Revenge is a dish best served COLD. Not Michigan. Not Minnesota . Not BU . The Quinnipiac Bobcats are The NCAA Division One Men's Hockey Champions.. That’s it that's the Tweet heard round the College Hockey World.
The third time was the charm. Jacob Quillen's goal just 10 seconds into overtime brought the Bobcats their first national championship, a 3-2 stunning OT victory over Minnesota in the 2023 title game Saturday night.
In 2013 coach Rand Pecknold made his first appearance in the frozen four and lost the championship game 4-0 to YALE. in 2016 he dropped the lumber to North Dakota 5-1. After last night Coach Pecknold and his Bobcats no longer take a back seat to anyone.
The Bobcats trailed the golden gophers 2-1 going into the third period. Minnesota struck first in the first as John Mittelstadt put home a loose puck in the crease. Minnesota went up 2-0 in the second period when Jaxon Nelson took a rebound off the boards and deposited it into the net. But the Quinnipiac men were not done. Not tonight. Trailing by two with 13:39 left in the second period, Bobcats forward Cristopher Tellier tipped in a Zach Metsa shot on net from the right boards to cut the lead 2-1 going into the third period in Tampa.
The Golden Gophers had not lost a game all season when leading a contest going into the third. The Bobcats had no intention of them keeping that streak alive. Coming off the powerplay, Colin Graf beat Golden gophers goalie Justen Close five hole to tie the game up 2-2 with just 2:47 left in the third. And there it stayed.
For the first time since 2011 60 minutes was not enough ice time to decide the NCAA hockey championship. No, it took 60 minutes and 10 seconds.
Quinnipiac won the OT opening draw and got into the zone quick , forward Sam Lipkin fed Quillan from the right side as he was cutting to the net and the forward beat Close on the backhand for the win and the championship. The first title in Quinnipiac history. Jacob Quillan is the overtime hero as Quinnipiac wins 3-2. The Bobcats needed just 10 seconds of overtime to knock off Minnesota and win the 2023 national championship.
Hats off to Rand Pecknold and his Bobcats. Looks like Connecticut needs to plan another parade.