UMD Bulldogs Win First NCAA Hockey Championship
I was a goal off on my 3-1 prediction, but UMD finished off their post season run by defeating Michigan 3-2 on a pretty OT goal. What an amazing finish to the season as our Bulldogs bring home a national championship.
Much attention was paid to Minnesota-Duluth's dynamic top line of Jack Connolly, Justin Fontaine and Mike Connolly entering the Frozen Four, and rightfully so considering their 172 points this season were the most by any trio in college hockey.
Yet the Bulldogs have plenty of show horses, none more valuable than Kyle Schmidt.
Schmidt scored the goal Saturday night they'll be talking about for years in northern Minnesota, converting 3 minutes, 22 seconds into overtime to defeat Michigan 3-2 and give Minnesota-Duluth its first NCAA Division I men's hockey championship.
Schmidt banged Travis Oleksuk's centering pass through Wolverines' goalie Shawn Hunwick to set off a wild celebration at the Xcel Energy Center, where most of the 19,222 fans were pulling for the home-state team.
Minnesota-Duluth (26-10-6) finally earned its national championship after failing in three previous trips to the Frozen Four — 1984, 1985 and 2004. And the Bulldogs ended their magical ride in 2010-11 with a flourish, winning their seventh straight overtime game and 28th in the last 31 games.
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