SPRINGFIELD — Going into Thursday afternoon's NCAA Tournament regional game, the Massachusetts hockey team was fully aware of the task at hand, competing against the No. 3 team in the country, Denver, and the nation's No. 1 scoring team. I was there.
The Minutemen held off more than half of the Pioneers' average of nearly five goals per game, and did so in nearly 100 minutes of hockey time.
As has been the case in many of UMass' games against Denver, the score remained stalemate from the first to third periods, forcing overtime. Pioneers center Tristan Bross hit the winning goal over the shoulder of Minutemen goaltender Michael Hrabal, clinching the game midway through the second overtime.
The University of Massachusetts ended up on the bad side with a heartbreaking 2-1 finish, but that was evident in front of a packed MassMutual Center in Springfield – a crowd scattered in Maroon – as the Minutemen put up one of their best defensive efforts of the season. I showed you.
Fresh off an 8-1 win over Boston University in the Hockey East semifinals, the University of Massachusetts definitely came out ready to play and was the aggressor during 92 minutes and 38 seconds of very physical hockey.
“Especially after last weekend, playing against Boston College, another strong offensive team, we needed to stick to our foundation and our identity,” junior captain and defenseman Ryan Ufko said. Ta. “We know we’re a big, fast team, so that physicality part is something we’ve really preached and I feel like it’s really helped us.”
The game was the sixth longest in district history, and both teams combined for 90 shots on goal (Massachusetts 47, Denver 43), the fifth most in district history.
This was truly a marathon, not a sprint, and Denver didn't need to play that way all season, head coach David Karl said.
“This is the first 2-1 game we've had all year anyway,” Karl said. “We knew we had to face a game like this…Everyone's a great team at this time of year. It's hard to get the inside ice, it's hard to score. Both teams were at their limits tonight. I thought we were trying, but obviously the game could have gone either way.”
During Wednesday's media availability, Minutemen head coach Greg Carvel expressed that he expects his team to be ready, motivated by last weekend's Boston College result.
“I don't know why I can't show my best game,” Carvel said of his tournament time. Well, if there was anyone who would listen, it would be goalkeeper Michael Hrabal. The freshman was essentially unstoppable throughout the game, stopping 41 shots on 43 attempts.
His presence was the main reason why Denver's powerhouse offense averaged significantly less than 4.85 points per game.
“Anyone who asked me about my feelings said, [on the game], I said, “It's up to the goalie.” I think we’re going to be there and play hard. If we can make the save, we have a good chance.’ And Michael did that tonight. I trust him very much. He's a high profile, high draft pick, but he was 18 years old when he stepped on campus. That's not a lot for an 18-year-old…he's grown this year. He had his ups and downs. BC game is down. For him to jump back and give us so much backbone tonight, he made some big saves. I'm happy to have him again next year. ”
Last year, the University of Massachusetts won 13 games but was not considered for the NCAA Tournament. Carvel & Company quickly turned things around in 2024, returning to the big stage after just a year off.
There was some debate about whether the Minutemen deserved to be in the tournament given their job descriptions, not to mention the 20-minute distance from their home rink. But on Thursday, their outstanding defense and sheer physicality proved not only that they didn't deserve a chance, but that they deserved it.
“I’m very proud of what our entire program did this year just to get back in the tournament and how we presented ourselves tonight,” Carvel said. “It's tough to lose, but for me it's the end of what has been a successful season so far.”
