HOCKEY EAST HEADLINES
Massachusetts advanced to the Frozen Four for the second time in program history (2019) after a dominating performance in the Bridgeport Regional. The Minutemen downed Lake Superior State, 5-1, in the semifinal before Filip Lindberg (Espoo, Finland) pitched his third NCAA Tournament shutout in a 4-0 win over Bemidji State. Carson Gicewicz (Orchard Park, N.Y.) scored four goals on the weekend, including a natural hat trick in the regional final that was the first NCAA Tournament hat trick since 2017. The Minutemen will face Minnesota Duluth in the Frozen Four in Pittsburgh on Thursday, April 8, at either 5 or 9 p.m. on ESPN2.
Boston University’s 2020-21 season ended in a 6-2 Albany Regional semifinal setback to St. Cloud State. Wilmer Skoog (Tyreso, Sweden) and Jake Wise (Reading, Mass.) found the back of the net for the Terriers while Drew Commesso (Norwell, Mass.) made 32 saves.
Boston College ended the year at 17-6-1 in the Northeast Regional
final following a 4-1 decision at the hands of St. Cloud. Matt Boldy
(Millis, Mass.) was named to the All-Tournament Team in the Northeast
Regional after opening the scoring for the Eagles. Their opening
round game against Notre Dame was declared a No Contest
after the Irish did not clear COVID-19 protocols.
ARMY ROTC HOCKEY EAST PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Carson Gicewicz - Massachusetts
Carson Gicewicz (Orchard
Park, N.Y.) netted four goals
in the East Regional, leading
UMass back to the Frozen Four
for the second consecutive
NCAA Tournament. He scored
a hat trick in the regional final to
secure a 4-0 win over Bemidji
State, the first NCAA Tournament
hat trick since 2017.
PRO AMBITIONS ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Aaron Bohlinger - Massachusetts
Aaron Bohlinger (Walden, N.Y.)
assisted on the game-winning goal
in UMass’s 4-0 win over Bemidji
State in the East Regional final to
secure a spot in the Frozen Four.
The first year defenseman played
a key role in the Minutemen’s
defense that allowed just one goal
in NCAA Tournament play, advancing
his team to the nation’s biggest
stage in Pittsburgh on April 8.
HOCKEY EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Filip Lindberg - Massachusetts
Filip Lindberg (Espoo, Finland)
pitched an 18-save perfect
game in the regional final to
backbone the Minutemen to the
Frozen Four, his third career
shutout in the NCAA Tournament,
tying a record previously
set by Boston College’s Cory
Schneider (2006-07). The
junior netminder also made 30
saves in a 5-1 victory in the
semifinal against Lake Superior
State.
HOCKEY EAST TOP PERFORMERS
Matt Boldy, BC (So., F; Millis, Mass.) Was named to the All-Tournament Team in the Northeast Regional after opening the scoring for the Eagles against St. Cloud State.
Drew Commesso, BU (Fr., G; Norwell, Mass.) Made 32 saves in the Northeast Regional semifinal game against St. Cloud State, a 6-2 setback for BU.
Jake Wise, BU (Jr., F; Reading, Mass.) Scored a power-play goal that tied the Northeast Regional semifinal against St. Cloud State, 2-2.
Wilmer Skoog, BU (So., F; Tyreso, Sweden) Opened the scoring of the Northeast Regional semifinal with a goal eight seconds into the second period.
Oliver Chau, UMass (Sr., F; Oakville, Ont.) Racked up four points and three assists in two games for the Minutemen, including a helper that set up the game-winning tally in the East Regional final to send UMass back to the Frozen Four for the second time in program history.
Josh Lopina, UMass (Fr., F; Minooka, Ill.) Scored the game-winning goal in Massachusetts’ 5-1 win over Lake Superior State in the East Regional semifinal on Friday. He finished the two-game set with six shots on goal.