Six unanswered goals carried the Hope College ice hockey team to a 6-1 win over Oakland in the championship game of the Michigan Collegiate Hockey Conference Tournament on Saturday at Georgetown Ice Arena.

Coach Chris Van Timmeren's Flying Dutchmen became Vezina Cup champions for the fourth time in school history. They joined the 2008, 2007 and 2004 teams.

Hope (24-3-3) next will play at the American Collegiate Hockey Association's national championship on March 10-14 in Pelham, Alabama.

The Flying Dutch skate into the national tournament with the momentum of being just the second team of 35 in the country to beat Oakland.

Hope claimed its seventh consecutive win on the season behind 39 saves from junior goalie Eric Lipon of Brighton, Michigan (Brighton HS). He did not allow a goal after Oakland grabbed a 1-0 lead with 12 minutes, 21 seconds remaining in the first period.

Junior forward Ryan Restum of East Lansing, Michigan (Okemos HS), scored his 18th and 19thgoals of the season for the Flying Dutchmen. He also added one assist.

Senior forward Drew O'Brien of East Grand Rapids, Michigan (East Grand Rapids HS), added one goal and three assists to give him a team-leading 44 points on the season. O'Brien snapped a 1-1 tie with 1:21 remaining in the first period.

O'Brien and senior forward Caleb Morgan of Traverse City, Michigan (Traverse City Central HS), chipped in two assists apiece during a three-goal second period for Hope. Morgan finished with three assists.

Photo by Lori O'Brien