Union's Frozen Four Heroics: A Decade of Glory

Ten years ago, a remarkable underdog story unfolded on the ice of Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. On April 12, 2014, the Union College Dutchmen (now known as the Garnet Chargers) etched their name into NCAA hockey lore by capturing the national championship in stunning fashion, defeating the mighty Minnesota Gophers 7-4.

As the puck dropped that fateful night, few gave Union a fighting chance against the powerhouse Gophers, stacked with NHL prospects and sporting a legacy of excellence. When Minnesota’s Justin Kloos opened the scoring just 2:37 into the contest, it seemed the doubters might be vindicated.

However, Union refused to be cowed. Shayne Gostisbehere ignited the Dutchmen’s comeback with the equalizer midway through the opening frame. Though Minnesota briefly regained the lead, an electrifying 1:54 stretch witnessed Union storm ahead with a trio of goals from Mike Vecchione, Eli Lichtenwald, and Daniel Ciampini, seizing a 4-2 advantage they would never relinquish.

The second period witnessed a furious rally from Minnesota, but Union’s resilience shone through. Max Novak’s redirection tally extended the Dutchmen’s lead before the Gophers clawed one back, setting the stage for Gostisbehere’s heroics. With Union clinging to a 5-4 edge, the defenseman’s dazzling poke-check denied a prime Minnesota scoring chance, sparking a rush that saw Kevin Sullivan’s long-range blast beat the Gophers’ netminder for a 6-4 cushion.

As the final seconds ticked away, captain Mat Bodie fittingly capped the scoring with an empty-netter, cementing Union’s remarkable 7-4 triumph and igniting a jubilant on-ice celebration.

For longtime Union hockey observers like myself, the championship run marked the culmination of an arduous journey from the depths of futility to the pinnacle of college hockey. Through the lean years of the late 1990s, when the Dutchmen won a mere three games in 1998-99, to the steady ascent under a succession of coaches, Union’s patient rebuilding effort had finally borne fruit in the most glorious fashion imaginable.

On a personal note, having the privilege of witnessing this crowning achievement in my hometown of Philadelphia, mere miles from where I was present for the Flyers’ inaugural Stanley Cup triumph in 1974, imbued the moment with profound poignancy. Though my late father could not be there in person, I carried his spirit as I committed the sights and sounds of Union’s celebration to memory – a memory now eternally entwined with that cherished souvenir, a piece of the championship net.

For the players, coaches, and fans of Union College, that fabled night in Philadelphia will forever symbolize the realization of an improbable dream, an indelible reminder that on the grandest stages, the underdog’s bite can prove mightier than the favorite’s bark. A decade later, the glory of that frozen conquest burns as brilliantly as ever.