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The Championship game between Purdue University NW and Marian University did not have to wait long before the game’s first penalty was whistled. Just 48 seconds had ticked off the clock when PNW went on the powerplay. They scored even faster as Jacob Behnke lit the lamp after just 8 seconds had elapsed. PNW was back on the man advantage at 1:36, growing to a 5-on-3 17 seconds later. However, Marian’s penalty kill held strong and the score remained 1-0. An interference penalty on PNW at 4:39 gave Marian’s powerplay unit its first opportunity but they could not convert. PNW found themselves back in the box at 13:14. A Marian flurry as the penalty was running down could not provide the tying goal, coming up emptyhanded for a second time.

 

PNW found themselves back on the defensive to start the second period as they had 1:49 to kill off of the high sticking penalty they received as the first period was winding down. The PNW penalty kill kept Marian off the board and they clung to their 1-0 lead. The penalty kill units stayed busy over the ensuing 16 minutes but they held up their end of the bargain. The tide changed when a bouncing puck popped behind Luka Krstulovich and Devon Butler pushed the puck over the goal line, putting Marian on the board at 18:21. Then, after Anthony O’Neal beat the PNW defenseman for a loose puck, he led a 3 on 1 rush, feeding a wide open Easton Nick to give Marian their first lead in the game at 19:20.

 

Holding a 2-1 lead, only 20 minutes stood between Marian and repeating as NCHL Conference Tournament Champions. PNW came out with a sense of urgency and tied the game 1:17 into the third period. Scoring the unlikely goal was Alex Moon, with an assist by Adam Napravnik. The PNW penalty kill did one better after being called for a penalty at 7:06. RJ Swaw went in on a breakaway and deked around McArthur, who rushed out of the crease to challenge him, and put home the shorthanded goal at 7:44 to give PNW a 3-2 lead. Marian pulled McArthur at 18:58 for an extra attacker. The move paid off as with 20 seconds left Jace Weber let go a wrister into the upper left corner of the net, sending the game to overtime.

 

The first few minutes of overtime are always the most perilous and this was no different. A PNW penalty at 4:49 gave the Marian powerplay unit one more chance to convert, however, after 19 seconds they were whistled for a hooking penalty. On the ensuing 4-on-4, Blake Stafford picked the PNW defender trying to break out of their zone, made a move on the second defender, and beat Krstulovich five-hole to claim Marian’s sixth Hap Cup.