DE PERE - St. Norbert College turned in one of its best efforts of the season at the best possible time, claiming a 3-1 win over Aurora University in the championship game of the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association Harris Cup Playoffs at Cornerstone Community Center.
The Green Knights (21-6-2) ran their winning streak to a season-high eight games in capturing their 18th NCHA Playoffs championship. St. Norbert, ranked No. 4 in the USCHO.com Division III Poll, also clinched an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Tournament, tying Plattsburgh State University for the most all-time with 23. Aurora (23-5-1) will have to wait to see if it receives one of four at-large berths into the 14-team tournament when the bracket is announced by the NCAA at 8:30 p.m. Sunday.
St. Norbert and Aurora felt each other out in the first 10 minutes before the Green Knights gathered momentum in the second half of the first period. The Green Knights got on the board when
Blake Ulve redirected
Logan Dombrowsky's drive for a 1-0 lead at the 12:24 mark. St. Norbert doubled its lead when
Calvin Hanson got an unimpeded look and scored cleanly at 18:37 for his 16th goal of the year and a big 2-0 lead heading into first intermission.
The Green Knights added another goal early in the second period, when
Ryan Gingher potted a rebound off a
Trevor Mitchell shot just 2:13 into the second period. St. Norbert had a minute of 5-on-3 power play time moments after but did not score and later killed off a pair of penalties later in the second period to take a 3-0 lead into the final 20 minutes.
St. Norbert effectively melted the clock in the third period, with Aurora not scoring until Lukas Sedlacek scored at with 2:18 left. The Spartans had 1:18 of extra-attacker time but would get no closer.
Harris Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player
Hunter Garvey made 29 saves for the Green Knights. Hanson, Ulve and
Jack Christen were also named to the All-Tournament team for the Green Knights.
St. Norbert held a 34-30 advantage in shots on goal. Matt O'Donnell made 31 saves for Aurora.
St. Norbert was 0-for-3 on the power play, while Aurora was 0-for-4.
