Cranbrook Grad Andrew Miller Lifts Yale into Frozen Four Finals

Andrew Miller on Thursday ensured his stellar season continued and now has the Yale Bulldogs positioned to win the NCAA national championship following a 3-2 win over UMass Lowell.

The senior captain received a bouncing puck from teammates close to center ice and accelerated wide of two opponents before flicking a backhand between the extended legs of the goalie at 6:59 in overtime for the dramatic win. His teammates immediately spilled over the barrier and mobbed him along the boards to celebrate the win that was televised on ESPN.

“That’s probably the biggest goal in the history of Yale hockey,” Head Coach Keith Allain said, according to the team's website.

Miller, a standout forward who helped Cranbrook to consecutive state titles in 2006-07, also tallied an assist in the game. He now has 113 for his career, which ties a school record.

It was a fitting way for Miller to follow up several strong postseason performances.

Miller, of Bloomfield Hills, and fellow Michigan natives Clinton Bourbonais (Orchard Lake St. Mary’s), and Ryan Obuchowski (West Bloomfield) had a fine homecoming over Easter weekend when the Bulldogs defeated heavily favored Minnesota and North Dakota in consecutive games at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids.

Yale is playing in its first Frozen Four since 1952 and has a chance to win the school's first national title in any sport.

"It's an honor to represent our school in the national championship. We've got a great group of guys and we're going to try and win it," he told ESPN during an on-ice interview following the semi-final game.

The Bulldogs, 21-12-3, will play Quinnipiac in Saturday's final in Pittsburgh.