Quinnipiac to face Minnesota in Frozen Four championship

Minnesota and Quinnipiac will meet in the 2023 Frozen Four championship on April 8 after winning their respective semifinal matchups Thursday.

Boston University gave Minnesota some trouble through the first two periods of their game, but the tournament's top-seeded team pulled away in the third for a 6-2 victory. Quinnipiac, meanwhile, topped Michigan 5-2.

The Golden Gophers' first three goals came on the power play, and blue-liner Luke Mittelstadt struck twice in a two-minute span in the third period to punch Minnesota's ticket to the championship game.

Arizona Coyotes prospect Logan Cooley wrapped up a four-goal final frame for Minnesota with a pair of empty-netters.

Quinnipiac forward Sam Lipkin broke a deadlock in the third period in the Bobcats' victory. Defenseman Zach Metsa added an insurance marker with seven minutes remaining in the contest, while Ethan de Jong delivered the final dagger in the Wolverines' hopes with an empty-netter.

Jacob Quillan set the tone for Quinnipiac with a pair of goals in the opening frame.

The Golden Gophers haven't reached the championship since losing the 2014 final to Union. They returned to the Frozen Four for the first time in eight years last season but lost to Minnesota State in the semifinal. Minnesota is chasing its sixth title and its first since 2003.

Quinnipiac will be looking to claim its first national title. The program reached the championship game on two previous occasions, most recently in 2016.