By @MichaelCaples –
The Wolverines are heading back to the Frozen Four.
With a 6-3 victory against Boston University in the NCAA Tournament’s Northeast Regional Final Sunday evening in Worcester, Mass., the University of Michigan has earned its first trip to the hockey’s final four since 2011.
Jake Slaker’s goal off the shin pad of a BU defender in the middle stages of the third period jumpstarted an eventual Michigan rout and trip to the national semifinals for a date with Big Ten rival Notre Dame at the Xcel Energy Center in Minnesota on April 5.
The Michigan vs. Notre Dame game will be the second of a doubleheader on April 5; Minnesota Duluth and Ohio State will play at 6 p.m. ET before UM vs. ND at 9:30 p.m.
Both of those games will be televised on ESPN2.
The championship game will be played on Saturday, April 7 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Slaker, Quinn Hughes, Tony Calderone, Brendan Warren, Nick Boka and Nick Pastujov all scored for Michigan, while Hayden Lavigne continued his winning ways between the pipes.
HAIL TO THE VICTORS!!! 〽️#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/E5wlHjA1DW
— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) March 25, 2018
The Terriers pulled goaltender Jake Oettinger with just under three minutes to go in regulation, but they could not beat Lavigne.
Boston University’s roster featured two Michigan natives – Shane Switzer (Bloomfield Hills) and Logan Cockerill (Brighton) – and six USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program alums, including expected top-10 draft pick Brady Tkachuk.
2018 will be the first time in seven years that the Wolverines make an appearance in college hockey’s Frozen Four. It’s the program’s first trip under new coach Mel Pearson, as well.
It will be the 25th Frozen Four appearance in school history for the Wolverines.
Here are the goals (excluding Pastujov’s empty-netter):
Hughes goal:
Quinn Hughes draws first blood for Michigan with a wicked wrister at 5:12 in the first period. #NCAAHockey pic.twitter.com/qhxNqjJkA4
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 25, 2018
Calderone goal:
Great puck movement on the power play leads to a Tony Calderone goal. 2-1 Wolverines.#NCAAHockey pic.twitter.com/mi27ZJbOr9
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 25, 2018
Warren goal:
Brendan Warren takes the bounce off the boards home for a goal to extend Michigan’s lead to 3-1 at 1:57 in the second period.#NCAAHockey pic.twitter.com/rdXRReftq3
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 25, 2018
Slaker goal:
Jake Slaker puts Michigan back on top! We’re heading to an exciting finish on ESPN2.#NCAAHockey pic.twitter.com/GtV7YNPJfv
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 25, 2018
Boka goal:
His first goal of the season couldn’t have came at a better time! Nicholas Boka makes it 5-3 for Michigan late in the third period.#NCAAHockey pic.twitter.com/JnrIf7FPUi
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 25, 2018
Stay tuned for more…