TAMPA – Back-stopped by the sterling play of goaltender Parker Milner, Boston College pulled away from underdog Ferris State, 4-1, Saturday to win its fifth NCAA Division I men's hockey title.
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"I thought it was a perfect game for us. I liked the way it unfolded," said Ferris State's Bob Daniels, the national coach of the year. "Coming out of the first period when it was 2-1, I felt pretty good. I felt as though, okay, we can play with these guys.
"Then, we've got this down to a seven-minute hockey game. This is a good spot for us to be in. I think that was as good as we can play. I think that's a testament to Boston College and how good they are."
Boston College finally got a clinching goal with 3:02 remaining on a solo shift from freshman Johnny Gaudreau when he split two defenders and lifted a backhander over the stick of Bulldog goalie Taylor Nelson. The Eagles added Whitney's empty-netter with a minute remaining.
BC ends the year on a 19-game winning streak, a single-season school record. In that span Milner allowed 21 goals.
Ferris State reached the championship game by winning a series of 2-1, 2-1 and 3-1 (with an empty net goal) showdowns with Denver, Cornell and Union. The Bulldogs appeared overmatched against a Boston College team that dismantled Minnesota 6-1 in the semifinals and had not lost since January 21.
But if not for Milner, Ferris might have pulled the biggest upset in Frozen Four history.
"They don't have the name recognition, but we really analyzed how Ferris got here," said BC coach Jerry York, who won his fifth title to tie for second on the career list. "They won a league (the Central Collegiate Hockey Association) that sent five teams to the NCAA tournament. You don't just throw your sticks out and win that league."
BC took a 1-0 lead less than four minutes into the game on Steven Whitney's backhander from the left side of the goal crease. Garrett Thompson pulled the Bulldogs even with his goal two minutes later before the Eagles made it 2-1 on Paul Carey's power play deflection with nine seconds remaining on a Ferris State penalty.
Milner then stopped Kyle Bonis' breakaway attempt with 5:22 left in the period and made a sprawling leg save on Thompson's attempt in the final minute.
"He bailed us out when we made mistakes," said BC senior captain Tommy Cross.
Boston College won the special teams battle, scoring once on its power play while its penalty killing unit blunted all four of Ferris State's opportunities.
"I can't think of any shots I really faced on the penalty kill," Milner said. "Most of the shots I saw were right in my chest or on the ice. That wasn't because Ferris State can't shoot. Our guys forced them into hard shots."
The game drew a crowd of 18,818 to the Tampa Bay Times Forum, a record for a first-time Frozen Four venue. Total attendance for the semifinals and championship was 37,423.
