Clay Matvick, an experienced play-by-play announcer for ESPN, reflects on his early broadcasting days this weekend as he returns to Grand Forks. He made a mark in the sports world in 2006 when he called the NCAA West Regional at Ralph Engelstad Arena. That tournament hosted a memorable game where the fourth-seeded Holy Cross team upset the top-seeded Minnesota squad in a stunning 4-3 overtime victory.
Matvick’s Memorable ESPN Debut
Holy Cross entered the game as underdogs and defied expectations. Matvick recalled, “Holy Cross had no business beating Minnesota… but they had a veteran team with a lot of seniors.” This experience proved crucial as they triumphed over a younger, talented Minnesota team. Tyler MacGregor scored the winning goal in the first minute of overtime, shaking the arena with excitement.
North Dakota’s Victory March
The University of North Dakota (UND) continued to dominate that day, defeating Michigan 5-1 in their game. Notable goals came from Ryan Duncan, T.J. Oshie, Drew Stafford, Jonathan Toews, and Travis Zajac, who is now UND’s associate head coach. The following day, UND faced Holy Cross and secured a spot in the NCAA Frozen Four with a 5-2 victory.
Upcoming Series Against Arizona State
Matvick will revisit Grand Forks this weekend, calling a two-game series between No. 6 UND and Arizona State. The games are scheduled for 7:07 p.m. Friday and 6:07 p.m. Saturday. He fills in for Alex Heinert, who is occupied with soccer qualifying games for Fox Sports.
Broadcast Details
- When: 7:07 p.m. Friday, 6:07 p.m. Saturday
- Where: Ralph Engelstad Arena
- TV: Midco Sports (GF Ch. 27/622 HD)
- Radio: The Fox (96.1 FM)
- Stream: NCHChockey.com/tv
Additionally, Friday’s game will also be broadcast on TSN5 in Canada. Matvick, who has been with ESPN for over 20 years, has called numerous NCAA hockey games, including several notable upsets. He noted how the competition in college hockey has evolved significantly over the years, stating that what once seemed like a major upset is now more common due to increased parity among teams.
Legacy of Upsets
The Holy Cross vs. Minnesota game remains a topic of conversation among fans. “It’s the game people still ask me about,” Matvick shared. His journey in sports commentary continues, filled with various assignments across different sports.
This weekend in Grand Forks promises to be another chapter in Matvick’s illustrious career as he highlights the thrill of college hockey and reflects on its history. Fans are eager to see both the performance of UND and Matvick’s insights as he calls the games.
