DaytonDailyNews.com

MINNEAPOLIS — Miami senior winger Justin Mercier loves playing college hockey. On Saturday, March 28, he found a way to extend his collegiate career by two more weeks.

Mercier scored power play and short-handed goals in the second period of the NCAA West Regional final, sparking the RedHawks' 2-1 win over Minnesota Duluth, and sending Miami to the program's first Frozen Four appearance.

"You never want to think about your last game, and speaking for all of the seniors, we didn't want this to be it," Mercier said.

Miami (22-12-5) entered NCAA tournament play as the fourth seed in the West, but upset top seed Denver and second seed Minnesota Duluth. The RedHawks will face either Cornell or Bemidji State in Washington, D.C., April 9.

Cody Reichard had 25 saves in goal for the RedHawks.

"Like I told the guys in the locker room, I'm a little bit lost for words right now," RedHawks coach Enrico Blasi said. "It was a great game, a great effort and a great crowd. I think the fans were entertained with a pretty good hockey game tonight, and we're pretty excited about going to the Frozen Four."

After a scoreless opening period, the second was all about special teams for the RedHawks, who killed a pair of 5-on-3 power plays, then took the lead. Mercier capped a short-handed rush to the net near the halfway mark of the game, ripping a rising shot over the left shoulder of Bulldogs goaltender Alex Stalock.

The Bulldogs thought they'd forged a 1-1 tie on a power play when a shot by MacGregor Sharp eluded traffic and ended up in the net. But after a video review, the referees ruled no goal, noting Bulldog Justin Fontaine's skate was in the crease before the puck went in.

"He said (Fontaine's) foot was in the crease and he was impeding the vision of the goaltender," Bulldogs coach Scott Sandelin said. "Was his foot in? Yes. But they were battling for position. I can't say what I really want to say."

Mercier then doubled his team's lead later in the second, tipping a long-range Chris Wideman shot past Stalock with the RedHawks on a power play.

The Bulldogs (22-13-5) were held off the board until 2:05 remained, when Sharp scored.

The RedHawks played solid defense and got some good fortune in the opening period, limiting the Bulldogs to six shots on goal, while seeing two Minnesota Duluth shots hit the right goalpost.

Mercier was named the regional's MVP. Reichard and defenseman Cameron Schilling joined him on the all-tourney team.

The RedHawks are the first Ohio team to make a Frozen Four appearance since Ohio State got there in 1998. Bowling Green won the national championship in 1984.