UMass, Notre Dame go into five overtimes in record NCAA hockey game

Ray Slover

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UMass, Notre Dame go into five overtimes in record NCAA hockey game image

After more than 151 minutes of play, Massachusetts fans could thank Shane Walsh for ending the longest hockey game in NCAA Division I history.

And then, they could go to bed. Because … the teams were scheduled to play the second game of their series Saturday night.

It was 1:30 a.m. ET in South Bend, Ind., when Walsh gave UMass its lengthy and surprising victory. The Minutemen are the 12th seed in Hockey East's conference tournament.

"I'm awfully proud and happy for our guys," UMass coach John Micheletto said. "You like them to be rewarded. They believed and stuck to the game plan."

Walsh's goal came in the fifth overtime period, ending the game at 151:42. Two other times of note: Despite its length this game eclipsed the duration record by 80 seconds; and the teams played more than 111 minutes before Walsh's goal.

That's right, a game that needed the equivalent of 7½ periods included a scoreless stretch of 5½ periods.

Whew. How did they do it?

"There's really no magical potent there," Micheletto said. "It's just about will at some point."

Steven Iacobellis scored two times in the second period and was initially credited with a power-play goal with two seconds left to tie it 4-4. Instead, the goal was given to Troy Power.

And then, the lid fell. Notre Dame goaltender Cal Petersen ran off 51 of his NCAA-record 87 saves in overtime. Steve Mastalerz had 75 saves for UMass.

Neither was there any penalties called after the second period.

"It felt like it was never going to end," Notre Dame defenseman Robbie Russo said. "It just felt like the puck was never going to go in."

Rubber game in the series, if needed, is scheduled for Sunday night. Fluids by the truckload are recommended.

Contributing: Gabrielle McMillen

Ray Slover