Much attention was paid to Minnesota-Duluth’s dynamic top line of Jack Connolly, Justin Fontaine and Mike Connolly entering the Frozen Four, and rightfully so considering their 172 points this season were the most by any trio in college hockey.
Yet the Bulldogs have plenty of show horses, none more valuable than Kyle Schmidt was Saturday night.
Schmidt scored the goal they’ll be talking about for years in northern Minnesota, converting 3 minutes, 22 seconds into overtime to defeat Michigan 3-2 and give Minnesota-Duluth its first NCAA Division I men’s hockey championship.
Schmidt banged in Travis Olesuk’s centering pass from behind the net past Wolverines goalie Shawn Hunwick to set off a wild celebration at the Xcel Energy Center, where most of the 19,222 fans were pulling for the home-state team.
