Clarkson Wins Desert Hockey Classic Championship

The team from Northern NY celebrated a weekend in the desert in style as Clarkson University skated away with the championship title of the Desert Hockey Classic in Glendale, AZ on Saturday by knocking off defending national champion Minnesota Duluth 3-1 at Gila Arena in the tournament championship game. Featuring the toughest field of all the holiday tournaments with all four teams ranked in the Top 20, it was the #19 Golden Knights who carried off the Cactus Trophy for their third consecutive in-season tournament title. The Green and Gold advanced to the championship game after shutting out #13 Arizona State 3-0 on Friday. Third-ranked Minnesota Duluth defeated #8 Minnesota State 4-3 in overtime in the other first round game on Friday. After posting 15 saves in Friday's shutout over the Sun Devils, junior Jake Kielly (Eden Prairie, MN) followed with 29 stops against Minnesota Duluth (11-5-2) to earn Desert Hockey Classic MVP honors. Winners of three straight, the Knights improve to 11-6. Clarkson closes out non-league play next Sunday at Vermont before returning to ECAC Hockey action on January 11-12, hosting Union and RPI at Cheel Arena.