In the 2022 national semifinal, Denver University emerged victorious against Michigan’s hockey team on their path to securing the NCAA title. Should the Wolverines succeed in defeating No. 1 Boston College on Thursday night at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, they will have the opportunity for a rematch in the 2024 championship game.
Tristan Broz, hailing from Minnesota, became the hero as he scored 11:09 into overtime, lifting the Pioneers over fellow No. 1 seed Boston University with a 2-1 victory in the first semifinal. Michigan, the sole non-No. 1 seed in the Frozen Four, will now face off against the Eagles, boasting a record of 33-5-1, at approximately 9:10 p.m. ET.
Despite the Frozen Four featuring the four highest-scoring teams in the country, the first semifinal proved to be a defensive showdown. Neither team managed to amass more than 25 shots in regulation. Although the Pioneers had three power-play opportunities in the third period, they were unable to convert. With just 1:13 remaining, BU’s Dylan Peterson was penalized for boarding, setting the stage for a potential dramatic finish. However, BU successfully weathered the penalty kill and outshot Denver 8-6 in overtime. It was during this extra period that Broz seized the moment, capitalizing on a three-on-two rush and beating BU goalie Mathieu Caron with a shot from just inside the top of the circle.
The Pioneers had earlier knotted the game at 1-1 at the 15:21 mark of the second period, courtesy of Tristan Lemyre, who muscled a centering feed from Miko Matikka past Caron.
Denver and Michigan currently share the NCAA lead with nine national championships each. However, the outcome of Saturday’s title game could potentially alter this tally.