It was the perfect ending for the college hockey career for Battleford product Blake Young.
The former Battlefords North Stars forward ended his time with the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs with a national championship Saturday night in St. Paul, Minn. after defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 2-1 in the NCAA Frozen Four final.
Karson Kulhman led the way for the Bulldogs with a goal and an assist each, as they limited the Fighting Irish to 19 shots.
"That shows our mentality in the third period when we have the lead," Young told the media after the game.
"Guys buy into the system. We talked in the locker room between periods about getting pucks deep. The guys stepped up huge tonight."
It's the second national championship for the Bulldogs program, as they picked up a 3-2 overtime win in 2011 over the Michigan Wolverines in St. Paul.
The Bulldogs, who entered the tournament as the 16th and final team, defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 2-1 in Thursday's semifinal.
Young, who was held off the scoresheet in the championship, wrapped up his college hockey career with 16 points in 100 games.
Following the game, he also paid tribute to those involved in the Humboldt Broncos bus accident Friday, some of whom he had played with or against during his hockey career.
"I just told myself to go out there and lay it on the line tonight for the guys who can't do that anymore," Young said.
Young and sophomore defenceman Jarod Hilderman of Kamsack are the two Saskatchewan born players on the Bulldogs roster.Â
