And when you begin measuring these two teams up against one another, you’ll find there are probably more similarities than differences.
Both teams like to play a heavy game. Not necessarily a smash-mouth style of hockey with massive open-ice checks that get the crowd to their feet. Rather, a game where you lean on your opponent enough to make the simple plays more complex. That’s also a style that typically can wear down opponents.
St. Cloud State coach Brett Larson admits his team likes that style of hockey but also acknowledges that UMass won’t make it easy.
“I think it’s going to be two teams with a very similar game plan,” said Larson. “You saw where [UMass] scored most of their goals [on Thursday]. That was within 2 feet of the net. You can tell that they’re driven to get there. They’re driven offensively to get to the net.
“You can also see how active their [defensemen] are on the forecheck. They’re a pressure team and a team that takes pucks to the dirty area really quick.”
Larson mentioning the defense may be a bit telling. The reality is that may be where these two teams separate themselves. While St. Cloud State will play a more passive neutral-zone game, hoping to capitalize on its opponent’s mistakes, UMass isn’t afraid to activate a defensive corps that has 26 goals among those in Thursday’s lineup.
That ability to skate in layers for UMass could be beneficial. And certainly the depth with which the Minutemen play — Carvel took pride after Thursday’s win in pointing out that his team was able to roll four lines through the third period and overtime while Minnesota Duluth shortened its bench — can be beneficial.
But when we look at depth at the forward position, you may have to give the nod to St. Cloud State. Of late, its fourth line has been dominant, particularly center Will Hammer who has scored two goals in the NCAA Tournament and, winning nearly 65 percent of his draws in the NCAA tournament, entered the Frozen Four as the top faceoff center.
Carvel knows that the depth St. Cloud has at forward combined with the opportunistic nature of the Huskies offense will be a challenge.
“They play kind of a trap a lot of the game in the neutral zone,” said Carvel. “That’s the one thing we need to prepare our players for. You don’t see that a lot in teams. Usually the teams are coming pretty aggressively at you.
“They’re playing a style that’s kind of sit back, let you make mistakes and counter. We haven’t seen that a lot so we’ll have to be ready for it or we’ll pay the price in transition offense.”
The major storyline of the week at this Frozen Four has been the absence of UMass players due to COVID protocols. Three of those players — including top goaltender Filip Lindberg and top goal scorer Carson Gicewicz — were announced after Thursday’s game to be traveling to Pittsburgh on Friday in hopes of rejoining their team.
Because of ongoing protocols, Carvel said that he still hasn’t seen the players, which also include third-string goaltender Henry Graham. To be eligible for Saturday’s championship game, they individually will have to be tested on that morning and return a negative result.
Good news, but there still remains some uncertainty for Carvel.
“I believe they are here,” said Carvel. “But until I see them, I won’t make any [lineup] decisions.”
UMass celebrates Zac Jones’ first-period goal against Minnesota Duluth on Thursday (photo: Jim Rosvold).
PITTSBURGH — Coach Greg Carvel filed away a lesson two years ago when UMass played in the national championship game.
On the Friday between Frozen Four games, less is more.
In Buffalo, N.Y., the Minutemen had a busy schedule planned throughout the day before they played Minnesota Duluth for the title, from practice in the early afternoon to the Hobey Baker Award ceremony for Cale Makar at night.
“We felt like we were a tired team going into the championship game last time,” Carvel said.
With that in mind, this Friday at the Frozen Four was intentionally calm for UMass ahead of Saturday’s game against St. Cloud State at PPG Paints Arena.
The same breakthrough NCAA title is on the line but the Minutemen are approaching it with a different lens.
UMass was ground down by Minnesota Duluth in the last championship game and has made a point about growing and evolving to be ready this time. The same goes for off the ice.
“That experience was really critical,” Carvel said. “You’ve heard it many, many times, NHL teams that have to lose in the Stanley Cup finals before they come back and win it. I think it’s similar for us.”
The Minutemen also won the late semifinal game in overtime in 2019, leading to a late night before the busy Friday. This year’s victory against Minnesota Duluth was a taxing one, forward Anthony Del Gaizo said.
“We’re all beat up. We’re all sore,” said Del Gaizo, who scored the tying goal in the third period. “We’re all getting those extra hours of sleep and getting those ice bags on us.”
The day of rest was a sign to Del Gaizo that Carvel trusts the players to take care of themselves physically and get prepared in their own ways.
“He knows that we’re all men on this team and we’re all going to take care of our bodies individually,” Del Gaizo said. “There’s not as much stress on having to do everything as a team, monitored. He knows that we’re going to do our job individually. I think that’s great.”
There has been a shift in mentality with UMass over the last two years. Going through the Frozen Four once makes the next opportunity easier to navigate.
“The first time you get here, it’s fun, it’s exciting, you’ve never done it before,” Carvel said. “The second time you’re more on a mission. The first time you learn lessons. And we learned a big lesson, that we ran around on this day (in 2019).”
St. Cloud State’s Will Hammer takes a faceoff in Thursday’s Frozen Four game against Minnesota State (photo: Jim Rosvold).
PITTSBURGH — It’s not always easy to pause and appreciate the components of a run to the NCAA title game in the moment.
There’s a lot of work left for St. Cloud State to earn its first national championship Saturday against UMass. But when asked to step back and look around at what he and the Huskies have done in getting to the last game of the season, senior center Will Hammer could smile.
“It’s been incredible,” he said Friday. “It’s been a great journey. It’s not over yet. We’ve got one more.”
If Hammer has one more in him, it will make the contrast between his regular season and his postseason more remarkable.
Hammer’s goal off a Minnesota State defensive-zone turnover in Thursday’s 5-4 Huskies victory in the Frozen Four semifinals was his second of the postseason. He has one more goal in a six-game playoff run than he did in 24 games to that point.
His three goals for the season have matched his Huskies career high set in 2019-20. The St. Cloud, Minn., native played only four games over his first two seasons before gaining a larger role as a junior.
That wasn’t just given by coach Brett Larson.
“It was up to him to earn it,” he said. “I think everybody can see he’s earned it. And he’s done more than earn it. He’s turned into a key piece to our team night in and night out. To see him get on the score sheet and be rewarded for all his hard work is really just frosting on the cake. Because I know he takes pride in all the details and how hard he works. But it’s still nice to see a guy like that score a goal once in a while.”
Hammer also scored the go-ahead goal against Boston College to send St. Cloud State to the Frozen Four.
It has been an NCAA Tournament to remember for Hammer, who, Larson said, seems to make whoever’s playing with him have a better performance.
The Huskies have an underdog mindset going into the national championship game against UMass on Saturday at PPG Paints Arena, Hammer said.
“We’ve made it to the playoffs a couple times and we’ve been that No. 1 seed,” Hammer said. “And I think it’s been a little different this year where we’ve had that underdog mentality and we’ve stuck with it. We’re going to keep going with it. I think that’s treated us well so far.”
And it’s different this year with Hammer clicking from the fourth line. He had a procedure earlier in his time at St. Cloud State to address an abnormally fast heartbeat and had to work his way into a deep lineup.
“It’s nice to see him playing the right way and it’s finally being rewarded,” St. Cloud State forward Kyler Kupka said.
The step back that Hammer took to briefly look at the big picture before the Huskies get back into the moment of competing for a championship included a nod to the difficulties this season has brought.
The Huskies used being left out of the preseason rankings as a motivator to prove everyone wrong.
“It’s been incredible, especially just with this weird year and how it’s been with COVID and where we started at the beginning of the year to where we are now,” Hammer said. “It’s kind of hard to wrap your head around it. But I’m proud of the guys. I’m proud of what we’ve done this far. We’re not finished.”
Boston College’s Matt Boldy tallied 11 goals and 31 points to lead Boston College in scoring during the 2020-21 season (photo: John Quackenbos).
Fourteen different schools have players honored as CCM/AHCA Hockey All-Americans for the 2020-21 season.
The nation’s top 24 college hockey players were announced tonight, and four schools led the way with three honorees: Boston College, Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin.
Three players had been recognized as All-Americans previously: Boston University defenseman David Farrance, North Dakota forward Jordan Kawaguchi and Minnesota State goalie Dryden McKay. All were First Team last year but only Farrance repeated on the First Team this year.
FIRST TEAM EAST
F: Matt Boldy, SO, Boston College
F: Bobby Trivigno, JR, Massachusetts
F: Odeen Tufto, SR, Quinnipiac
D: David Farrance, SR, Boston University
D: Brennan Kapcheck, SR, American International
G: Spencer Knight, SO, Boston College
FIRST TEAM WEST
F: Cole Caufield, SO, Wisconsin
F: Shane Pinto, SO, North Dakota
F: Sampo Ranta, JR, Minnesota
D: Ronnie Attard, SO, Western Michigan
D: Cam York, SO, Michigan
G: Jack LaFontaine, SR, Minnesota
SECOND TEAM EAST
F: Colin Bilek, JR, Army West Point
F: Will Calverley, JR, Rochester Institute of Technology
F: Jonny Evans, JR, Connecticut
D: Drew Helleson, SO, Boston College
D: Zac Jones, SO, Massachusetts
G: Trevin Kozlowski, SR, Army West Point
SECOND TEAM WEST
F: Dylan Holloway, SO, Wisconsin
F: Jordan Kawaguchi, SR, North Dakota
F: Linus Weissbach, SR, Wisconsin
D: Matt Kiersted, SR, North Dakota
D: Jackson LaCombe, SO, Minnesota
G: Dryden McKay, JR, Minnesota State
2021 Hobey Baker winner Cole Caufield shoots against Michigan in a Wisconsin home game in November 2020 (photo: Tom Lynn/Wisconsin Athletic Communications).
PITTSBURGH – Wisconsin forward Cole Caufield was named the 2021 recipient of the Hobey Baker Award in a virtual award ceremony on Friday.
Caufield beat out Minnesota State junior goaltender Dryden McKay and North Dakota sophomore forward Shane Pinto. The three Hobey Hat Trick finalists were selected from an initial list of 10 candidates by the 30-member selection committee and online fan balloting.
“Obviously it means a lot to me and to my team back in Wisconsin,” said Caufield during the broadcast. “It was something I was working for all season. I couldn’t be more thankful.”
Caufield led the nation in scoring this season with 30 goals and 22 assists in 31 games, a 1.68 points per game average.
Twenty-four goals came after Caufield’s return from the World Junior Championship in January where he won a gold medal with Team USA.
Caufield recorded 15 multiple point games in his final 18 contests and unloaded 165 shots on goal this season, averaging 5.3 shots per game. Both numbers led the nation.
He became the first Big Ten player in the eight seasons of the league to win back-to-back scoring titles and was the unanimous Big Ten player of the year this season. His two hat tricks in the 2020-21 campaign made him the first Badger to do so since Brad Englehart in the 1996-97 season.
In his freshman year, Caufield had 19 goals and 36 points. Despite speculation he might turn pro after his rookie campaign, he instead opted for a second season with the Badgers.
In 2019, Caufield was drafted 15th overall in the NHL draft by the Montreal Canadiens, and signed a pro contract with the team after the Badgers were eliminated from the 2021 NCAA tournament by Bemidji State in the first round.
Caufield was unable to attend Friday’s ceremony live as he was playing in his first professional game with the AHL Laval Rocket in a 7 p.m. EDT contest against the Toronto Marlies but had recorded comments on the broadcast. Caufield is expected to speak to members of the media about the Hobey Baker Award at 10 p.m. EDT.
His former teammates and coach Tony Granato were watching the online ceremony from the Wisconsin campus.
Before attending Wisconsin, the Stevens Point, Wis., native shattered USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program goal-scoring records for a single season (72, besting Auston Matthews’ 55) and career (126, eclipsing Phil Kessel’s 104).
Caufield joins 2010 winner Blake Geoffrion as the only Wisconsin players to win the Hobey Baker Award. In 40 games, Geoffrion had 28 goals and 22 assists that season. The 2009-10 Badgers were runners-up to Boston College in the NCAA Frozen Four in Detroit.
