The Quinnipiac men's hockey program has put together an impressive list of accomplishments since moving to Division I in 1998. But the Bobcats added the biggest of them all Saturday night, winning their first national championship.
Quinnipiac rallied from a 2-0 deficit to beat top-ranked Minnesota 3-2 on Jacob Quillan's overtime goal 10 seconds into the extra period. The Bobcats had tied the game with 2:47 to play in regulation, having an extra skater with their goalie pulled, when Collin Graf beat Minnesota goalie Justen Close.
For Minnesota, a long wait continues. It's been 20 years since the Golden Gophers, one of the sport's most decorated programs, won the second of back-to-back national titles.
Minnesota took a 1-0 lead at 5:35 of the first period on a goal by John Mittelstadt, then made it 2-0 early in the second period when Jaxon Nelson got on the board.
Quinnipiac's Christophe Tellier pulled the Bobcats within 2-1 about three minutes later and that's the way it stayed until Graf's late heroics. Quinnipiac dominated the third period, outshooting Minnesota 14-2.
For more on Quinnipiac's win over Minnesota, read Greg Wyshynski's game recap.
Frozen Four results
at Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida
April 8: Quinnipiac 3, Minnesota 2 (OT)
April 6: National semifinals
Minnesota 6, Boston University 2
Quinnipiac 5, Michigan 2
Regional results
Manchester, New Hampshire, Regional
Thursday: Boston University 5, Western Michigan 1; Cornell 2, Denver 0
Saturday: Boston University 2, Cornell 1
Boston University wins Manchester Regional
Fargo, North Dakota, Regional
Thursday: St. Cloud State 4, Minnesota State 0; Minnesota 9, Canisius 2
Saturday: Minnesota 4, St. Cloud State 1
Minnesota wins Fargo Regional
Bridgeport, Connecticut, Regional
Friday: Ohio State 8, Harvard 1; Quinnipiac 5, Merrimack 0
Sunday: Quinnipiac 4, Ohio State 1
Quinnipiac wins Bridgeport Regional
Allentown, Pennsylvania, Regional
Friday: Penn State 8, Michigan Tech 0; Michigan 11, Colgate 1
Sunday: Michigan 2, Penn State 1 (OT)
Michigan wins Allentown Regional