SB Nation Denver - NCAA Hockey Tournament 2011: Minnesota-Duluth Defeats Michigan In Overtime, 3-2https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48907/denver-fave.png2011-04-10T08:00:23-06:00http://denver.sbnation.com/rss/stream/18250302011-04-10T08:00:23-06:002011-04-10T08:00:23-06:00Frozen Four 2011: Minnesota-Duluth Wins 2011 Championship, But Colorado Schools Play Big Part In Tourney
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<p>While the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs won the 2011 NCAA Men's Hockey Tournament on Saturday night, we should not forget that three schools in Colorado played important roles in determining the championship.</p>
<p>While none of the three teams entered as a No. 1 seed, the Denver Pioneers were the highest at No. 2 in the Midwest Region and drew the No. 3 Western Michigan Broncos in the opening round. The Air Force Falcons were the No. 4 team in the East Region and had to face the No. 1 overall seed Yale Bulldogs in the opening round. In the West Region, the Colorado College Tigers faced the No. 1 Boston College Eagles, the 2010 NCAA Hockey Tournament champions.</p>
<p>The Air Force Falcons played Yale tough and took the game to overtime, losing 2-1. Ultimately, though, Yale was stopped in the second round when they lost to eventual tournament-winner Minnesota-Duluth, 5-3. Colorado College likely had the most surprising upset in the first round when the Tigers sent the Eagles home on an 8-4 score. The Denver Pioneers needed two overtime periods, but in the end they defeated Western Michigan, 3-2.</p>
<p>Colorado College faced 2011 tournament runner-up Michigan in the second round, but fell, 2-1, to miss out on a trip to the Frozen Four in Minnesota. Denver had a rematch with North Dakota, having lost to the Fighting Sioux in double overtime for the WCHA tournament championship the previous weekend. It wasn't anywhere close to that game, as UND sent the Pioneers home in a 6-1 victory.</p>
<p>Despite the early exits by all three teams, 2011 was still a strong showing for college hockey in Colorado.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/2011/4/10/2101417/frozen-four-2011-minnesota-duluth-denver-pioneers-colorado-college-air-forceRuss Oates2011-04-09T20:51:47-06:002011-04-09T20:51:47-06:00Minnesota-Duluth Hockey Wins The 2011 Frozen Four In Overtime, 3-2
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<p>Making their first NCAA Hockey Tournament championship game appearance since 1984, the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs won their first NCAA Hockey championship when they defeated the Michigan Wolverines in overtime, 3-2. Kyle Schmidt had the game-winner for the Bulldogs at 3:22 into the overtime period. Here is Schmidt celebrating the goal:</p>
<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/584294/kschmidt.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Kschmidt_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/584294/kschmidt_medium.jpg" width="386" height="223"></a> <br id="1302403175328"></p>
<p>via <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/#!/bubbaprog/status/56905488939487232">@bubbaprog</a></p>
<p>This was hard-fought game for both teams. Michigan held a 1-0 lead after the first period on a Ben Winnett goal, but Minnesota-Duluth battled back with two goals in the first 10 minutes of the second period (Travis Oleksuk, Max Tardy (power play)). Michigan's Jeff Rohrkemper, however, tied the game at two with little more than two minutes left in the period. That period also saw eight penalties between the two teams.</p>
<p>After a scoreless third, it didn't take too long for the game to be decided in overtime. Video via <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/#!/bubbaprog/status/56909223283539968">@bubbaprog</a>, as well:</p>
<p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6XqjBvwU5rs" width="420" frameborder="0" height="266"></iframe> <br id="1302403530631"></p>
<p>After the puck gets out of the corner, Duluth moves things to the other side of the net and is able to get the puck to an oncoming Kyle Schmidt, who bangs it in for the victory. He scored that goal on Shawn Hunwick, brother of current Colorado Avalanche player Matt Hunwick.</p>
<p>Hunwick made 25 of 28 saves for Michigan, while Kenny Reiter stopped 22 of 24 shots in the victory.</p>
<p>Congratulations to the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs on their first Frozen Four championship!</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/2011/4/9/2101414/frozen-four-2011-final-minnesota-duluth-kyle-schmidtRuss Oates2011-04-09T09:30:19-06:002011-04-09T09:30:19-06:00Frozen Four 2011 Schedule: Michigan, Minnesota-Duluth Drop Puck For Championship
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<p>The 2011 NCAA Hockey Tournament comes to a conclusion on Saturday night when the No. 2 Michigan Wolverines face off against the No. 3 Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs. This will be a nationally televised game on ESPN at 5:00 p.m. MT. If you can't get to a TV but have access to ESPN3.com that is the alternative.</p>
<p><b>How Michigan Got Here<br></b>The Michigan Wolverines entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed in the West region and faced the No. 3 Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks in the first round. The Wolverines overcame a two-goal deficit in the first period to win in overtime, 3-2. In the second round, they faced No. 4 Colorado College, who had just knocked off defending champs and No. 1 seed Boston College, 8-4. The CC Tigers played a tough game, but Michigan prevailed with the 2-1 victory. In the Frozen Four, Michigan sent home No. 1 North Dakota with a 2-0 victory. Michigan will play for its 10th NCAA Hockey championship.</p>
<p><b>How Minnesota-Duluth Got Here<br></b>The Bulldogs opened the tournament with a 2-0 victory over the No. 2 Union Dutchmen and gained the right to play the tournament's No. 1 overall seed in the Yale Bulldogs (who needed overtime to beat the Air Force Falcons). Duluth pulled out a 5-3 victory over Yale to advance to the Frozen Four. They defeated No. 3 Notre Dame, 4-3, to advance to the championship game. This will be the Bulldogs' second appearance in the championship game, having lost to Bowling Green in 1984, 5-4 4OT.</p>
<p><b>Remaining Schedule<br></b><i>April 9</i><b><br></b>No. 3 Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs vs. No. 2 Michigan Wolverines, 5:00 p.m. MT, ESPN/ESPN3.com</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/2011/4/9/2099750/frozen-four-2011-final-michigan-minnesota-duluth-championship-game-predictionRuss Oates2011-04-08T07:52:51-06:002011-04-08T07:52:51-06:002011 Frozen Four Scores: Michigan, Minnesota-Duluth Advance To Finals
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<p>The 2011 NCAA Hockey Tournament comes down to a matchup between Bulldogs and Wolverines. Minnesota-Duluth and Michigan each advanced on Thursday night to the championship game following their Frozen Four victories.</p>
<p>The No. 3 Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs played a tight game with No. 3 Notre Dame in the first fame of the day. After one period, Duluth emerged with a 3-2 lead and increased it to 4-2 in the second period. However, Notre Dame added a third goal at 2:05 in the third period to keep itself the game. Ultimately, they were not able to overcome the deficit, falling 4-3.</p>
<p>In the other game, the No. 1 North Dakota Fighting Sioux (the second overall seed) looked to remain as the only No. 1 seed in the tournament (the others bowing out earlier), but the No. 2 Michigan Wolverines made things otherwise. Ben Winnett put the Wolverines up, 1-0, at 13:26 in the first period. It would be a scoreless game after that until Scooter Vaughan added an empty net goal with 36 left in the game.</p>
<p>Minnesota-Duluth will make its second appearance in the championship game, having lost in 1984 to Bowling Green, 5-4 (OT). Michigan will look for its 10th NCAA Hockey championship, last winning it all in 1998.</p>
<p><b>April 9<br></b>No. 3 Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs vs. No. 2 Michigan Wolverines, 5:00 p.m. MT, ESPN/ESPN3.com</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/2011/4/8/2098449/frozen-four-scores-2011-michigan-minnesota-duluthRuss Oates2011-04-07T10:00:36-06:002011-04-07T10:00:36-06:00Frozen Four 2011 Schedule Begins With Minnesota-Duluth Against Notre Dame
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<p>The Frozen Four gets underway Thursday, April 7, and there will be only one No. 1 seed playing in this round of the tournament. The North Dakota Fighting Sioux was the only No. 1 seed to emerge from regional play. North Dakota defeated RPI, 6-0, in the first round of the tournament and then sent the Denver Pioneers home on the strength of a 6-1 victory.</p>
<p>The No. 2 Michigan Wolverines defeated Colorado College in a close 2-1 contest in the second round (the CC Tigers, a four-seed, defeated No. 1 Boston College in the opening round). No. 3 Minnesota-Duluth upset the No. 1 overall seed Yale Bulldogs in the second round (the Bulldogs survived an opening round scare, 2-1 OT, against Air Force). No. 3 Notre Dame defeated No. 4 New Hampshire (the Wildcats eliminated No. 1 Miami (OH) in the first round).</p>
<p>Here is the remaining tournament schedule:</p>
<p><b>April 7<br></b><i>Frozen Four</i><br>No. 3 Minnesota-Duluth vs. No. 3 Notre Dame, ESPN2/ESPN3.com, 3:00 p.m. MT<br>No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 1 North Dakota, ESPN2/ESPN3.com, 6:30 p.m. MT</p>
<p><b>April 9<br></b>Championship game, 5:00 p.m. MT, ESPN/ESPN3.com, 5:00 p.m. MT</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/2011/4/7/2095089/frozen-four-2011-minnesota-duluth-michigan-north-dakota-notre-dameRuss Oates2011-03-27T21:20:35-06:002011-03-27T21:20:35-06:00Frozen Four 2011 Teams: No. 1 North Dakota Faces Michigan; Minnesota-Duluth Takes On Notre Dame
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<p>The Frozen Four for the 2011 NCAA Men's Hockey Tournament is set following two Sunday regional final games. The <a target="_blank" href="http://denver.sbnation.com/2011/3/27/2075744/frozen-four-2011-ncaa-mens-hockey-north-dakota-denver">North Dakota Fighting Sioux defeated the Denver Pioneers</a>, 6-1, and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish beat the New Hampshire Wildcats, 2-1.</p>
<p>North Dakota, the only remaining No. 1 seed, and Notre Dame join Michigan and Minnesota-Duluth in the Frozen Four. On Saturday, Michigan defeated Colorado College, 2-1, and Minnesota-Duluth sent the No. 1 overall seed Yale Bulldogs home following a 5-3 victory.</p>
<p>Of the four participants, Michigan has the most championships in tournament history with nine. Minnesota-Duluth lost in the 1984 championship game, 5-4 in four overtimes, to Bowling Green. Notre Dame appeared in the 2008 championship game and lost to Boston College, 4-1. North Dakota has seven NCAA titles, the most recent coming in a 4-2 victory over Boston College in 2000. Their last appearance in the championship game came in 2005 when they lost, 4-1, to the Denver Pioneers.</p>
<p>Here is the remaining schedule:</p>
<p><b>April 7<br></b><i>Frozen Four</i><br>Minnesota-Duluth vs. Notre Dame, ESPN2/ESPN3.com<br>Michigan vs. North Dakota, ESPN2/ESPN3.com</p>
<p><b>April 9<br></b><i>Championship game, 5:00 p.m. MT, ESPN/ESPN3.com</i></p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/2011/3/27/2075814/frozen-four-2011-teams-minnesota-duluth-michigan-north-dakotaRuss Oates2011-03-27T18:23:09-06:002011-03-27T18:23:09-06:00NCAA Hockey Tournament 2011 Bracket Update: North Dakota Eliminates Denver, 6-1
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<p>The No. 2 seed Denver Pioneers fell to the No. 1 North Dakota Fighting Sioux on Sunday in a 6-1 loss in the Midwest Regional final. This was nowhere near their WCHA tournament final matchup, which the Fighting Sioux won in double overtime.</p>
<p>North Dakota jumped out to the 1-0 lead at 14:37 in the first period on a Mario Lamoureux goal, but Denver's Jason Zucker, the hero of Saturday night's game, tied the game with less than a second left in the period. Evan Trupp and Brett Hextall put North Dakota up, 3-1, in the second. Brock Nelson, Brad Malone and Jake Marto each scored in the third period to put the Fighting Sioux up by five goals.</p>
<p>North Dakota remains the only No. 1 seed in the tournament and will face Michigan, who beat Colorado College on Saturday night (2-1). That game takes place in the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn., on April 7.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/2011/3/27/2075744/frozen-four-2011-ncaa-mens-hockey-north-dakota-denverRuss Oates2011-03-27T06:00:30-06:002011-03-27T06:00:30-06:00NCAA Hockey Tournament 2011 Schedule: Denver-North Dakota, New Hampshire-Notre Dame Drop Pucks On Sunday
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<p>With the Michigan Wolverines and the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs booking trips to the Frozen Four on Saturday, only two spots remain to play at the Xcel Energy Center in Minnesota on April 7. Will the Denver Pioneers capture one of the two remaining spots?</p>
<p>If they want to play for their eighth national championship, the Pioneers will need to defeat the North Dakota Fighting Sioux, to whom they lost in double overtime in the WCHA tourney finals the previous weekend. North Dakota is the only remaining No. 1 seed in the tournament, and they beat RPI, 6-0. The winner faces Michigan.</p>
<p>The other game on Sunday is between New Hampshire and Notre Dame. New Hampshire upset No. 1 seed Miami (OH), 3-1. Notre Dame needed overtime to send Merrimack home for the season, 4-3. Winner plays Minnesota-Duluth.</p>
<p>Here is the TV schedule for Sunday's games:</p>
<p><b>Midwest Region -- Green Bay, WI<br></b>No. 1 North Dakota vs. No. 2 Denver Pioneers, 3:30 p.m. MT, ESPNU/ESPN3.com</p>
<p><b>Northeast Region -- Manchester, N.H.<br></b>No. 3 Notre Dame vs. No. 4 New Hampshire, 6:00 p.m. MT, ESPNU/ESPN3.com</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/2011/3/27/2074361/frozen-four-2011-ncaa-mens-hockey-denver-north-dakotaRuss Oates