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TJ Oshie’s former college team, UND Fighting Hawks, loses heartbreaker early in NCAA tournament

By Cara Bahniuk

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March 24, 2017 11:54 pm

The University of North Dakota, TJ Oshie and Taylor Chorney’s former college hockey team, took on Boston University, Kevin Shattenkirk’s former college team, today in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. BU defenseman and Boston Bruins prospect, Charlie McAvoy, scored in double overtime to end the game. This game is now the longest NCAA Tournament game in UND history.

Hours before the opening faceoff, TJ Oshie sent out a tweet cheering on his alma mater.

The UND Fighting Hawks, the reigning champions, entered the tournament ranked number three, while the BU Terriers were ranked second. The two teams played to a draw through the first two periods, beginning the third period tied 1-1. And that’s when the fireworks happened.

Boston tallied twice early in the period to gain a two-goal lead, riding a huge wave of momentum.

Midway through the period, however, the glass shattered after a huge hit, stopping the game for nearly 15 minutes.

That break was all that the Fighting Hawks needed to shift momentum. UND controlled pay through the end of regulation and tied the game.

The Fighting Hawks thought they scored four minutes into overtime, but after a lengthy review, the goal was deemed offside and play continued. In Double OT, the Fighting Hawks lost after McAvoy potted a one-timer for the sudden-death victory.

The Fighting Hawks finished the game with a 59-28 shot advantage while Boston blocked an additional 51 shot attempts

Caps prospect Shane Gersich, who was recently named as an honorable mention to the NCHC All-Conference team, currently plays for UND. Gersich registered eight of the Fighting Hawks’ 59 shots on goal, leading the team.

Before the tournament started, Oshie, Chorney, Shattenkirk, and Nate Schmidt made brackets. The UND alums, Oshie and Chorney, believed the Hawks would challenge their title and had them going all the way. Schmidt predicted his alma mater, University of Minnesota would win it all while Shatterkirk diverted from the Terriers and chose Denver. I bet he regrets not picking his former university now.


Photo: @Capitals


Photo: @Capitals


Photo: @Capitals


Photo: @Capitals

Headline photo: Cara Bahniuk

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