University of Minnesota Athletics
White's OT Goal Lifts Gophers to Classic Title
1/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Sophomore Patrick White scored in sudden-death overtime as Minnesota rallied from a third-period deficit to beat Northeastern 3-2 in the championship game of the Dodge Holiday Classic on Saturday at Mariucci Arena.
White’s goal came at 1:38 of a 20-minute sudden-death overtime period and finished off Minnesota’s first victory when trailing after two periods since a 4-3 win over Rensselaer in the 2007-08 season opener. The game lived up to all expectations of two highly-ranked inter-regional teams as fourth-ranked Minnesota is now 10-3-5 and sixth-ranked Northeastern is 12-4-2. It was the first meeting between the schools since Northeastern posted a 4-2 win in the 1997 Dodge Holiday Classic title game.
The winning goal came on a power play after Huskies’ goaltender Brad Thiessen was clearing the puck and sent it over the boards to result in a delay of game penalty. It took Minnesota just seven seconds to score after Ryan Stoa won the faceoff to Jay Barriball, whose shot bounced free to White for a wide-open backhanded goal. It was White’s third goal of the season and 10th of his career as he scored for the second straight night and landed a spot on the all-tournament team.
The tournament’s Most Valuable Player Aaron Ness tied the game on his first career goal with 8:28 left in regulation after Minnesota trailed 2-1 entering the third period. Ness collected a loose puck and launched a shot from above the faceoff circle into the upper corner of the net. Jake Hansen and David Fischer each assisted the goal and Hansen nearly cost the Gophers the tying score when he tried to deflect the puck with a high stick, but missed. Video replay confirmed that Hansen did not touch the puck, allowing the goal to score.
Like Ness, the only other defenseman to earn Most Valuable Player in the Dodge Holiday Classic also wore No. 10 for the Gophers as Alex Goligoski earned the award in 2006-07.
Ness also set up Minnesota’s first goal, which tied the score at 1-1 late in the first period. The freshman fired in a shot that deflected off the body of Tony Lucia into the goal with 1:27 left in the opening period. Jay Barriball also assisted the play on Minnesota’s second power play chance of the game.
Northeastern opened the scoring at 14:28 of the first period when the Huskies broke out on a four-on-one. Instead of passing, Wade MacLeod fired a wrister past Alex Kangas to put Northeastern ahead. Louis Liotti started the play to earn the assist.
After tying the game on Ness’ goal late in the first period, the Gophers controlled play for the early part of the second period and missed several quality chances. Northeastern scored on a perfect backhand shot by Tyler McNeely at the 8:58 mark to take a 2-1 lead. McNeely had the puck on his forehand and quickly switched to the backhand before lofting a shot over Kangas’ left shoulder. Huskies’ goalie Brad Thiessen started the play with a pass along the boards to Dennis McCauley, who made a lead pass to McNeely for the goal.
Northeastern had two third-period shots hit the pipe solid, preventing the Huskies from extending their lead.
Minnesota outshot the Huskies 30-28 for the game as Kangas made 26 saves and played his ninth consecutive overtime game without allowing a goal. Thiessen made 27 saves and was the all-tournament goaltender.
MacLoed and Liotti both earned all-tournament honors for Northeastern, while Justin Bostrom was also named to the team from Minnesota after tallying a goal and an assist in Friday’s win over Brown.
The Gophers played the second straight night without head coach Don Lucia on the bench and without forwards Jordan Schroeder, Mike Hoeffel and defenseman Cade Fairchild. Lucia is battling an illness and watched the first two periods from the press box, while the trio of players were competing in the World Junior Championships in Ottawa, Canada. Lucia will miss Minnesota’s next series at North Dakota, though the three players will be back in the lineup.
