The fourth-ranked Gophers struck early and often Sunday night to surprise No. 1 Boston College with an 8-1 thumping that provided at least some redress for the 6-1 embarrassment the Eagles handed out at the NCAA Frozen Four last spring. The win propelled Minnesota to the championship of the Mariucci Classic, their own tournament, which they had not won since 2008. The electricity in the building was palpable. Ten thousand fans roared as the Maroon and Gold struck for three quick goals in a span of 11:01 in the first period and never let up the rest of the evening.
The team mindset was simple. Before the game head coach Don Lucia told me, "We came here tonight to win a championship." He was speaking of the tournament title but I got the feeling he was also saying "This is a statement game that could propel us all the way to the NCAA championship."
Is it for real? That's the question some fans are asking after the Sunday win. Yes, Minnesota caught BC without three key players. The Eagles' leading scorer, Johnny Gaudreau, was in Russia with Team USA at the World Junior Championships. Two top-four defensemen, Ian MacLeod and Patch Alber, were hurt. MacLeod was already sidelined. Alber became a scratch when he pulled a hamstring while warming up in the hallway with a soccer ball. I learned of the injury while talking to Eagles head coach Jerry York, who was low-key as ever but definitely not pleased.
Here's how we'll know if the Gophers team that rolled over the top-ranked team in the nation is for real: Notre Dame. Understandably, fans have had a hard time looking past the Boston College game but we are past it now and yet another nationally-ranked team is next on the schedule: the third-ranked Fighting Irish. That game, on January 8th, will say a lot about whether the Gophers are really ready to take it up another notch.
I think they are.
(And by the way: How would you like to be the Yale Bulldogs? They're next up for Boston College, which will not be in a good mood.)
Eagles Over-rated?: Not to my way of thinking. But Boston College has been top-ranked since before the season began and a number of fans in the building started the "Over-rated" chant in the third period. My broadcast partner, Kevin Gorg, correctly chastised them on the air, pointing out that it was just one night, B.C. was missing some key players, and the teams could very well meet again at season's end.
Saluting a coaching milestone: The university gave York a nice moment before the Sunday night game by saluting his record-breaking 925th career win, which came the day before against Alabama-Huntsville. No one in the history of the game has ever coached so many wins and the capacity crowd gave him a standing ovation with arena lights dimmed and York alone in a spotlight on the bench in appreciation of a lifetime of coaching greatness.
When you add York's wins to the 600-plus of Lucia, it's a staggering total for two coaches who could each go on for some time to come.
Don't go anywhere: Kevin Gorg and I will be back on Tuesday, January 8th, as No. 3 Notre Dame hits Mariucci Arena for yet another clash of hockey titans. Jump aboard with us on Fox Sports North!
