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Sunday, March 30
St. Paul, Minn.
6:30 p.m.
St. Cloud State
22-11-5, 15-6-3NCHC
0
vs
4
University of Minnesota
27-6-6, 14-3-3-0B1G
1
2
3
F
St. Cloud State
0
0
0
0
Minnesota
1
2
1
4
Team Stats
SCSU
MINN
Shots
24
35
PPG
0
1
SHG
0
0
Penalties
4
1
Penalty Mins
8
2
Faceoffs Won
27
43
Game Leaders
+/-
-1
Goals
0
Sh
3
A
0
+/-
-2
Goals
0
Sh
3
A
0
+/-
-2
Goals
0
Sh
3
A
0
Kevin Gravel and Kalle Kossila
Photo by: Brace Hemmelgarn
SCSU Men's Hockey Ends NCAA Run with 4-0 Loss
3/30/2014 9:59:00 PM | Men's Hockey
St. Paul, Minn. - The #8 St. Cloud State University men's hockey team (22-11-5) saw its 2013-14 season come to an end on March 30 with a 4-0 loss against #1/2 Minnesota (27-6-6) in the championship game of the 2014 NCAA West Regional at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MInn.
This year marked the Huskies' 10th bid to the NCAA tournament since 1989 and it also marked the third time since 2010 that the Huskies have advanced to the championship game in regional competition. In 2010 and 2014, the Huskies were the runners-up at the West Regional tournament and in 2013, SCSU were the Midwest Region champions.
This year's tournament bid capped a sterling season for the Huskies. St. Cloud State was ranked among the nation's top 10 teams throughout the season and the Huskies won the NCHC regular season championship with a 15-6-3 league record. This was the second consecutive season that the Huskies have won their conference's regular season championship.
In the West Regional title game at the Xcel Energy Center, Minnesota posted the eventual game winner with a marker by Justin Kloos at 11:09 of the first period.
The Gophers padded their lead with a goal by Seth Ambroz at 3:48 of the second period to make the tally 2-0. Kloos added his second goal of the night at 9:53 of the second period, which pushed the Gophers' lead to 3-0.
In the final period, Minnesota iced the decision with a power play goal by Kyle Rau at 8:16 of the third period.
In the game, Minnesota outshot the Huskies 35-24 as Adam Wilcox made 24 saves in the game to gain the shutout. SCSU netminder Ryan Faragher posted 12 saves in the game, while playing 34:40 minutes. Charlie Lindgren relieved Faragher in the second period and finished the night with 19 saves for SCSU.
The Huskies had no power play opportunities in the game, while Minnesota was 1-of-2 on the advantage.
SCSU senior forward Nic Dowd was named to the Regional All-Tournament team. Dowd provided the game winner during the Huskies' 4-3 overtime win over #9 Notre Dame in the first round of the tournament on March 29 at the Xcel Energy Center.
The game also marked the final career game for SCSU seniors Cory Thorson, Kevin Gravel, Nic Dowd and Brandon Burrell.
Thorson finishes his SCSU career with 28 goals and 29 assists, while Gravel scored 13 goals and 36 assists as a Husky. A Hobey Baker top 10 finalist and the 2014 NCHC Student-Athlete of the Year, Dowd completes his college career with 52 goals and 69 assists. His 121 points as a Husky ranks 15th in the team records.
The group also helped lead SCSU to two regular season conference titles and two NCAA tournament bids, along with an NCAA Midwest Region title and trip to the NCAA Frozen Four in 2013.
SCSU Comments from Coach Motzko, Kevin Gravel and Nic Dowd
ST. CLOUD STATE
Bob Motzko, St. Cloud State Head Coach
Opening Statement…
"This was not a fun conversation in our locker room when a coach has to address a bunch of guys he truly believes in and believes we should still be playing and you still want to be with them and it comes to an end; it's very difficult. I'm sitting next to two just fabulous captains and what they've given to this program is unbelievable.
"They've made this program better, and they've made their university better by their decisions to stick with us and finish their eligibility. There's a great story in there and I hope it's told and I know a lot of it's been told about (Nic) Dowd and I'm so proud of these guys and it was not a good night for us.
"We ran out of a little steam but you have to tip your hat to the University of Minnesota. They played an excellent game, they shut a lot of things down, we never got a power play and it was a difficult night for us to get anything going. We did in spurts, we had a couple of chances early in the game and missed the net and maybe we were looking for something to give us some life. We got a couple chances in the third period, then we took the penalty and then that was it. You really do have to tip your hat to Minnesota. They played an outstanding game tonight to advance to the Frozen Four."
Kevin Gravel, student-athlete
On the Gopher offense….
"They're a high-powered team. They skate really well and it made it difficult on our D-Men all night. They got the puck deep and finished their checks and just kind of wore us down a little bit. They have skill where if they get a chance they can make a play and they did that a few times tonight. You've got to give them credit, they came to play tonight and they took it to us at times. But it's tough right now. Their forwards are a good group and they're tough to handle and they proved that here tonight."
Nic Dowd, student-athlete
On what makes the Gopher defense so tough…
"They did a good job of splitting D-to-D and I think the delayed our forecheck quite a bit in the beginning. I think we made it pretty easy for them to play and get pucks out. They're obviously a good skating group and what's tough to handle is that not only did they play good defense but they're also great on offense."
This year marked the Huskies' 10th bid to the NCAA tournament since 1989 and it also marked the third time since 2010 that the Huskies have advanced to the championship game in regional competition. In 2010 and 2014, the Huskies were the runners-up at the West Regional tournament and in 2013, SCSU were the Midwest Region champions.
This year's tournament bid capped a sterling season for the Huskies. St. Cloud State was ranked among the nation's top 10 teams throughout the season and the Huskies won the NCHC regular season championship with a 15-6-3 league record. This was the second consecutive season that the Huskies have won their conference's regular season championship.
In the West Regional title game at the Xcel Energy Center, Minnesota posted the eventual game winner with a marker by Justin Kloos at 11:09 of the first period.
The Gophers padded their lead with a goal by Seth Ambroz at 3:48 of the second period to make the tally 2-0. Kloos added his second goal of the night at 9:53 of the second period, which pushed the Gophers' lead to 3-0.
In the final period, Minnesota iced the decision with a power play goal by Kyle Rau at 8:16 of the third period.
In the game, Minnesota outshot the Huskies 35-24 as Adam Wilcox made 24 saves in the game to gain the shutout. SCSU netminder Ryan Faragher posted 12 saves in the game, while playing 34:40 minutes. Charlie Lindgren relieved Faragher in the second period and finished the night with 19 saves for SCSU.
The Huskies had no power play opportunities in the game, while Minnesota was 1-of-2 on the advantage.
SCSU senior forward Nic Dowd was named to the Regional All-Tournament team. Dowd provided the game winner during the Huskies' 4-3 overtime win over #9 Notre Dame in the first round of the tournament on March 29 at the Xcel Energy Center.
The game also marked the final career game for SCSU seniors Cory Thorson, Kevin Gravel, Nic Dowd and Brandon Burrell.
Thorson finishes his SCSU career with 28 goals and 29 assists, while Gravel scored 13 goals and 36 assists as a Husky. A Hobey Baker top 10 finalist and the 2014 NCHC Student-Athlete of the Year, Dowd completes his college career with 52 goals and 69 assists. His 121 points as a Husky ranks 15th in the team records.
The group also helped lead SCSU to two regular season conference titles and two NCAA tournament bids, along with an NCAA Midwest Region title and trip to the NCAA Frozen Four in 2013.
SCSU Comments from Coach Motzko, Kevin Gravel and Nic Dowd
ST. CLOUD STATE
Bob Motzko, St. Cloud State Head Coach
Opening Statement…
"This was not a fun conversation in our locker room when a coach has to address a bunch of guys he truly believes in and believes we should still be playing and you still want to be with them and it comes to an end; it's very difficult. I'm sitting next to two just fabulous captains and what they've given to this program is unbelievable.
"They've made this program better, and they've made their university better by their decisions to stick with us and finish their eligibility. There's a great story in there and I hope it's told and I know a lot of it's been told about (Nic) Dowd and I'm so proud of these guys and it was not a good night for us.
"We ran out of a little steam but you have to tip your hat to the University of Minnesota. They played an excellent game, they shut a lot of things down, we never got a power play and it was a difficult night for us to get anything going. We did in spurts, we had a couple of chances early in the game and missed the net and maybe we were looking for something to give us some life. We got a couple chances in the third period, then we took the penalty and then that was it. You really do have to tip your hat to Minnesota. They played an outstanding game tonight to advance to the Frozen Four."
Kevin Gravel, student-athlete
On the Gopher offense….
"They're a high-powered team. They skate really well and it made it difficult on our D-Men all night. They got the puck deep and finished their checks and just kind of wore us down a little bit. They have skill where if they get a chance they can make a play and they did that a few times tonight. You've got to give them credit, they came to play tonight and they took it to us at times. But it's tough right now. Their forwards are a good group and they're tough to handle and they proved that here tonight."
Nic Dowd, student-athlete
On what makes the Gopher defense so tough…
"They did a good job of splitting D-to-D and I think the delayed our forecheck quite a bit in the beginning. I think we made it pretty easy for them to play and get pucks out. They're obviously a good skating group and what's tough to handle is that not only did they play good defense but they're also great on offense."
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