DDC's Top 10 Moments of 2015-16 -- No. 1 -- Raise It

UND celebrates with it's eighth national championship trophy after being Quinnipiac 5-1. (Photo: Associated Press)

As DDC puts cursor to blog, it has been almost exactly one day and one month since the UND men's
hockey team pasted the Quinnipiac Bobcats 5-1 on April 9 in the national championship game to earn the Green and White its eighth national title.

DDC's Top 10 moments of the 2015-16 season ends with this final memory and it's one that was 16 years in the making.

This moment is the culmination of a lot of pain and relative suffering. This pain and suffering was throughout the program. From the players and coaches, both former and current, to the fans, this moment was for everyone.

Without further ado, here's DDC's No. 1 moment of the 2015-16 season -- The Celebration.

No. 1 -- Raise It -- UND wins title No. 8 -- UND vs. Quinnipiac, National Championship game, Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL., April 9, 2016.

Looking back at what this team did this season since April 9th has been incredibly enjoyable for DDC. Being a fan of this team since he moved to Northwest Minnesota in 1996, it's hard to fully grasp what this year's squad meant to this blogger.

DDC grew up on Sioux hockey. The highs of the 1997 and 2000 teams and the lows of disappointment after disappointment in the 16 years since 2000 only increased DDC's affection for this team.

DDC had the opportunity to cover UND hockey for the Dakota Student for four memorable seasons during his college days. During that time, the Sioux won MacNaughton Cups, Broadmoor Trophies, made the national tournament each season and competed in Frozen Fours.

Each great moment, however, was a bit overshadowed by the letdown of not being able to check that last box.

As the seconds ticked down while watching the game at his home in the Minneapolis suburbs, DDC started to realize that this moment was finally coming to fruition. He couldn't help himself from looking at the clock and reminiscing.

The seconds ticked. The pain was being washed away. The demons were being exercised.

Ten, nine, eight.

Krys Kolanos ends UND's title defense.

Seven, six, five.

Nathan Gerbe and BC rip out the hearts of Sioux fans, once again.

Four, three, two.

Shawn Hunwick's 40 saves denies the Pony Express.

One.

0.6.

It's was time to forget it all. It was time to Raise It. It was time to check that final box. It was our time.

And finally, it was time to celebrate.

Some awesome stuff there. Thank you to all who put videos on YouTube.

While DDC was not able to partake in person, he, along with a close friend, did celebrate in DDC's backyard, Stone Cold Steve Austin style. 

And finally, as the beer dripped off his Sioux jersey, DDC joined UND fans around the world in a collective smile, cheer and one last moment, that will go down as one of the best in the history of our beloved program.  

Check that final box. Raise it.

Thanks again for reading.

 

GR8NESS -- Grand Forks is Titletown

The Skate for Eight is complete. For the first time since 2000 and eighth time in team history, the UND men's hockey team is
national champions, once again. The Green and White beat Quinnipiac 5-1 to earn the title. (Photo: Grand Forks Herald)

Flashback to Thursday night.

A centering pass from the sideboards deflects off of Gage Ausmus' stick and through Cam Johnson's five-hole to the back of the net with just over nine minutes left to go in the third period. Game tied, 2-2.

Remember that feeling? DDC sure does and will never forget it.

Move forward to Saturday night.

Austin Poganski slaps home a rebound in the slot over the left shoulder of Quinnipiac goaltender Michael Garteig, giving UND a commanding 5-1 lead with just over nine minutes to go in the third period.

Quite the difference in feelings almost exactly 48 hours apart, huh? Remember that feeling? DDC sure does and will never forget it.

Sixteen years of frustration. Sixteen years of heartache. Sixteen years of pain.

Well worth it.

For the first time since 2000, the University of North Dakota men's hockey team stands above all as national champions, topping Quinnipiac 5-1. How sweet it is. Eight was worth the wait.

Big-Time Players

UND Fr. F, Brock Boeser celebrates his short-handed goal to give the
Green and White a 2-0 lead in the first period. (Photo: Grand Forks Herald)

In the postgame press conference following sophomore forward Nick Schmaltz scoring North Dakota's biggest goal in over a decade to give UND a Frozen Four semifinal win, head coach Brad Berry noted that big-time players, like Schmaltz, score big-time goals in big-time spots.  

Well, it doesn't get any more big time than the national title game and once again, UND's big-time players, the now legendary CBS line, showed why they truly fit the definition.

With UND up 1-0 with just under six minutes left in the first, Brock Boeser raced Garteig to a loose puck in the slot. Garteig won the race, but Boeser knocked down Garteig's clearing attempt and calmly buried a short-handed goal giving the Green and White a 2-0 lead.

UND Sr. F, Drake Caggiula
earned tournament Most
Outstanding Player honors.

QU made it 2-1 late in the first on a 5-on-3 power play and the two teams played an even second. In the third, UND's big-time players went to work.

With just 1:20 gone in the third, Schmaltz picked a loose puck off the end boards, skated to the circle at the right of the net and rifled a perfect, cross-ice pass, through two defenders to a cutting Drake Caggiula in the slot. The senior did the rest, beating Garteig to give UND a 3-1 lead. Then, just over two minutes later, Paul LaDue hit a streaking Brock Boeser with a ridiculous 100-foot stretch pass. Boeser carried in, spun and fed Caggiula again who buried UND's fourth goal.

Big-time players making big-time plays in big-time spots. The CBS... seven points (3 goals, 4 assists), a combined +8, Boeser and Caggiula all-tournament team, Caggiula, Most Outstanding Player. What an incredible finish for this line as they become UND legends.

The Celebration

Again, what a difference in feelings between 48 hours. From stress and heartache to elation and celebration.

The seconds ticked down. The anticipation grew. The memories filled DDC's mind.

The tic-tic-tic-tac-toe. Pogo's go-to move. Hrynkiw relieves Cam. Cam returns and shuts out four-straight opponents. Caggiula's windmill. Domination in Cincinnati. Schmaltz's game winner.

Then ...

Celebration. (This is the full game, but 1 hour 54 minutes in, the party starts)

As Caggiula skated through the handshake line, his eyes welled up, ESPN caught a candid moment from the senior playing in his last game, with albeit some choice language.

UND Jr. D, Paul LaDue kisses the national title. (Photo: Grand Forks Herald)

"Oh my God. Four (censored) years for this."

What a year. What a team. What a way to finish.

UND believed it. UND earned it. And once again, for the eighth time in program history, the Green and White raised it.

Thank you, gentlemen, for an absolutely incredible ride. 

Thank you all for reading.