DULUTH — The No. 13 wasn’t just lucky for Minnesota Duluth in Saturday night’s 3-2 double-overtime victory over St. Cloud State in the NCHC Frozen Faceoff championship at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
As head coach Scott Sandelin said Sunday, march 24, back at Amsoil Arena, the owner of the No. 13 jersey, freshman wing Tanner Laderoute, was “really, really good.” Laderoute set up not only the game-tying goal for UMD, but the game-winner as well to give the Bulldogs their second NCHC postseason title in three seasons.
“I can tell he’s played a lot of playoff games in junior hockey. He’s got experience,” Sandelin said. “He plays a hard-nosed style. He was moving (Saturday) night. He was one of our best players, not just because of the (scoring) plays. He was going to get rewarded with ice time because he was moving, getting pucks in, being strong on walls.”
Laderoute enters the NCAA tournament — which gets underway for UMD at 3 p.m. Saturday against Bowling Green in the Midwest Regional in Allentown, Pa. — with seven goals and four assists.
