AROUND HOCKEY EAST: Boston College emerged from the NCAA Northeast Regional to earn a berth in the 2016 Frozen Four to be held in Tampa, Fla. The Eagles downed Harvard in the semifinals, 4-1, with help from two-goal games by Alex Tuch (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) and Austin Cangelosi (Estero, Fla.). Against Minnesota Duluth in the regional final, the Eagles got two goals from captain Teddy Doherty (Hopkinton, Mass.) and survived a late Bulldogs rally to advance to their 25th Frozen Four, the most by a single team in NCAA history. Goaltender Thatcher Demko (San Diego, Calif.) was named the region's Most Outstanding Player with 60 saves in the two games, while Doherty, Tuch, and Casey Fitzgerald (North Reading, Mass.) were also named to the All-Regional Team ... UMass Lowell advanced to the NCAA East Regional final thanks to heroics from Joe Gambardella (Staten Island, N.Y.). Gambardella netted the game-tying goal 6:12 into the third period and found the back of the net just 1:37 into overtime to send the River Hawks past Yale. UMass Lowell fell to Quinnipiac, 4-1, in the final ... Providence goaltender Nick Ellis (Millersville, Md.) set a Northeast Regional record with 54 saves in a double-overtime loss to Minnesota Duluth in the semifinal ... Boston University fell to Denver in the West Regional semifinals, 7-2 ... Notre Dame took Michigan to overtime in the Midwest Regional opening round, but were tripped up by the Wolverines, 3-2 ... Northeastern's season ended at the hands of eventual Midwest Regional champion North Dakota, 6-2. The Huskies scored first, but allowed five unanswered goals to the Fighting Hawks.
Teddy Doherty, BC (Sr., D/F; Sea Isle City, N.J.) netted two goals in the Northeast Regional final, sending his Eagles into the Frozen Four for the 25th time in program history. The Boston College captain scored the first two goals of the game to push his squad to an early lead and held on for a 3-2 win over Minnesota Duluth. For his efforts, he was named to the All-Regional Team.
Casey Fitzgerald, BC (Fr., D; North Reading, Mass.) assisted on both game-winning goals for the Eagles en route to winning the Northeast Regional crown. The freshman defenseman was named to the All-Regional Team for his play on the weekend that helped the Eagles reach the Frozen Four.
Thatcher Demko, BC (Jr., G; San Diego, Calif.) was named the most outstanding player of the 2016 NCAA Northeast Regional, making 60 saves over two games to backstop the Eagles to an NCAA-record 25th Frozen Four appearance. Last week, Demko was named Hockey East Co-Player of the Year for his outstanding play during the Hockey East regular season.
HOCKEY EAST WEEKLY TOP PERFORMERS
Alex Tuch, BC (So., F; Baldwinsville, N.Y.) Scored two goals in the NCAA Northeast Regional semifinal, pacing the Eagles in a 4-1 win over Harvard before
Austin Cangelosi, BC (Jr., F; Estero, Fla.) Found the back of the net twice in the Northeast Regional semifinal, helping to lead the Eagles into the title game against Minnesota Duluth. In the region's championship game, he made a diving play to prevent the puck from entering the net late in the third period with the score at 3-2 in favor of the Eagles. He was named to the All-Regional team for his efforts.
Joe Gambardella, UML (Jr., F; Staten Island, N.Y.) Played an integral part in pushing UMass Lowell past Yale, 3-2 in overtime, to reach the NCAA East regional final. Gambardella scored the game-tying goal in the third period before netting the overtime winner just 1:37 into the extra frame to clinch the NCAA victory.
Dylan Zink, UML (Jr., D; Madison, Wis.) Named to the NCAA East All-Regional Team for his help in leading UMass Lowell to the regional final, scoring the River Hawks' lone goal in the title contest.
Nick Ellis, PC (Jr., G; Millersville, Md.) Stopped an NCAA Northeast Region record 54 shots in a double overtime setback to Minnesota Duluth Friday night in Worcester.