How a 'different path' led a Nova Scotian to become an NCAA hero

Hockey player Jacob Quillan admits he overthinks things.

The 21-year-old grew up in Dartmouth, N.S., but is now a second-year forward for the NCAA Division I Quinnipiac University Bobcats of Hamden, Conn.

"I'm always running plays through my mind, what to do, visualizing," he said.

The day before last weekend's national championship game in Tampa, Fla., a thought popped into Quillan's mind: how would he celebrate if he scored in overtime in the final?

With the game tied 2-2 at the end of regulation against the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers, the Bobcats decided to run a play called "The Jet" to start overtime.

On. Repeat.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BobcatNation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BobcatNation</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NCAAHockey?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NCAAHockey</a> <a href="https://t.co/Lv5XXliA3Y">pic.twitter.com/Lv5XXliA3Y</a>

The play never worked when the team practised it, but this time it did. It took Quillan 10 seconds to end the game.

It sparked an epic celebration that paid homage to NHL legend Teemu Selanne, with Quillan throwing his gloves and pretending to shoot them with his stick. In the chaos, his stick and one of his gloves ended up in the stands.

"It was crazy," said Quillan.

The game capped an amazing season for Quillan. He was named the most outstanding player in the national championship tournament, as well as the national player of the month for April.

Quillan's success is all part of a plan he hatched in his early teens. He committed to play for Quinnipiac when he was 14.

Just like his role model and older brother, Nick Quillan, Jacob Quillan wanted to play hockey at U.S. prep schools and then play Division I hockey. Nick played for