A trio of Penticton Vees and a West Kelowna Warrior are on top of the collegiate hockey world.

For the first time ever, Quinnipiac is victorious in the NCAA MenÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s Ice Hockey Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥˜Frozen FourÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™ Championship.

The Bobcats, from Camden, Connecticut, defeated the Minnesota Golden Gophers in overtime, 3-2 on Saturday night.

Jacob Quillan, who played 20 games for the Vees in 2020-21, scored the winner just 10 seconds into the extra frame.

Quinnipiac scores seconds into OT and wins the national championship

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥” CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero)

The Bobcats were backstopped all postseason by Yaniv Perets, who played for the Vees in the 2019-20 season. Perets finished this season was a sparkling 34-4-3 record and 10 shutouts.

Another former Vee, Desi Burgart, was also on the champion winning Bobcats. Burgart, born and raised in Penticton, played the 2015-16 season with the team. The 24-year-old centreman was in his fifth and final season with Quinnipiac.

Charles-Alexis Legault a 19-year-old native of Kelowna, played last season with the Warriors. In his first year in university, Legault became an NCAA champion.

The win was the first ever for the University of Quinnipiac, after finishing the season 34-4-3. Despite losing in the Eastern College Athletic Conference tournament semifinals, the Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥˜cats defeated Merrimack, Ohio State and Michigan, before dispatching Minnesota to claim NCAA hockeyÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s holy grail..

READ MORE: NCAA hockey playoffs chock full of West Kelowna alumni

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bowen.assman@vernonmorningstar.com
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