Peter Krieger had nearly a week in a 2008 Audi A4 to contemplate what his future held. 

The former St. Thomas Academy forward trekked across Canada with his mother from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks to his new home on the campus of Minnesota-Duluth, where Krieger would embark on the next chapter of his already-epic hockey journey. 

“The six-day car ride back home left (time) for a lot of thinking, but once I got on campus it was so awesome and easy,” Krieger said of his adjustment. 

“The opportunity to come back to Minnesota, and the pride and tradition of Bulldog hockey and the support from the community and the alumni, it was just a no-brainer,” Krieger added. 

That opportunity and decisiveness had eluded Krieger until that point, with a post-high school career freckled with changes of scenery.

Despite totaling 36 goals and 111 points in three varsity seasons with the Cadets, Krieger found himself without any Division I offers upon graduation, instead heading to Aberdeen (SD) where he posted 22 goals and 54 points and earned All-NAHL All-Rookie First Team honors 

The Waterloo Blackhawks selected Krieger in the seventh round (99th overall) of the USHL Entry Draft, a chance to play at a higher level that Krieger subsequently turned into a USHL All-Star campaign of 67 points and two seasons in Fairbanks.  

“I’ve kind of taken the road less-traveled for most of my life,” Krieger said with a chuckle.

After executing at every level for seven consecutive seasons, Krieger’s career momentum was halted by the NCAA transfer rule, as he was forced to sit out the Bulldogs’ run to the 2017 national championship game. 

“Initially, I thought (sitting out) would be a lot harder than it was,” Krieger said. “One of the reasons it was was so easy was just the team culture and identity that coach (Scott) Sandelin has built,” Krieger added, also crediting his veteran roommates for his seamless transition that first year.

After totaling 11 goals and 30 points during the 2017-2018 season, Krieger and the Bulldogs entered the NCAA tournament after edging the University of Minnesota by .0001 of a point for the final at-large bid, and turned the cheapest of tickets to the big dance into a spot in the royal court with wins over Minnesota State and Air Force.  

“We approached everything the right way, and that’s instilled from the top-down,” Krieger said.

“I’m a believer that everything happens for a reason, and all we needed was a chance.”

On full display last weekend, the Bulldogs took full advantage of that chance, knocking off Notre Dame to earn the program’s second national title with a 2-1 win.    

Going from being ineligible to play to the national championship at St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center was a fitting path for Krieger, who couldn’t help but feel a little sentimental on college hockey’s biggest stage. 

“To have it be in St. Paul where your family and friends like five minutes from there, it was a whirlwind of emotions,” Krieger said. 

“I think it was such a blessing, such an unbelievable opportunity for all of us.