Nazar's Unforgettable Pass Helped Wolverines Reach Frozen Four
Coach Naurato noted that while 'super impressive,' the play wasn't 'a fancy move,' and symbolizes how his team is playing loose, 'winning hockey' headed into Thursday's national semi-final
Photo Courtesy of Michigan Photography
Frank Nazar III is a ‘game-breaker’ for an offense hitting on all cylinders at the right time.
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Frank Nazar III made the play Wolverine hockey fans will be talking about for years to come.
With the Wolverines up one goal and seven minutes remaining in the NCAA Midwest Regional final March 31 against Michigan State, Nazar was cruising in on goal from the left and quickly positioned his slightly curved stick out front and straight up off the ice.
Then he flicked the stick and puck through his legs, through two defenders, and across the crease to Gavin Brindley. He buried the one-timer to help put away a 5-2 win that has Michigan in Thursday night’s Frozen Four semi-final with Boston College at 8:30 on ESPN2.
Nazar called it “Michigan 2.0,” adding that he’d practiced the move with little success.
His reaction when it worked to perfection?
“It was more like, ‘Oh, my God, really? We just scored and we’re up two goals with seven minutes to go, and we’re about to go to the Frozen Four!’ ” Nazar said. “I wasn’t like, ‘Oh, my God, I just made that pass.’ It was more of like, ‘Oh, my gosh, we’re about to win the game.’ That just set us up in a good spot. So, that’s why I was more excited [about that] than the play.
“My phone’s been blowing up a lot about it – which is a little crazy. But it’s pretty cool.”
Wolverine coach Brandon Naurato said of Nazar: “That’s what he does. He’s a game-breaker, and it was the right play, too. It wasn’t a fancy move. The lane wasn’t there on his back-hand, and for him to do that on that stage, is something we see all the time [in practices]. But it’s super impressive.”
Naurato said that play symbolizes just how loose his team has become while “learning to play winning hockey.”
He noted: “Now, they’re making the right play at the right time. But they feel free to use their creativity while they playing winning hockey – which is tough to do. And we’re doing it at the right time of the year, which is great.”
Nazar, a sophomore from Mount Clemens, Mich., was a first-round draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks (No. 13 overall) in 2022. He scored 17 goals with 46 points this season, and senses that looseness Naurato touched upon.
“It definitely feels different to me,” he said while comparing 2023 to 2024. “A few guys were bringing that up over the weekend. I can’t really explain how or why, but it feels like you’ve got nothing to lose now.
“Just throw it all out there and give it what we’ve got.”
The Wolverines are advancing thanks to nine goals in two NCAA tournament games.
Brindley recalled the Nazar pass that led to his 25th goal of the season: “That was pretty ridiculous. He gave me one of those a while ago when we were playing together and I fanned on it. So, I made sure it wouldn’t happen again. I mean, he was unbelievable this whole weekend, against North Dakota and today, and I was just lucky enough to bury it.”
Michigan’s hottest scorer is Dylan Duke, who has a team-high 26 after tallying five in the last three games.
Nazar said of Duke: “That guy is just a workhorse. He always brings it out at the best times and in the best games, and you’ll just see him trying to go to the net at all times.
“You can even see him doing it in practice. He comes in every day and just works his tail off, and it shows in the games.”
The Wolverines (23-14-3) had been out-scored, 48-44, in third periods until taking an 8-2 advantage in the final period in the last three games.
“It’s how bad we wanted it,” explained Nazar. “Just coming out with a mean look and a mean thought, saying, ‘We’re going to win this game.’ And going out and executing and following the game plan.
“And, obviously, it’s a little bit different than how we started the season. So, that’s something we’ve been working on. And I’m really proud of everyone who just went out and skated and gave it their all, and we were able to execute.”
Nazar scored the only third-period goal in the Big Ten championship game, forcing overtime against the Spartans before losing, 5-4.
He added that Michigan pointed to the regional final victory over MSU “and wanted it really bad – especially after losing in overtime” to their arch-rivals March 23 in East Lansing.
The Spartans were the lone No. 1 seed in the four regionals not advancing to this stacked Frozen Four. Denver and Boston University play in the opening semi-final game Thursday in St. Paul, Minn., at 5 p.m.
“I wouldn’t say, necessarily, that it’s a bigger stage,” said Nazar, whose Wolverines were seeded No. 3 in the Midwest and No. 10 overall in the 16-team tournament. “Obviously, a Frozen Four is a Frozen Four.”
Michigan was a No. 1 seed last year, and seeded No. 3 overall before losing to eventual national champion Quinnipiac, 5-2, in the semi-finals in Tampa.
“There’s a ton of good teams battling to get in,” Nazar said, “and four good teams made their way in. I think the difference between this year and last year is we don’t really have anything to lose this year. Last year, we had a really good team with a lot of great players [including Hobey Baker Award winner Adam Fantilli], and we were almost expected to do well.
“And this year, it almost seems like everyone is kind of against us. It just feels better to be pulling out these games, and winning, and to be there with the top teams in the country.”
Nazar said he never felt like himself last year, when a lower-body injury requiring surgery delayed his debut until Feb. 10 and he scored two goals in 13 games.
So, how special is it having another go in the Frozen Four with a full season under his belt?
“It feels great, honestly,” said Nazar. “Like the first question, ‘Does it feel different?’ For me, it does in that scenario. Just being able to know that I can be myself, and play my game, and kind of help the team win in any way possible.”
If winning requires him scoring with his lethal one-timer or performing a little stick magic to set up a teammate, Nazar is more than up to the challenge.
Loved reading that story, especially the part about how loose this team is and how much they’re enjoying the Big Stage. I can’t wait to see how that translates into Thursday night’s result!
Great article! This Michigan team slayed dragons in nemeses and rivals Notre Dame, Minnesota, North Dakota and Michigan State to get to the Frozen Four. They obviously have the toughest path to win a National Championship, yet maybe this time they’ll be rewarded in a season where the win-loss record isn’t great, but the tenacity is.