St. Paul, MN (by way of my living room)

The Irish kept Fighting until the very last second, but Minnesota-Duluth proved they were the top 'Dawgs this time.  In front of a raucous Xcel Energy Center crowd -- essentially a home game for the Bulldogs, although there seemed to be more North Dakota fans there than anyone else -- Notre Dame's historic season came up just short of a magical ending, falling 2-1 in the title game.

Hats off to the Bulldogs, who were clearly the better team last night.  They played a solid game on both ends of the ice, outshooting the Irish 35-20 while limiting their scoring chances with a smart and smothering defense.  But it was an aggressive forecheck that proved to be the difference maker as Duluth's forwards challenged every puck in their offensive zone.  Both goals for the Bulldogs came off turnovers that resulted from this relentless pressure, and Notre Dame struggled to break out of their own end all evening.

Not to say the Irish didn't have their chances, though.  This squad has been cool under fire all season long, and last night was no different.   Notre Dame played a patient game - as usual - and took full advantage of what the Bulldogs gave them.  They just didn't give them enough.

Yet despite the heartbreaking conclusion, the 2017-18 campaign was chock full of individual and collective accomplishments to be celebrated:

• #2 National Ranking
• B1G Conference regular season and tournament champions
• School record 16-game win streak
• Second consecutive trip to the Frozen Four and fourth in school history
• National championship runner-up for the second time since 2008
• Jordan Gross, who along with Andrew Olglevie was named to the Frozen Four All-Tournament Team, skating in his 159th consecutive contest dating all the way back to the first game of his freshman season
• Jake Evans, who finished the season with 33 assists good for fifth-best in the nation, skating in his 131st consecutive game and 158th overall
• Cale Morris, who led the nation with 1202 saves and a 0.944 save percentage, becoming the school's first Mike Richter Award winner as well as earning B1G Goaltender and Player of the Year accolades
• Jeff Jackson garnering Penrose National Coach of the Year honors 

... any too many more to count.

Congratulations, boys, on a season for the ages...

and thanks for giving us one helluva ride!