After Saturday's on-ice celebration was over and most of the players, coaches and media had left, Michigan forward Bill Muckalt leaned down and kissed the painted 'M' in the center of Yost Ice Arena.
In that one gesture, Muckalt illustrated what all the Wolverines must have been feeling: There's no place like home.
"The crowd was awesome," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "They were incredible. It would have been embarrassing for anyone not to give their best with this crowd and the environment here."
The home-ice advantage - coupled with determination and hard work - lifted the Wolverines (32-11-1) from a two-goal deficit to rally and upset defending champion North Dakota (30-8-1), 4-3, in the NCAA West Regional finals.
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| MARGARET MYERS/Daily Michigan hockey goalie Marty Turco celebrates following the Wolverines' come-from-behind 4-3 victory over the North Dakota Fighting Sioux in Saturday night's national quarterfinals. The victory advances them to the final four. |
"It's definitely a big victory," Michigan captain Matt Herr said. "It's a credit to our team. Our team pulled together. Everything didn't go our way that game. We've got a young team, but every guy on this team did a great job."
Two players who have been doing great jobs for the Wolverines all season are Herr and center Bobby Hayes. The two teamed up three minutes into the third period to break a 3-3 tie.
Hayes, after taking a centering pass from Herr on a 2-on-1 rush, waited, and then fired the shot over North Dakota goaltender Aaron Schewitzer's shoulder. It was the first Michigan lead of the game, and the only one it would need.
"To give up three goals to that team is a little bit too much," Hayes said. "To be able to get four goals is a tribute to us, to our hard work and perseverance. We wanted this game more than anything."
Although that final goal was the deciding play of the game, the turning point happened much earlier.
In the second period, the Sioux were on a 5-on-3 power play when Michigan goalie Marty Turco made a clutch stick save. Forward Justin Clark cleared the puck to Herr, who got behind the entire North Dakota defense after just exiting the penalty box. The Michigan captain skated in on the breakaway and beat Schewitzer between the legs
"We had them, basically," North Dakota coach Dean Blais said. "If we would've went 3-0, then game over."
The goal was Michigan's first of the game, narrowing North Dakota's lead and setting the score at 2-1.
From the onset, it looked as though the Wolverines were going to be in for a long night. After giving up two goals in the first period and having center Andrew Merrick ejected for checking from behind, the Wolverines found themselves in an early hole.
The Sioux skated out to an early two-goal lead, and maintained it for much of the game. Even after the Herr goal - which cut the lead to one - the Sioux came back and scored five minutes later from the left wing on a shot by Adam Calder.
Muckalt answered with a power-play goal at 8:38 on an assist from Mark Kosick to cut the lead back down to one. Michigan forward Greg Crozier's power-play goal 56 seconds into the third period tied the score, and the Michigan rally was almost complete.
"It's a pretty emotional time, the last game at Yost," Muckalt said. "At least we did it in style. Our team overcame a lot of adversity. We found a way to win and that's character. It's just a tremendous team effort."
Home ice proved to be an important factor in Michigan's victory on Saturday night. And similarly, on Friday night, Yost was an advantage - but not just from a crowd perspective. The actual surface of the ice played a role Michigan's 2-1 victory over Princeton (18-11-7).
At 41 seconds into the period, Michigan center Mark Kosick dumped the puck in from the side boards toward Princeton goalie Erasmo Saltarelli. The puck hit a groove in the ice, bounced over Saltarelli's stick and into the net.
"I just blindly threw, trying to get it to Muckalt," Kosick said. "It bounced about 10 times and managed to get into the net. It's the luckiest goal I've ever scored."
The Wolverines also dodged a bullet late in the game. Michigan defenseman Mike Van Ryn was whistled for a hooking penalty with 1:20 left in the game. With a pulled goalie and a man advantage already, the Tigers had a golden opportunity to tie the game.
"They kept us hanging on for the last 10 minutes," Berenson said.
But Michigan managed to kill off the penalty and advance to the regional finals the next day.
This victory over North Dakota marks the fourth straight final four appearance by the Wolverines, and the sixth in the past seven seasons.
roller-coaster ride, full of ups and downs.
February 13-14
The Wolverines defeated Miami (Ohio) and Northern Michigan, putting Michigan in first place in the CCHA by three points.
February 20-21
In a two-game showdown against Michigan State, the Wolverines were swept away. The Spartans won in convincing fashion, 5-1 and 4-1, and took over the first place spot in the conference.
February 27
Michigan lost to eighth-place Ferris State at Yost Ice Arena. The loss prevented the Wolverines from taking over first place in the CCHA.
March 13-15
In the first round of the CCHA playoffs, the Wolverines needed three games to turn away upset-minded Notre Dame.
March 20
At Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, the Wolverines were upset by Ohio State in the semifinal round of the CCHA playoffs. The loss prevented Michigan from getting a chance to win the final game and earn an automatic bid in the NCAA Tournament.
March 27
After earning an at-large bid and a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, the Wolverines held off Princeton in the first game of the West Regional at Yost, 2-1.
March 28
The Wolverines rallied from a two-goal deficit in the West Regional finals, upsetting defending champion North Dakota. Michigan advances to the final four to face New Hampshire on Thursday at 2 p.m. in Boston.
03-30-98
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