PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The Providence College Men’s Hockey team is headed to the D1 championship — their first appearance since 1985.
The Friars beat the University of Omaha Mavericks in the Frozen Four on Thursday, with goals by Noel Acciari, Mark Jankowski, Trevor Mingoia, and Nick Saracino.
The Friars and the Mavericks played a scoreless first period — but PC came out big during the second.
Noel Acciari scored his fifteenth goal of the season midway through to give the Friars a 1-0 lead. Jankowski scored minutes later.
Jake Guentzel scored the only goal for Omaha ten minutes into the third period, but Mingoia scored big in return — marking his fifteenth goal of the season as well.
Saracino shot on an empty net late in the third period, bringing home goal number four.
Future NHL draft pick John Gillies only gave up one goal to the Mavericks, allowing the Friars to slide to an easy 4-1 victory.
Gillies has been a major part of the team’s success this season. He turned down an offer to join the Calgary Flames, and instead returned to Providence for his junior year.
It has been a decision he surely doesn’t regret.
“It’s no different, the game doesn’t change,” said Gillies. “The job is still letting less goals than the other goalie lets in, so nothing changes on that front.”
Meanwhile, PC is heading back to TD Garden to take on the winner of the University of North Dakota and Boston University on Saturday.Colin Spence contributed to this report.
