Frozen Four Semifinals Deliver Thrilling Overtime Finishes
Frozen Four Semifinals Deliver Thrilling Overtime Finishes...
The NCAA Frozen Four semifinals delivered two dramatic overtime victories Thursday night, sending hockey fans into a frenzy as the championship matchup is set. Boston College edged Michigan 4-3 in double overtime, while Denver stunned Quinnipiac 3-2 with a last-minute goal in the extra period. The games trended nationally as viewers celebrated the high-stakes college hockey action.
Boston College's Gabe Perreault scored the double-OT winner at 12:47 of the second extra period, keeping the Eagles' undefeated season alive. Denver's Tristan Broz netted the semifinal clincher with just 56 seconds left in overtime after Quinnipiac forced OT with a third-period equalizer. Both games drew record ESPN viewership for college hockey semifinals.
The Frozen Four championship will pit No. 1 Boston College against No. 2 Denver on Saturday at 6 p.m. ET in St. Paul, Minnesota. The matchup marks the first time since 2005 that the top two ranked teams meet for the title. Denver seeks its 10th national championship, while Boston College aims for its sixth title and first since 2012.
Social media erupted with reactions to the semifinal theatrics. "This is why college hockey is the best postseason in sports," tweeted NHL analyst Mike Johnson. The NCAA reported over 1.2 million live streams during the semifinals, a 35% increase over last year. Ticket resale prices for Saturday's final have tripled since Thursday night.
St. Paul's Xcel Energy Center will host the championship game at capacity for the first time since 2018. Local businesses report record hotel bookings and restaurant reservations as fans flood into Minnesota's capital. The Frozen Four's economic impact is projected to exceed $12 million for the Twin Cities area.
Both teams held light practices Friday, with coaches emphasizing recovery after the marathon semifinals. "We'll need our legs under us," Denver coach David Carle told reporters. Boston College's Greg Brown acknowledged the challenge: "Denver's the most complete team we've faced all year."
The championship airs live on ESPN2 and streams on ESPN+, with pregame coverage beginning at 5 p.m. ET. NCAA officials confirmed the trophy presentation will feature the traditional postgame dogpile, a Frozen Four tradition since 1948.
