Bruins fans who had grown accustomed to late-night games during the team’s recent West Coast road trip were in for a treat if they stayed up Thursday to watch NCAA tournament hockey.
After a lengthy wait for Western Michigan to finally secure a victory over Minnesota State in the first Fargo regional semifinal, UMass and Minnesota faced off at Scheels Arena in a game that turned into an instant classic. The Gophers entered the third period with a comfortable 3-1 lead, but UMass mounted a thrilling comeback, scoring three goals in the final frame. However, Minnesota responded with a late equalizer to force overtime. Just under five minutes into the extra period, Aydar Suniev delivered the decisive goal, propelling UMass to the regional final on Saturday night with a coveted Frozen Four berth on the line.
A major factor in UMass’ comeback victory was Bruins prospect Dans Locmelis. Boston secured the rights to the Latvian center by selecting him in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Draft, and he has since developed into a key playmaker for the Minutemen.
Locmelis has had a solid collegiate career at UMass, particularly in his role as a facilitator. Although he scored only six goals this season, he made up for it with 23 assists, proving his ability to create opportunities for his teammates. His playmaking skills were on full display Thursday night, as he contributed two crucial assists and finished the game with a plus-3 rating. His most impressive moment came in overtime when he set up the game-winning goal with a perfectly executed backhanded saucer pass through traffic, a play that showcased his vision and precision.
While Locmelis’ statistics may not be eye-popping, his ability to read the game and deliver in clutch moments makes him an intriguing prospect for the Bruins. His pass on the game-winning goal—a well-placed feed through a tight lane—demonstrated the type of skill that could translate well to the NHL level. Just look at where he was positioned in the circle and how Suniev was set up in the diamond, along with the precise patch of ice where he placed the pass.
