By Chloe Wojtanik
Boston University News Service
Toledo proved to be a test for the Boston University men’s hockey team, but the Terriers rose to the challenge to secure their spot in the team’s third straight Frozen Four appearance after a 3-2 win.
Second-seeded BU and fourth-seeded Cornell University Big Red gave the fans in the Huntington Center some free hockey as the win-or-go-home game was sent to sudden death overtime after a back-and-forth 60 minute battle last Saturday.
“That was a heck of a hockey game,” said BU head coach Jay Pandolfo. “Both teams competed really hard and maybe it deserved overtime the way it was going back and forth.”
Only 6 minutes and 25 seconds of extra hockey were needed in the overtime frame, though. Junior superstar Quinn Hutson took a shot from the blue line that found its way through the mass of players in the middle of the ice and ultimately ended up in the back of the net, sending the Terriers to their 25th Frozen Four in school history.
“Yeah, obviously it was a great feeling,” said Hutson. “The next goal that went in was it, so I just put one through on net and I didn’t know what to do so I just froze and figured it went in because everyone was celebrating.”
Quinn wasn’t the only Hutson to find the back of the net during the Toledo regional final. His younger brother and freshman phenom, Cole Hutson — who was named the most outstanding player of the Toledo region — registered a power play tally in the third period to give BU a 2-1 lead. On a team built on brotherhood, the Hutson brothers aren’t shy to acknowledge their special bond on the ice.
“I’m so fortunate to grow up with three brothers that all play hockey, but to get to play with my old brother is pretty crazy,” said Cole Hutson. “We’ll probably only have two games left together so we’re going to make the most of it.”
Senior Matt Copponi was the other goal scorer for the Terriers, tying the game at 1-1 in the first period after Cornell jumped out in front early. The game went back-and-forth with Cole Hutson scoring to give BU a 2-1 lead, which didn’t last long as Cornell sent the game to overtime on a goal with 5:30 left in regulation.
Coach Pandolfo is no stranger when it comes to the Frozen Four. He’s made the tournament every year that he’s been involved in NCAA D1 hockey. This includes him making the Frozen Four in all four of his seasons as a player at BU, in which he won the National Championship in 1995, and all three of his seasons since being hired as BU’s head coach in 2022. This makes him one of three NCAA head coaches to make the Frozen Four in each of their first three seasons.
BU will face off against the Penn State Nittany Lions, who are making their first Frozen Four appearance in program history. The Lions won the Allentown region after sophomore forward Matt DiMarsico scored late in overtime over the UConn Huskies.
The two teams will face off at the Enterprise Center, home of the NHL’s St. Louis Blues, on Thursday, April 10 at 8:30 p.m. (ESPN2).
