ST. Jenkins Jersey . PAUL, Minn. - Michigan didnt back down from North Dakotas normally dominant attack, and goalie Kevin Hunwick did everything but stand on his head. Now the Wolverines will play for the national title the Fighting Sioux wanted so badly. Ben Winnetts first-period goal gave defensive-minded Michigan an early edge and Hunwick made 40 saves for his fourth shutout this season in a 2-0 victory over North Dakota on Thursday night in the NCAA semifinals. "I was pretty confident. I think Id rather be in a game like that than seeing 15 shots against," Hunwick said. Scooter Vaughan added an empty-netter with 35.8 seconds left, and the Wolverines (29-10-4) will meet Minnesota Duluth on Saturday. The Bulldogs beat Notre Dame 4-3 in the other semifinal at Xcel Energy Center, the home of the NHLs Minnesota Wild. "I think we outplayed their top players," said Winnett, a native of New Westminster, B.C., who with linemates Matt Rust and Luke Glendening harassed the Siouxs star forward, Edmontons Matt Frattin, and his teammates Evan Trupp and Brad Malone all night. The Fighting Sioux (32-9-3) saw their 15-game unbeaten streak end in crushing fashion. "To not win a national championship is heartbreaking," said defenceman Derrick LaPoint, one of six seniors who stuck together for four years instead of turning pro. They saw their college careers come to a sudden end after becoming the popular pick to win it all by beating Rensselaer and Denver with a combined 12-1 score last weekend at the regionals. The game was extra-physical, particularly in the first period while the Wolverines used their rugged, disciplined defence to set a sharp tone that persisted throughout the night. Sioux forward Brock Nelson slammed into the boards so hard after a hard check by Glendening that he left on a stretcher and went to a hospital as a precaution with what the team called a lower-body injury. "We all have that mindset that we want to block every shot," said Michigan captain Carl Hagelin. With two-dozen NHL draft picks between the teams, this was a classic matchup of college hockey powers. Michigans 34 NCAA tournament appearances, 24 Frozen Four trips and nine national championships are the most of any school. North Dakota has seven titles, tied with Denver for second place. Though both teams made it to the Frozen Four in 2008 and coach Dave Hakstol has led the Fighting Sioux to the national semifinals five times in seven seasons, the success in the last decade hasnt been as frequent -- at least by their standards -- for either side. Michigans last title was 1998. North Dakotas was 2000. The crowd -- announced as a standing-room sellout of 19,139 customers -- was awash in bright green and white shirts and jerseys to give North Dakota a noisy advantage with a steady serenade of pro-Sioux chants. The campus in Grand Forks is a five-hour drive from St. Paul, where North Dakota won the Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoff championship last month. The only remaining No. 1 seed in the tournament and the second-highest scoring team in the nation at 4.14 goals per game, the star-studded Sioux generated plenty of quality chances to score but were out of control at times, particularly on the power play. Hunwick made huge save after huge save, seeming to frustrate the North Dakota skaters. There were plenty of loud groans from the green-clad fans, sharing that angst. Winnett gave the Wolverines the lead when he grabbed his own rebound in the slot and zipped it past North Dakota goalie Aaron Dell from the right circle just 6:34 into the game, Winnetts first goal since late December. Hunwick, who took over as the starter on Dec. 11, has anchored a stout back-end unit. The Wolverines led the Central Collegiate Hockey Association in scoring defence, and Hunwicks goals-against average was 1.95 in league play. He had a run of 43 straight saves in the regional last weekend and is 20-5 this season. Frattin, a Toronto Maple Leafs prospect, made a nifty pass to captain Chad Genoway in the second period, but his slot shot was swatted away by Hunwick, one of seven Wolverines seniors who actually started their college careers on this same ice in October 2007 when they played in a mini-tournament hosted by Minnesota. North Dakota had a fourth power play midway through the third period, managing only one shot, and that was from the blue line. Michigan has killed 16-of-17 penalties in the NCAA tournament so far. Dell was pulled with 1:12 left, giving the Sioux an extra skater, but they couldnt punch one in and Vaughan sealed it a few seconds later. "I dont know if I had to make a save once they pulled their goalie," Hunwick said. "Guys were diving around like crazy." Hakstol spoke sternly, insisting the Sioux werent worried about wearing the favourite label and only focused on their own lofty expectations. "Just going to be brutally honest: I dont think anyone in our locker room considered the option of losing. Period," Hakstol said. From the coach to the players, the Sioux were adamant that they werent frustrated at any point, even if their performance suggested otherwise. Hakstol said he didnt see "one second" when doubt crept in for his team. "Everybody was loose. Everybody felt comfortable all night," LaPoint said. "There was nobody gripping their sticks too tight." Red Berenson, the stone-faced, raspy-voiced veteran of 27 seasons in charge of the Wolverines, was sympathetic toward the Sioux. He said they reminded him of his 1997 squad, a heavy favourite that lost in the semifinals to Boston College. "Theyve got to be stunned. I know we were," Berenson said, adding: "Theyre a better team. Theres no way we can match up with them, but in one game can you win that game? Absolutely." Bailey Jersey . Ellsbury doubled twice and also hit a solo homer. David Ortiz added a pair of two-baggers, while Adrian Gonzalez knocked in a run for Boston. John Lackey lasted 4 1/3 frames and gave up a run on six hits to earn the win. Bills Terrell Owens Jersey . Not this time. It seems that one of the worlds most fanatical soccer countries will have to live without its game. For a few days, a week, a month. 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The announcement was made during a press conference Monday afternoon at TD Garden, where Savard was joined by Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli and team physician Dr. Peter Asnis. "Im having headaches on and off, but the thing that scares me the most are the little memory things I forget," Savard said. "On the outside, you look normal when youre not wearing a cast or something, but inside, you feel it. I sleep more than usual and its definitely tough. "When I talked to (Boston coach) Claude (Julien) the other night, he was supportive and I actually said Id be sending text messages during periods to help out if I can, but its going to be tough." Marc Savard Center - BOS GOALS: 2 | ASST: 8 | PTS: 10 SOG: 50 | +/-: -7 Savard, 33, suffered the fourth concussion of his career and the second in 10 months on Jan. 22 against the Avalanche in Colorado when his head hit the bottom of the glass following a hit by former teammate Matt Hunwick. It was actually the second big hit he suffered in a week. He also collided with Penguins defenseman Deryk Engelland in the third period of a Jan. 15 game at TD Garden. "I do remember the (Hunwick) hit," Savard said. "When I got hit, I had a quick blackout and lost any energy I had at that point in the game. I felt weak. It wasnt Matts fault, though. I was skating fast, for once, and he finished his check. He contacted me twice since then and expressed to me how terrible he felt, but it wasnt a bad hit at all. "The hit against Pittsburgh (Engelland) might have added to it, though." Prior to the All-Star break, the Bruins decided to have Savard rest in his native Ontario before bringing him back to Boston last week. "I talked to family and friends over the break and the overall consensus was to say Im finished for the season and the playoffs because of my health," Savard said. "Its still really tough to swallow because of the team we have. To see (Zdeno Chara, Mark Recchi and Patrice Bergeron) here (at the press conference) is special to me. It makes the decision that much more tougher." LaFontaines post-concussion advice Hockey Hall of Fame center Pat LaFontaine, whose career was cut short as a result of post-concussion syndrome, understands what Boston Bruins forward Marc Savard is going through. Theres confusion and a feeling theres still plenty left in the tank -- everything LaFontaine once felt as a player. But LaFontaine, who now is making an even greater impact off the ice through his Companions in Courage Foundation to help children and their families overcome life-threatening obstacles, has some sound advice. "Once you get to a certain point with head injuries, theres no turning back," LaFontaine told NHL.com. "For some reason, we use up this reserve. We all start out with a full tank in reserve and every time we get hit, we deplete that resource. For some reason, when were on empty, what used to take us a week or two weeks to bounce back, is now taking us months and sometimes years. "Theres no silver lining or crystal ball out there that says we can regenerate neurons yet, so my hope for Marc is that he gets the right advice, takes care of his head and makes sure that … the worse thing you can do is come back too early. You wouldnt only be jeopardizing your career, but you might also suffer long-term damage." LaFontaine, who had 468 goals and 1,013 points despite missing parts of three seasons during a career that spanned 15 years with the New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres and New York Rangers, announced his retirement from hockey at the age of 34 on Oct. 12, 1999. He first was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome during the 1996-97 campaign after a high hit by Pittsburghs Francois Leroux. Doctors advised LaFontaine not to return, but hhe did and never was really the same. Josh Hamilton Authentic Jersey. "I never heard from Francois, but you put that stuff behind you," LaFontaine said. "The irony here is that 13 years after my hit, were seeing a lot of similar situations in the game. No one is to blame, but were all responsible in putting a stop to it. Hockey is a great game, but we do need to make it safer and better for the players so that they can play a long career and then live a good life after hockey. We need to continue to grow the game and think about the well-being of our players. Were a fraternity." -- Mike G. Morreale He was evaluated by doctors last Friday and Chiarelli, Savard and his agent, Larry Kelly, met Saturday to discuss the best course of action following the last medical exam. It was at that time the group reached the conclusion that Savard, who has missed the last five games, shouldnt return to game action until next season. "Theres a lot of emotions right now," Savard said. "I think Im frustrated mostly. Its tough to understand why this happens and the most frustrating thing is to not know really whats going on and how to cure it -- I think its time and patience. But those are things I feel I dont have much of." The only prescription right now is plenty of rest. "Initially, the only thing he needs to focus on is removing all exertion, which means mental and physical exertion," Asnis said. "Its removing all stress-related things and as he progresses, well follow a slow protocol to gradually get back into it." And Savard has every intention of returning to the ice. "Im obviously going to get more medial tests done and then Ill be able to make a clearer decision on what my future is but, right now, Im hoping to continue at some point again," Savard said. Savard was sidelined the first 23 games of the season dealing with concussion-related symptoms resulting from the devastating third-period hit by Pittsburghs Matt Cooke on March 7, 2010. He suffered a Grade 2 concussion and missed the last 18 games of the regular season, but was eventually cleared to participate in the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Philadelphia Flyers. He scored the game-winning goal in overtime of Game 1 -- his only goal in a seven-game playoff loss. Asnis doesnt believe any cumulative damage occurred during this concussion as a result of the Cooke hit last season. "Marc had complete relief of all the symptoms of last year and he sustained a hit (by Hunwick) that was an appropriate hit to cause a concussion," he said. "There is certainly speculation about cumulative effects of concussion and research going on. As far as this hit goes, he sustained a concussion that he likely would have received whether or not he had a concussion last year." Savard made his 2010-11 debut on Dec. 2 and would play a part in 25 games this season, producing 2 goals, 10 points and a minus-7 rating. He has 207 goals and 706 points in 807 games over a career spanning 12-plus seasons with the New York Rangers, Calgary Flames, Atlanta Thrashers and Bruins. He was chosen by the New York Rangers in the fourth round (No. 91) of the 1995 Entry Draft. The two-time All-Star, who was signed to a seven-year contract extension on Dec. 1, 2009, has played 67 games since the start of the 2009-10 campaign, notching 12 goals and 43 points with a minus-5 rating. Savard will be placed on long term injured reserve, which will free up some cap space for Chiarelli to possibly reinforce the lineup prior to the Feb. 28 trade deadline. Savard has an annual cap hit of over $4 million. "Our strength has been down the middle and now theres a gap," Chiarelli said. "Were not going to be able to replace Marc, but well be diligent and see whats out there. Were looking at (2007 first-round choice) Zach Hamill down the middle, but we might want some experience, too. We have some space now for replacement players, so in the weeks leading up to the trade deadline, well be busy." Follow Mike Morreale on Twitter at: @mike_morreale ' ' '