TAMPA, Fla. — It was a moment immortalized. The Quinnipiac men’s hockey team has made history by winning an NCAA Championship.
Jacob Quillan scored 10 seconds into overtime to give Quinnipiac a 3-2 victory over Minnesota for its first NCAA hockey title.
Quinnipiac (34-4-3) trailed for more than 50 minutes and took its first lead of the game when Quillan moments into the extra period. The Bobcats won the faceoff to open OT and Zach Metsa flipped a pass to a streaking Sam Lipkin, who fed Quillan for the winning goal.
“It was a gripping the chair, biting your nails, edge of your seat moment,” said sophomore Jaqueline Ydrovo.
It was the first Frozen Four championship game to go to OT since 2011.
John Mittelstadt scored from point-blank range with 14:25 left in the first period and Jaxon Nelson gave Minnesota (29-10-1) a 2-0 lead when he re-directed a shot by Brock Faber that bounced off the wall into the net about five minutes into the second.
“You can’t put a value or a price on those types of moments,” said Sophomore, Connor Coar.
Coar was in Tampa to witness the moment the Bobcats drove the puck into the net to secure the victory ten seconds into overtime.
“Me and my roommates all saw the goal happening that made the game-winner. I didn’t even see the team celebrating because I was too busy jumping up and down tackling my roommates. We eventually ran down to ice level and pounding on the ice and just enjoyed the moments with my roommates and the rest of the Quinnipiac community,” said Coar.
Cristophe Tellier’s goal with 12:39 left in the second period trimmed Quinnipiac’s deficit to 2-1.
With 3:28 to play in regulation and the Gophers leading 2-1, Quinnipiac coach Rand Pecknold went with an empty net and 41 seconds later Collin Graf — who leads the team with 21 goals this season but had yet to score in three-plus tournament game — to make it 2-2 and eventually force the extra period.
The Bobcats outshot Minnesota 30-15 and had a 34-23 advantage in faceoffs won.
“Like I said being a part of, live in the arena, being the first time, your school has one a national championship is something that I’ll never forget for sure,” said Coar.
There is a ceremony to celebrate the new national champions at 6 p.m. on Monday at M&T Bank Arena.
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