Staff
Former Muskie Joe Basaraba and the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs have punched their ticket to this year’s NCAA “Frozen Four” tournament.
UMD advanced with a 5-3 victory over the Yale Bulldogs in the East Regional final Saturday night in Bridgeport, Conn.
A four-goal outburst in the second period sent UMD on its way to the victory.
Mike Connolly led the way with a goal and three assists.
The Bulldogs had earned a berth in the regional final thanks to a 32-save performance by Kenny Reiter in a 2-0 shutout over the Union College Dutchman.
Basaraba, a freshman forward, was on the third line in both of UMD’s games but was held off the scoresheet.
UMD, in the “Frozen Four” for the first time since 2004, now will prepare for a semi-final clash against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Thursday, April 7 in St. Paul, Mn., with a berth in the national championship on Saturday, April 9 on the line.
The other semi-final will see the Michigan Wolverines squaring off with the North Dakota Fighting Sioux.
