Wisconsin wins in 3rd 0T; Maine next for Badgers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Jack Skille scored 11:13 into the third overtime to give Wisconsin a 1-0 victory over Cornell on Sunday night in the second-longest game in NCAA hockey tournament history.

Skille took a pass from Josh Engel from the point and beat goalie David McKee from close range to set off a wild celebration as Wisconsin advanced to the Frozen Four for the first time since 1992.

The Badgers (28-10-3) will face Maine on Thursday, April 6 in Milwaukee at 8 p.m., while Boston College and North Dakota will play in the other semifinal at the Bradley Center at 3 p.m..

The game took 111 minutes, 13 seconds. Exactly six years ago, on March 26, 2000, St. Lawrence beat Boston University 3-2 in four overtimes in a game that lasted 123 minutes, 53 seconds.

McKee finished with 59 saves for Cornell (22-9-4), while Wisconsin’s Brian Elliott stopped 40 saves. Elliott, who beat Bemidji State 4-0 in the first round on Saturday, was selected the most valuable player of the regional.

Northeast Regional

BC 5, BU 0

WORCESTER, Mass. – Joe Rooney scored two short-handed goals and Corey Schneider made 28 saves for his second straight shutout to help Boston College advance to the Frozen Four with a 5-0 victory over Boston University on Saturday night.

Rooney also had an assist for the Eagles (25-12-3), who will face North Dakota in the national semifinals April 6 in Milwaukee.

Matt Greene, Brian Boyle and Benn Ferriero also scored for Boston College, which also beat Miami (Ohio) 5-0 on Friday night in the Northeast Regional.

The game was the sixth meeting between Boston College and Boston University this season, with the Terriers winning four of them – including the Beanpot championship and the Hockey East tournament final.

West Regional

North Dakota 5, Holy Cross 2

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Jonathan Toews had a goal and two assists to help North Dakota advance to the Frozen Four for the second straight year.

“We fought real hard to get this opportunity, but we’re certainly not happy just getting there,” coach Dave Hakstol said.

Travis Zajac, Matt Watkins, Ryan Duncan and Matt Smaby also scored for the WCHA-playoff champion Sioux (27-10-2), and Jordan Parise made 17 saves.

“Three months ago I would have said there was no way we would be in this position,” Parise said. “I even expected us to lose in the first round of the WCHA playoffs, the way things we’re going for us. Our ride is surreal, considering where we were.”