With extra adrenaline pumping during the start of the hockey championships, body checks get that much harder. That much was apparent during the third period of Friday's matchup between Boston University and North Dakota.
Midway into the final period of play, North Dakota's Mike Gornall leaned his left shoulder into BU's Kieffer Bellows gliding up the ice on the left side, knocking him off his feet and causing the entire glass panel to shatter.
WOWOWOW!!
â NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 24, 2017
This is college hockey! #NCAAHockey pic.twitter.com/Bck5m2LiRY
Just wow. The play caused a 14-minute delay in game action as staff members skated onto the ice to clean up the scattered shards and replace the board. The fan seated right behind the broken board was medically treated for what appeared to be a minor cut on his arm and was shown returning to his seat to take in the rest of the game.
The hit seemed to revive the Fighting Hawks, who trailed 3-1 before the delay. North Dakota then scored consecutive goals once play resumed to force overtime.
Boston University ultimately won Friday's regional semifinal 4-3 in double overtime.
