MINNEAPOLIS – With both top-ranked North Dakota and No. 6 Denver assured of NCAA berths when the pairings are announced tomorrow, there was very little to play for. However, it didn’t stop two rivals from a feisty encounter in the third place game at the National Collegiate Hockey Conference Frozen Faceoff. The game ended with as 1-1 tie after Denver’s Danton Heinen scored with 6:39 left in the game from “Pacific Rim” line mates Trevor Moore and Dylan Gambrell.
Nick Schmaltz scored from his “CBS” line mates Drake Caggiula and Brock Boeser in the first period. North Dakota outshot Denver 27-17 and hit four posts — three in the second period alone.
The game was the first overtime game in NCHC Frozen Faceoff history, and the second straight year that Denver and North Dakota played in the early game on Saturday, rather than the late game.
“I think from a fan’s perspective it’s the better game to watch,” Denver coach Jim Montgomery said. “The pace of the game was really high it shows the character of both dressing rooms how hard they played in a consolation game.”
Caggiula stressed the game’s importance for seeding for the NCAA tournament.
“You can’t look at it like it doesn’t mean anything because it has an affect on Pairwise,” he said. “Regardless of what the situation is you’ve got to show up and play the game. It shouldn’t affect you, but it’s tough.”
While some may question why a consolation game, Montgomery was quick to stress the game’s importance, both for the league and the for Pioneers preparation for the NCAA Tournament.
“I think it’s important for us to build our brand and be able to sell tickets,” Montgomery said. “A lot of people think there was nothing in the consolation game, but our players are used to playing back to back games. When we get to the NCAAs, we need to be in that kind of condition. If we get out of that rhythm it has an effect.”
Schmaltz said that even with the team’s No. 1 ranking, there’s plenty for the team to work on during the upcoming week.
“We need to tighten up a few areas,” Schmaltz said. “We know it’s going to be a one goal game whoever we play.”
NCHC Notes Prow takes home 3 NCHC awards
St. Cloud State defenseman Ethan Prow was named the NCHC player of the year earlier this week at the year-end awards ceremony in Minneapolis. Prow was also named the conferences Defenseman of the Year and Offensive Defenseman of the Year.
Prow, a senior from Sauk Rapids, Minn., had 6 goals and 18 assists in 22 league games. He had 34 points in regular season play.
Prow’s teammate with the Huskies, Charlie Lindgren, was selected as the league’s Goaltender of the Year. His 17 wins led all conference goalies, and was the only netminder to start all 24 conference games.
North Dakota’s first year coach Brad Berry won the Herb Brooks Coach of the Year award, the second straight year a Fighting Hawks’ head coach won the award. Berry led North Dakota to its second straight Penrose Cup for winning the NCHC regular-season title. With a 19-4-1 conference record, The Fighting Hawks broke the records for most wins and points in a season.
Fighting Hawks forward Brock Boeser won the Rookie of the Year and Three Stars awards. Boeser, a first-round pick of the Vancouver Canucks last year, led the NCHC in scoring in conference games with a 20-15-35 line in 24 games. He had three power play goals and four game-winning goals on the season.
Other award winners include:
Forward of the Year: Danton Heinen, Denver
Defensive Forward of the Year: Sean Kuraly, Miami
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Gabe Levin, Denver
Sportsmanship Award: Cal Decowski, Minnesota-Duluth
NCHC Post-Graduate Scholarship: Levin
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