Gophers reach Frozen Four after beating Western Michigan 3-0 in regional finals

The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers men’s hockey team defeated Western Michigan 3-0 Sunday night in Worcester, Massachusetts to advance to the 2022 NCAA Frozen Four.

Matthew Knies gave the Gophers a 1-0 lead in the first period off a feed from Big Ten Defenseman of the Year of Brock Faber.

The Broncos had a goal overturned in the second period due to a offsides and that seemed to take all the wind out of their sails.

Minnesota then scored on the power play early in the third period. Freshman Aaron Huglen scored to make it 2-0. Blake McLaughlin added an empty-net goal late in the third period for a 3-0 Gophers win.

The Gophers reach the Frozen Four for the first time since 2014. Minnesota will face Minnesota State (Mankato) in the NCAA semifinals on April 7 in Boston, Massachusetts.