<p>The <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-prospect-tom-willander-boston-university-terriers-advance-wild-ncaa-tournament-opener">Boston University Terriers</a> are heading to the National Championship game.</p>
<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2111" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="329"></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>In a tightly contested Frozen Four semifinal against Penn State on Thursday, <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/combinations">Vancouver Canucks</a> prospects <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/tom-willanders-road-vancouver-when-will-vancouver-canucks-prized-prospect-sign">Tom Willander</a> and Aiden Celebrini helped their team secure a 3-1 victory, earning a spot in the national championship game.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The final college hockey game of the season is on Saturday, and we’re playing in it.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ProudToBU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ProudToBU</a> <a href="https://t.co/NdkF37AgMs">pic.twitter.com/NdkF37AgMs</a></p>
<p>&mdash; BU Men&#39;s Hockey (@TerrierHockey) <a href="https://twitter.com/TerrierHockey/status/1910556017403764751?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>With the win, the Terriers will face Western Michigan on Saturday, April 12th, at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri, with a chance to claim their first national title since 2009 in their first championship appearance since 2015.</p>
<p>The game, delayed over an hour due to a double-overtime thriller in the earlier semifinal, started with a jittery opening period as both teams struggled to find their rhythm.</p>
<p>However, BU settled in during the second frame, jumping ahead for two goals to take a commanding lead into the final period with goals from Jack Hughes and Cole Eiserman.</p>
<p>Penn State battled back early in the third, cutting the deficit to one, but the Terriers stood tall. With the Lions pulling their goaltender late, BU sealed the victory with an empty-net goal, where Tom Willander notched an assist on the insurance marker.</p>
<p>The win keeps BU’s championship dreams alive but further delays any potential move for Willander to the Vancouver Canucks, should he opt to turn pro.</p>
<p>With Vancouver’s regular season winding down — only two games remain after Saturday — the window to sign an NHL Entry-Level Contract and burn a year off his deal is nearly closed.</p>
<p>If Willander chooses to begin his professional career this season, the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks, who have officially clinched a playoff berth, stands as the most likely destination. However, the option to return for his junior year is still a reported possibility.</p>
<p>The Championship game is set for Saturday, April 12th at 4:30 pm PT, where Tom Willander and Aiden Celebrini will look to etch their names in NCAA history.</p>
<p><strong>Sponsored by bet365</strong></p>
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="19111" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


The <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-prospect-tom-willander-boston-university-terriers-advance-wild-ncaa-tournament-opener">Boston University Terriers</a> are heading to the National Championship game.
<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2111" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="329"></div>
&nbsp;

In a tightly contested Frozen Four semifinal against Penn State on Thursday, <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/combinations">Vancouver Canucks</a> prospects <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/tom-willanders-road-vancouver-when-will-vancouver-canucks-prized-prospect-sign">Tom Willander</a> and Aiden Celebrini helped their team secure a 3-1 victory, earning a spot in the national championship game.

https://twitter.com/TerrierHockey/status/1910556017403764751

With the win, the Terriers will face Western Michigan on Saturday, April 12th, at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri, with a chance to claim their first national title since 2009 in their first championship appearance since 2015.

The game, delayed over an hour due to a double-overtime thriller in the earlier semifinal, started with a jittery opening period as both teams struggled to find their rhythm.

However, BU settled in during the second frame, jumping ahead for two goals to take a commanding lead into the final period with goals from Jack Hughes and Cole Eiserman.

Penn State battled back early in the third, cutting the deficit to one, but the Terriers stood tall. With the Lions pulling their goaltender late, BU sealed the victory with an empty-net goal, where Tom Willander notched an assist on the insurance marker.

The win keeps BU’s championship dreams alive but further delays any potential move for Willander to the Vancouver Canucks, should he opt to turn pro.

With Vancouver’s regular season winding down — only two games remain after Saturday — the window to sign an NHL Entry-Level Contract and burn a year off his deal is nearly closed.

If Willander chooses to begin his professional career this season, the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks, who have officially clinched a playoff berth, stands as the most likely destination. However, the option to return for his junior year is still a reported possibility.

The Championship game is set for Saturday, April 12th at 4:30 pm PT, where Tom Willander and Aiden Celebrini will look to etch their names in NCAA history.

<strong>Sponsored by bet365</strong>
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="19111" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>
&nbsp;

Recent articles from Dave Hall

Breaking News