His hockey team trailing Miami (Ohio) University 3-1 with3:30 left in the final period of the NCAA college championship at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., coach Jack Parker did the one thing no coach wants to do: he pulled the do-or-die switch, calling goalie Kieran Millan (CAS’12) off the ice and sending six attackers in the opposing zone. The likelihood that BU would pull a victory out of the final game of its 34-victory, record-tying season had descended into the realm of the extremely improbable.
But not impossible.
In the final minute of regulation play, as BU fans held their breath and barely held onto their hopes, Zach Cohen (CAS’10) scored on a low-angle shot to bring the Terriers back within one goal of a tie.
Next, with just 17 seconds left on the clock, Matt Gilroy (MET’09) opted to pass rather than shoot, and sent the puck to Nick Bonino (CAS’11), who fired the game-tying shot, sending fans into a frenzy and the championship contest into sudden death.
Minutes later, a shot by Colby Cohen (CAS’11) deflected off Miami defenseman Kevin Roeder and slipped into the Miami goal, and the BostonUniversity men’s hockey team became the NCAA champions.
The game, which marked the Terriers’ 10th appearance in the NCAA title game and the first since 1997, started well enough. In the first period a misdirected puck deflected off Miami’s Matt Tomassoniand Chris Connolly (CGS’10) tapped it into the Miami goal. But less than a minute later, the puck emerged from a scramble in front of the BU net and Miami’s Gary Steffes banged it home for the tie.
In the second period, both teams stepped it up, and while the speed of play and frequency of hits thrilled the crowd, neither found the net.
With 7:29 left in the third period, Carter Camper let go a shot that was knocked down in front by Kevin Shattenkirk (CAS’11), and the rebound was fired home by Miami’s Tommy Wingels, giving the Redhawks a 2-1 lead.
Ten minutes later, and with just four minutes left in the game, Miami’s Trent Vogelhuber ripped a shot from the high slot that got past Millan.For BU fans, the happy ending to a remarkable season was slipping away.
After taking the team’s final timeout, coach Parker made the call to pull Millan, a move that ignited a team that had fought too hard and had come too far to lie down now. With two goals in the final minute of regulation, and then the winner in sudden death overtime, this game is now the stuff of college sports legend, setting a new school record for wins in a season with 35, the most by any team since Michigan in the 1996-97 season.
Never before. Never again.
For more coverage of the game that no Terrier will ever forget and news on how we’ll be taking over Comm Ave to celebrate the championship, check back Monday morning.
Art Jahnke
began his career at the Real Paper, a Boston area alternative weekly. He has worked as a writer and editor at Boston Magazine, web editorial director at CXO Media, and executive editor in Marketing & Communications at Boston University, where his work was honored with many awards.
Profile
Comments & Discussion
Boston University moderates comments to facilitate an informed, substantive, civil conversation. Abusive, profane, self-promotional, misleading, incoherent or off-topic comments will be rejected. Moderators are staffed during regular business hours (EST) and can only accept comments written in English. Statistics or facts must include a citation or a link to the citation.
There are 22 comments on The Ultimate Comeback
Insane. Only game that ties this for intensity is Syracuse/UConn in 6OT’s
An unbelieveable comeback! The stuff of sports legends in any athletic competition, any where and at any time! These yound men represent the best of the University! Competence, excellence, commitment, perserverance and a combination of best individual efforts combined with a true team effort! That’s what we’re all about at BU! Great going guys! You represented us well and we are proud of you!
This is an extremely amazing victory for BU. That was almost a miracle to win the national championship the way you did. So breath-taking, guys! Kudo to you all!
I haven’t had this much fun and EXCITEMENT since the days of Mike Eurizione, Dave Silk and the others. Living at West Campus, going to the Beanpot games, was the sports highlight of my years at BU (not to mention the Crew Team with Hugh Foley)
Ken,
I am Hugh Foley’s son. My wife and kids and I live in State College, PA. Would love to chat sometime about my dad. He and my mom live in Eugene, OR and he has Parkinson’s disease. He has had it for 10+ years and it has really taken a toll. Anyway, would love to connect sometime.
Unfortunately for Miami, they scored their third goal. With the score 3-1, they seemed to think that they could play defense hockey for the final three minutes. Not against this BU team. Great poise, great teamwork, great coaching. Simply the greatest comeback in NCAA championship history. Thanks BU from a very proud alumnus.
Class of ’73 here, College of Communications, and so very happy for the team and school with this amazing victory. I have such fond memories of BU hockey when I was a student , and am proud to be a BU alum. Congratulations to Coach Parker and all the players!
Congratulations on an amazing season. Your performances in both National Championship game and the semi-final against Vermont showed your determination and performance have solidified you all as one of the best teams in NCAA history. Those were two of the best games I have ever seen in my life!!
It was a great day for BU and you all have made this alumni very proud.
Just a truly unbelievable weekend in DC. Congratulations to the entire team, the university and to US..the fans! As we proved in DC, we are simply the best college hockey fans around.
As a proud Boston University Alumni and the CLA Class of 77. I had the privilege and honor to attend one of the finest institutions in the Boston area. Always proud to be a Terrier, my congratulations to Coach Parker and his team for bringing the national championship back to BU!
I glad that the Terriers pulled it off this year. It definitely makes up for that heart wrenching final that I watched at the George Sherman Union back in 1997.
I followed BU all through the playoffs the multiple time i was in Boston and rooted for them all the way, this is was by far the best college game I have ever seen live! kinda makes me glad
Comments & Discussion
Boston University moderates comments to facilitate an informed, substantive, civil conversation. Abusive, profane, self-promotional, misleading, incoherent or off-topic comments will be rejected. Moderators are staffed during regular business hours (EST) and can only accept comments written in English. Statistics or facts must include a citation or a link to the citation.