(Most) Every sudden death goal in the NCAA Frozen Four Championship game since 1977 (through 2020)
I'm not ready for hockey to be over, and lo and behold this popped up on my "visagetome" timeline. It's every NCAA Frozen Four Championship sudden death goal since 1977 (through 2020). I guess they'll have to update this now to add this year, but Michigan is in four of the 12 total previous games (2-2).
https://fb.watch/jPdgqrwKs3/?mibextid=NnVzG8
1977: Wisconsin defeats M 6-5 (look at those unis)
1996: Michigan defeats Colorado College 3-2 (woo-hoo!)
1998: Michigan defeats Boston College 3-2 (I thought we were going to win them every other year moving forward)
2011: Minnesota-Duluth defeats M 3-2 (daggers)
Those two wins were sweet, sweet victories, and the 2011 loss was soul crushing - really thought Shawn 'Tiny Jesus' Hunwick was going to lead us back to the promised land, until he didn't.
At least we have Cincy and Boston.
Go Blue!
April 10th, 2023 at 12:15 AM ^
Cool video --- interestingly, 6 schools are involved in 2 or more of those games, and all 6 (U-M, Min-Duluth, Minnesota*, Maine, BC, BU) were .500 in those games.
In OT in a winner-take-all-game, I suppose it often is close to a coin flip.
*-2023 wasn't part of the video, so Minnesota is now 1-2 in OT Finals since 1977.
April 10th, 2023 at 12:28 AM ^
If into the archives you look, only pain it will bring (except the not painful ones)
April 10th, 2023 at 12:44 AM ^
I didn't realize there were that many sudden death games.
I didn't realize that Bowling Green won a national championship. First one for the CCHA, as the announcer says. Also didn't realize that Lake Superior State made it to the Frozen Four. Must not have been paying attention to college hockey back then.
“Also didn't realize that Lake Superior State made it to the Frozen Four.”
They didn’t just make it to the Frozen Four, they’ve won it three times (and well could/should have a fourth). Jeff Jackson built a DOMINANT program there.
April 10th, 2023 at 11:03 AM ^
That's crazy!
There is a guy in my neighborhood (Atlanta area) with LAKEST8 on his license plate. Love seeing all the Wings/Tigers stickers on cars here. Also see several M-22 stickers on cars, especially mine.
I consider last year's semi-final loss to Denver in OT to be de-facto on this list.
Based on the way Denver crushed Minn State in the actual final, Michigan would have easily won the title if they got past Denver. Michigan - Denver was the de-facto national championship game.
Another Frozen Four OT loss denied us a national championship.
April 10th, 2023 at 10:07 AM ^
Michigan hockey's had so many super ball kicks just since I've been following in the mid-2000's
2008 we were probably the best team, 2010 we were one of the hottest and were robbed of a frozen four in Detroit, 2011 so close, 2022 as you noted - so close, and 2023 we were clearly good enough to beat Qpac and Minnesota so we had a window too. We just cannot get one done.
Hey, two titles in 4 game-enders is pretty good. In a different sport, look how many division and NL titles ATL Braves won under Bobby Cox and they had exactly ONE WS title in all those years.
Last year's loss hurt much more than the lost to Q. We had so much talent and lost in OT to Denver. Given the coaching change this year, was happy we made it this far.
April 10th, 2023 at 10:33 AM ^
Every time someone talks about sports dynasties, I think of the Braves. and of course, the Bills.
It's much harder to reach four consecutive Super Bowls. Let alone lose every one of them.
Championship game sudden death playoff hockey is the most excruciating, painful, ulcer-inducing event in sports. The pressure is enough to turn coal into diamonds. A loss is gut-wrenching, soul destroying. But a win creates legends.
I can't imagine playing in one.
A haiku tribute:
Margins razor thin.
Lose and it will haunt your life.
Win and you are kings.
April 10th, 2023 at 10:09 AM ^
One day I'll finally see Michigan's season end with a national title
I think...
April 10th, 2023 at 12:32 PM ^
Planning to live to 150? You may need the hedge.