The quarterfinal round on Saturday offered much more closely contested outcomes with three one-goal games including an overtime match-up between Norwich and Hamilton and a double OT thriller between Aurora and Endicott. Wisconsin-Stout stunned Utica and Hobart took down St. Norbert to punch their ticket to the Frozen four and keep the fire burning on a four-peat.
Here is how the quarterfinal round of the NCAA tournament went down on Saturday:
St. Norbert v. Hobart
In a game that projected to be a close contest, the game delivered on intensity and competitiveness in what ultimately turned into a 2-1 victory.
Neither team could break the ice scoring in the opening twenty minutes of play where shots and scoring chances were limited by both teams. In the second period, Tanner Daniels got the home team on the board in the opening two minutes of the period for a 1-0 Statesmen advantage. Just six minutes later, Conor Lally, with an assist from Daniels extended the advantage to 2-0 which is where the difference stayed after two periods of play.
Hobart put a lot of pressure on goaltender Hunter Garvey in the third period but the Green Knights netminder was up to the task making 13 saves. St. Norbert finally solved Damon Beaver in the final four minutes of regulation on a goal from Brayden Beahm but that was all Beaver would surrender as Hobart held on for the 2-1 win. Daniels finished the game with a goal and an assist while Beaver stopped 22 of 23 shots in the win.
Hobart will play Wisconsin – Stout in the Frozen Four semifinal round in Utica, NY on Friday, March 27.
Wisconsin – Stout v. Utica
The WIAC champions traveled to Utica to face a Pioneer squad looking to stay at home for the Frozen Four. The visiting Blue Devils had other ideas as Wisconsin-Stout skated off with a comfortable 5-1 win and punching their ticket for more hockey in Utica this weekend.
Late in the first period, Alex German gave the home crowd something to cheer about with his power play goal that gave the Pioneers a 1-0 advantage. Less than two minutes later, Hayden Stocks netted his first of two goals in the game to send the teams to the first period intermission tied at 1-1.
Stocks scored again on the power play early in the second period and then setup Nicolas Pigeon for a goal late in the second period to give the Blue Devils a 3-1 lead despite being outshot by a 32-14 margin after forty minutes of play.
Goaltender Sebastian Monaco continued his stellar play in the third period ultimately finishing with 46 saves on the night as his teammates would add two more goals from Nicholas Stevens and Evan Luxford for the final 5-1 margin. Stocks finished with two goals and an assist to pace the offense and help the Blue Devils return to the Frozen Four for the first time since 2009.
The Blue Devils will play Hobart on Friday, March 27 in one semifinal of the frozen Four in Utica, NY.
Norwich v. Hamilton
The Cadets and Continentals played a thriller where overtime was needed to determine a winner and Jackson Krock delivered for the resurgent Continentals in a 2-1 OT win.
Hamilton applied pressure early sending 16 shots at Norwich netminder Sami Molu who turned all aside to keep the game scoreless in the first period.
The Continentals did break through in the second period with Max Bulawka continuing his torrid scoring in the post-season for a 1-0 lead after two periods of play. In the third period, Norwich finally found the equalizer off the stick of Boyd Stahlman who scored an unassisted goal past Aksel Reid midway through the third period. Neither team could score in the remainder of regulation so overtime was needed to decide a winner.
Hamilton came out aggressive in the extra session and less than three minutes into overtime Jackson Krock with an assist from Luke Tchor got the puck past Molu for the game-winning goal. Molu was exceptional for the Cadets making 46 saves to keep his team in the game but Reid picked up the win and Hamilton advances to their first ever Frozen Four in Utica, NY where they will play Aurora in semifinal round action on Friday, March 27.
Aurora v. Endicott
The Spartans traveled east to take on the Gulls in what proved to be the most dramatic contest of the quarterfinal round. The visitors eked out a thrilling double overtime win to earn their way to the Frozen Four with a 3-2 win.
The first period saw Aurora’s Jakson Kirk and Endicott’s Jack Costanzo exchange goals in the opening six minutes of play but goaltenders Matt O’Connell (56 saves) and Peter Sterling (47 saves) would settle in to keep things close for the remainder of the game.
Endicott’s Michael Casey netted a power play goal as the only tally in the second period and Aurora’s Jaden Davis would tie the game in the third period with assists from Hassan Akl and Ryder Many Grey Horses. The 2-2 deadlock couldn’t be settled in regulation or in the first overtime but Andrew Schultz, with an assist from Kirk scored the game winner just over three minutes into the second overtime to send the Spartans to their first-ever Frozen Four with a 3-2, 2OT victory.
Aurora will play fellow Frozen Four first-timer Hamilton in semifinal action in Utica, NY on Friday, March 27.
USCHO Game Pucks
Hayden Stocks – Wisconsin – Stout – paced the Blue Devils attack with two goals and an assist in a 5-1 quarterfinal win over Utica on Saturday night.
Jackson Krock – Hamilton – scored the overtime winning goal against Norwich on Saturday night to give the Continentals a 2-1 win sending Hamilton to their first Frozen Four.
Andrew Schultz – Aurora – scored the overtime winning goal against Endicott in the second overtime period giving Aurora a 3-2 win and earning their spot in the their inaugural Frozen Four.
We are down to the Frozen Four and the semifinal round matchups are set. It is two games of East v. West in the semifinal round in pursuit of the national championship – Just one week away from knowing who this year’s national title holders will be from a field that will bring some exciting hockey to Utica starting on Friday.