Ache #27: Holy Cross

Photo / Associated Press

"Do you believe in miracles?!?"

"Yes! Yes, I do!" 

- WCHC 88.1 College of Holy Cross Student Radio

The 2005-06 Golden Gopher Men's Hockey team was one of the best in program history. The team featured four first round picks in the 2009 NHL Draft: defenseman Erik Johnson (1st overall to St. Louis), center Phil Kessel (5th overall to Buffalo), forward Kyle Okposo (7th overall to New York Islanders) and defenseman David Fischer (20th overall to Montreal). Ryan Potulny was an All-American, Kessel was also the WHCA Rookie of the Year, and Don Lucia was named WCHA Coach of the Year. Danny Irmen, Chris Harrington and Alex Goligoski were also key contributor for the 27-9-5 Gophers. Despite winning back-to-back NCAA Championships in 2002 and 2003, this was the Gopher's first WCHA Regular Season title since 1997.

The Gophers were a number one seed (2nd overall) heading into the NCAA tournament, and heavy favorites against #15 Holy Cross, who were making their second tournament appearance in school history (their first was a 3-0 loss to North Dakota in 2004).

In the first three-plus years of the 16-team NCAA format, the number one seeds were 15-0 against number four seeds...most of those games blowouts.

The 2005-06 NCAA Men's Hockey Tournament bracket

Despite winning at least a share of the WCHA regular season championship for the first time since 1997, the Gophers limped into the tournament on a two-game losing streak and finishing fourth in the WCHA Final Five tournament, losing to St. Cloud State in overtime 8-7 and getting shut out by Wisconsin 4-0.

The Gophers out-shot the Holy Cross Crusaders 13-10 in the first period but didn't score. The two teams were a combined 0-5 on the power play (Minnesota was 0 for 2). 

Holy Cross struck first in the second period at 8:49 on a Dale Reinhardt goal from Blair Bartlett and Tyler McGregor. At 13:15, Minnesota tied the game on a shorthanded goal by Mike Howe. The tie lasted only 41 seconds however, as the Cruisaders re-gained the lead on a 5-on-3 power-play goal by McGregor from James Sixmith and Jon Landry. Phil Kessel scored the equalizer at the 15:45 mark from Evan Kaufmann and Chris Harrington. The Gophers out-shot Holy Cross 14-6 in the second period.

Freshman Phil Kessel and the Gophers out-shot Holy Cross

38-28, but were 0-7 on the power play.

Photo / Scott A Schneider, Getty Images

The Gophers took their first lead of the game at 2:17 in the third on a Alex Goligoski goal from Blake Wheeler. The Crusaders struck back at the 7:53 mark when a Sean Nappo hit the pipe and the puck landed in the crease behind Gopher goalie Kellen Briggs. Pierre Napert-Frenette got behind Briggs and knocked the puck in to tie the game at 3-3. Minnesota out-shot Holy Cross for the third consecutive period, 11-10 as the game headed to sudden death overtime.

"I saw a side open net. That's when it becomes a blur." - Holy Cross captain Tyler McGregor on the game-winning shot via NCAA.com

Just 53 seconds into overtime, Tyler McGregor (who already had a goal and an assist) streaked down the left side and had his attempted pass deflected by a Gopher skate. It popped right back to him, and he fired the game-winning shot to Briggs' stick side to complete the biggest upset in College Hockey history.

Goalie Kellen Briggs stopped 24 of 28 shots

To make matters worse, the game was played at the Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks...home of the Sioux.