Dakota College at Bottineau defeated Erie CC in overtime 4-3 Sunday afternoon at the SUNY Broome Ice Center to become the 2016 NJCAA National Ice Hockey Champions. The Jacks struck first in the championship game on a goal from Viktor Brask at 16:48 in the first period with the assist going to Charles Joly.
The #1 seeded Kats responded with two unanswered goals in the second period. The first goal came from Michael Krause at the 4:28 mark and Trevor Evans found the back of the net at 10:05, both goals were assisted by Christian Nati. #2 seed Dakota then scored two goals in a 49 second span for 3-2 lead going into the second intermission. Both goals were unassisted, the first came on a power play from Michael Wirth at the 15:33 mark and the second came from Lucas Walsh.
With 47 seconds left to play in the game the defending national champs came up big to tie the game at 3-all on a goal from Aaron Wanat courtesy of an assist by Tim Duffy. The Kats celebration was short-lived, all it took was 31 seconds into the overtime period for tournament MVP, Phoenix McElroy-Scott, to net the game-winner with assists going to Bryce Enns and Michael Wirth.
Ken Fitzgerald stopped 25 shots for Dakota while Will Korczynski had 48 stops in goal for Erie.
2016 NJCAA All-Tournament Team:
Forward - Trevor Evans -Erie Community College
Forward - Lucas Walsh - Dakota College of Bottineau
Forward - Michael Wirth - Dakota College of Bottineau
Defense - Tanner Mundahl - Dakota College of Bottineau
Defense - Richard Procknal - Erie Community College
Goalie - William Korczynski - Erie Community College
2016 NJCAA Tournament MVP:
Forward - Phoenix McElroy-Scott - Dakota College of Bottineau
2016 NJCAA National Coach of the Tournament:
Travis Rybchinski - Dakota College of Bottineau
@NJCAA