Gregory Fisher - Icon Sportswire/Imagn Images
Everyone loves the NHL postseason, set to get underway next month. But, the NCAA Division I Men’s Hockey Postseason is just as good, if not better, considering it was single-elimination.
On Sunday, two schools better known for other winter sports like Wrestling or basketball, Penn State and UConn, squared off for their first trip to the prestigious Frozen Four, set for two weeks in St. Louis, Missouri. Penn State advanced to their first Frozen Four in a 3-2 overtime thriller on an insane goal after a wild overtime period.
It was miraculous for Penn State to even be in this spot. They started Big Ten play 0-9-1 and were well out of the tournament, a sixteen-team single-elimination bracket, picture. In fact, rumors were swirling that head coach Guy Gadowsky, the only coach in the team’s Division I history, was on the hot seat.
But, they got red-hot, beat a bunch of the nation’s top teams, and clinched their spot in the tournament as the 4th seed in the Allentown region. The Nittany Lions, whose varsity program started in 2012 due to a massive donation by alum and Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula, beat Maine 5-1 in the Round of 16, setting up this clash with UConn, who beat Quinnipiac 4-1.
It was a classic, as teams traded goals in both the 1st and 2nd periods and had a scoreless 3rd period. UConn, who had been outplayed in the first two periods, outplayed Penn State in the 3rd period and in overtime. But, Penn State stole the game on this goal here.
The goal that sends Penn State hockey to the Frozen Four. Truly, the biggest goal in the program's history. pic.twitter.com/d8rODVXO09
— Black Shoe Diaries (@BSDtweet) March 31, 2025
That’s Pennsylvania native Matt DeMarsico with the goal. For a program that looked like it was going to be hiring a new coach a few months ago, it’s been quite the tournament.
Penn State just won the wrestling national title, won the volleyball title in the fall, and have a chance for their third national title of the school year, which would tie them with Texas for the fourth most NCAA titles all-time. Stanford, UCLA, and USC are the top three.