MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. – A game between two of the most passionate college hockey fan bases, with a well-traveled crowd and a shot at continuing on further into the tournament went down Friday night between Michigan and North Dakota.
The Wolverines and Fighting Hawks faced off in the Maryland Heights regional round at Centene Community Ice Center, where both teams played a rough and rowdy game, continuing an unstoppable run for victory, but the Wolverines came out on top with a 4-3 victory, scoring three goals in the third period after being down 2-1 after 40 minutes.
North Dakota had been 20-0-0 this season when leading after two periods.
“That (North Dakota) team is a really, really good hockey team, very hard, physical, skilled, but just really proud of our guys for their resiliency,” Michigan coach Brandon Naurato said. “I feel like we found our game in the third and just proud of them for stepping up.”
Michigan had some major help from three key players in Garrett Schifsky and TJ Hughes, with Dylan Duke scoring the game-winning goal to come out on top.
The Fighting Hawks were the first team to get on the board in the first period as Hunter Johannes put one top shelf on Michigan goalie Jake Barczewski.
“We had a really good game plan in place, and I thought we did it for the most part, but again, when you’re dealing with playing against really good teams and skilled teams, if you don’t execute the part of the game that you needed to do than that’s what happens,” North Dakota coach Brad Berry said.
Duker from Schifsky and Hughes and Michigan leads 4-2! pic.twitter.com/p4eqG5Lz3U
— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) March 30, 2024
But the Wolverines had no quit in their game as Frank Nazar III picked up the heat to tie the game at one. Michigan came back to catch up quickly in shots on goal, but the Fighting Hawks answered on a goal from Hobey Baker top-10 finalist Jackson Blake.
North Dakota attempted to make a comeback by reaching within a goal with just a few fighting minutes left in the third period, as well as making the move to pull goalie Ludvig Persson for the extra attacker, but Michigan held off the comeback.
The Wolverines will now go on to face off against Michigan State in their sixth matchup on the year Sunday at 5:30 p.m. CST from the Centene Community Ice Center.
“Michigan State is always a good opponent for us,” Schifsky said. “They’ve gotten the better of us the last four times, so we’re playing with a little chip on our shoulder, with something to prove, and we’re looking to three-peat back to the Frozen Four.”
