2023 Frozen Four: Minnesota Beats BU, Advances To National Championship

The University of Minnesota rode four third-period goals to victory over Boston University to advance to the national championship game.

Apr 6, 2023 by Chris Peters

2023 Frozen Four: Minnesota Beats BU, Advances To National Championship

The University of Minnesota men's hockey team has two Hobey Baker finalists on their roster, but the depth of the Golden Gophers roster stole the show at the 2023 NCAA Men's Frozen Four in Tampa. Minnesota outlasted a skilled, speedy Boston University squad to advance to the national championship game with a 6-2 victory in the national semifinal.

Though Minnesota boasted one of the nation's most dangerous scoring lines featuring Hobey Hat Trick finalists Logan Cooley (ARI) and Matthew Knies (TOR) alongside Jimmy Snuggerud (STL), the trio only accounted for a pair of empty-net goals from Cooley and one assist from Knies and Cooley each. Instead, it was the tremendous depth of the Gophers lineup that shined through, scoring the biggest goals and getting this team one step further than last year's group.

Despite Boston University scoring first, Minnesota got its power-play going in the first period. Defenseman Mike Koster (TOR) evened the score off a feed from Cooley. Less than a minute later, Rhett Pitlick (MTL) was the beneficiary of a creative between-the-legs pass from Aaron Huglen (BUF) to give Minnesota a 2-1 lead.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME WITH THAT PASS?! 😱@GopherHockey takes the lead. 🐿

📺 ESPN2#MFrozenFour pic.twitter.com/umU3Atwan7
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) April 6, 2023

BU senior Jay O'Brien (PHI) scored the only goal of the second period, leaving the teams tied 2-2 after 40 minutes.

In the final frame, it was all Minnesota. Freshman defenseman Luke Mittelstadt scored twice in less than two minutes of clock time to break the game open.