Men's Ice Hockey 3/13/2022 8:45:00 AM By NCHC

Saturday Round-Up: All Four Quarterfinal Series End in Sweeps

Denver and UND clinch Frozen Faceoff berths in regulation; WMU, UMD win series in overtime

Saturday, March 12, 2022 Results

SATURDAY ROUND-UP

For only the second time in the NCHC's history, all four Quarterfinal series ended in sweeps (also in 2016). The top two seeds and co-Penrose Cup champions Denver and North Dakota advanced to the Frozen Faceoff with wins in regulation, while Western Michigan and Minnesota Duluth needed overtime.

The top-seeded Pioneers (27-8-1) continued to roll, winning their fifth straight game with a 5-1 victory over No. 8 seed Miami Saturday to complete their quarterfinal series sweep. DU has scored five goals in all five wins, as well. Denver is the only NCHC team to make it to the Frozen Faceoff semifinals every year in the conference's history. Senior Cole Guttman paced the offense with two goals and four points in his final game at Magness Arena. With the loss, the RedHawks finish the year 7-27-2.

No. 2 seed North Dakota (24-12-1) edged No. 7 seed Colorado College by the same 2-1 score they did in the series opener Friday to finish its sweep. UND is headed back to St. Paul for the Frozen Faceoff for the first time since 2018. Sophomore forward and First-Team All-NCHC selection Riese Gaber scored the game-winner on the power play in the second period, which saw all three goals in the game scored. With the loss, CC's season comes to a close with a record of 9-24-3 in head coach Kris Mayotte's first season.

Senior forward Drew Worrad scored his second goal of the night early in overtime to lift third-seeded Western Michigan (24-10-1) to a 5-4, comeback win over sixth-seeded Omaha at Lawson Ice Arena. With the win, WMU advances to its first Frozen Faceoff since 2017 and its first at Xcel Energy Center. Junior defenseman Ronnie Attard chipped in three points to lead the comeback as WMU scored three straight goals in the latter half of the second stanza. Omaha ends its year with a record of 21-17-0, its second-most wins in program history.

The lone road team to win its Quarterfinal series was No. 5 seed Minnesota Duluth (19-15-4), which edged fourth-seeded St. Cloud State (18-14-4), 4-3 in overtime at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center to finish off the series sweep. Senior captain Noah Cates scored his second goal of the game in the extra session for the game-winner. UMD struck twice early in the third period to quickly erase a 2-0 deficit, with the first from Cates. While SCSU won't be headed to the Frozen Faceoff, the Huskies are in position to make the NCAA Tournament and will find out their fate next Sunday, March 20.

With all four Quarterfinal series complete, the 2022 Frozen Faceoff match-ups are known. Minnesota Duluth will face Denver, while Western Michigan will battle North Dakota in the other semifinal. Game times for the semifinals on Friday, March 18 will be announced this Sunday. Tickets for the Frozen Faceoff can be purchased here, while more information can be found at Frozen Faceoff Live, including a variety of fan events next weekend.

--#NCHChockey--