MINNESOTA-DULUTH NINTH REPEAT CHAMP IN HISTORY
By Warren Kozireski–
BUFFALO, NY — Senior forward Parker Makay netted a first period power play goal and set up sophomore defenseman Mickey Anderson for a second period tally to lead the University of Minnesota-Duluth to a 3-0 victory over the University of Massachusetts to win the 2019 Frozen Four in Buffalo.
The Bulldogs become the first repeat champion since the University of Denver did it in 2004-05 and the ninth overall (Michigan twice, Denver four times, Boston University and the University of Minnesota, once each).
“Parker was coming up the boards and made a great play through the middle and I just tried to find a hole, Parker connected and I just had to put it upstairs,” Anderson said about his goal.
Freshman Jackson Cates added a late third period insurance tally as Anderson registered his third point of the contest with an assist.
The Bulldogs allowed only one goal to the first three opponents in the NCAA playoff opponents this season. In the title game, they held positional advantage outshooting the Minutemen 25-12 through the first 40 minutes and held UMass with a shot on goal in two consecutive power play opportunities.
It marked the sixth shutout in the 71 years of the national title game and the first since 2013 when Yale blanked Quinnipiac.
“So fortunate to make the regionals all four years let alone three Frozen Fours and now winning two national championships,” Bulldogs senior captain and tournament Most Outstanding Player Mackay reflected. “So happy to do it with some incredible friends…it’s no shock that we’ve been here three years in a row and I’m looking forward to watching this group in the future.”
In addition to Mackay, Bulldogs goaltender Hunter Shepard, forwards Justin Richards and Billy Exell, Anderson and UMass freshman defenseman Marc Del Gaizo were named to the All-Tournament Team.
