Local Hockey Players Lead Yale to the NCAA Frozen Four

A trio of Yale University varsity hockey teammates with Bloomfield-area roots had a happy homecoming this Easter weekend as the Bulldogs overcame big odds to reach the NCAA's Frozen Four.

Yale, 20-12, overcame a one-goal deficit in the third period by scoring four unanswered goals in roughly five minutes to beat North Dakota 4-1 Saturday at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids. Andrew Miller, a standout forward who helped Cranbrook to consecutive state titles in 2006-07, helped the Bulldogs take the lead with an assist that propelled the school to its first Frozen Four since 1952.

"It's a great accomplishment. It's a great accomplishment for any team," said Miller, a team captain, according to the team's website. "We have a young team, and that helps us bounce back from a tough weekend. A little naïve which is good, but we brought it this weekend."

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Of Interest: Cranbrook Wins Division 3 State Title

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Saturday's comeback win followed an improbable 3-2 victory over top-seeded Minnesota in overtime on Friday. Miller, of Bloomfield Hills, tallied assists in both games, and was +2 overall against Minnesota, according to ncaa.com. He leads the Bulldogs with 16 goals and was second in assists headed into last weekend.

He's not the only Bulldog with Michigan roots that is making a difference this season. Junior forward Clinton Bourbonais, who played at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, has three goals and 11 assists; and freshman defenseman Ryan Obuchowski, of West Bloomfield, has three goals and nine assists, according to the team's website.

Obuchowski had two shots on goal and finished +3 in Saturday's game.

Yale now takes on UMass-Lowell at 4:30 p.m. April 11 from Pittsburgh.