NCAA Hockey Frozen Four Semifinals Deliver Thrilling Overtime Finishes
NCAA Hockey Frozen Four Semifinals Deliver Thrilling Overtime Finishes...
The NCAA Men's Hockey Frozen Four semifinals captivated fans Thursday night with both games requiring overtime to decide winners. Top-seeded Boston College edged Michigan 4-3 in a double-overtime thriller, while Denver University defeated Quinnipiac 3-2 in sudden death, setting up an explosive championship matchup Saturday.
College hockey is trending nationally as the Frozen Four reaches its climax in St. Paul, Minnesota. The semifinal games drew record ESPN viewership, with social media buzzing about Boston College's dramatic comeback from a 3-1 deficit and Denver's last-minute tying goal in regulation.
Boston College's victory came at 12:18 AM local time after 87 minutes of play, the longest Frozen Four game since 2014. Freshman phenom Cole Eiserman scored the winner, keeping BC's perfect season alive at 33-0-1. Michigan's loss ends their Cinderella run as a #4 regional seed.
In the earlier game, Denver's Tristan Broz scored twice, including the OT winner at 15:23 of the extra period. The Pioneers avenged their 2023 championship loss to Quinnipiac, with goalie Matt Davis making 37 saves.
The championship matchup features the nation's top two teams all season. Boston College seeks its sixth title and first since 2012, while Denver aims for its record-tying 10th championship. Puck drops Saturday at 6 PM ET on ESPN2 from the Xcel Energy Center.
Ticket resale prices have surged past $400 as Minnesota hockey fans flock to see the historic showdown. The game's prominence grew Thursday when NHL Network moved its playoff coverage to highlight the Frozen Four results.
Both teams feature multiple projected first-round NHL draft picks, including BC's Will Smith (San Jose Sharks prospect) and Denver's Zeev Buium (top-10 draft prospect). Scouts from 25 NHL teams attended Thursday's games according to NCAA officials.
The women's Frozen Four concludes Friday in Durham, New Hampshire, where Ohio State faces Wisconsin for the championship. That game airs at 4 PM ET on ESPNU, creating a hockey-centric weekend for college sports fans.
