When it comes to big games, you look for your playmakers to lead the way. That is exactly what junior Brandon Zurn did last Saturday when he scored twice and assisted on a third goal as Hamline defeated St. Mary's, 4-2, to advance to the NCAA D-III men's ice hockey championships. The Pipers (14-10-4) will play at UW-Stevens Point on Saturday, March 21 in a quarterfinal game.
The Mahtomedi junior leads the Pipers in points with 35 (16 goals, 19 assists). Last Saturday, Brandon tied the game at 1 with a first period goal. With just 1.5 seconds left in the second period, he spotted linemate Charlie Adams open at the side of the net for a goal that retied the game at 2.
In the third period, Adams fed Zurn for what proved to be the gamewinner at 2:54.Â
Hamline, winners of just three games the past two seasons, is now 14-10-4 overall. The 12 game improvement over last year's 2-22-1 mark is the biggest jump in college hockey this year. Zurn and the Pipers hope for one more so they can finish the season in town. The NCAA D-III tournament is set for Ridder Arena on march 27-28.Â
