There four NCAA hockey teams that have not hung up their skates, have not turned in their uniforms and have not hit the golf course for the summer. There are four solid teams remaining in the running for the national championship as they head to Tampa, Fla. for the Frozen Four in two weeks.
Two teams have combined for 43 appearances in the Frozen Four and nine national titles while the other two have combined for seven NCAA tournament wins. The common thing all four teams have is they all won their regular season championship this season. One thing is guaranteed, it will be a David vs. Goliath match up at 7:00 p.m. in the national championship game.
Before we get that far ahead, there are two semifinal games to be played Thursday, April 5. The Ferris State Bulldogs will take on Union Dutchman in the first semifinal at 4:30 p.m. EDT on ESPNU. In the nightcap, Boston College Eagles and Minnesota Golden Gophers skate at 8 p.m on ESPN2.
Northeast Regional: Boston College Shuts Out Competition
Who would have thought Boston College would receive a bigger challenge from Air Force than Minnesota-Duluth? That’s exactly what happened at the Eagles beat the Falcons 2-0 and took out the defending national champions 4-0. Heading to Tampa, they are the early line favorite to win the national championship. Boston College’s winning streak has hit 17, and it’s realistically possible for it to hit 19 when they raise the championship trophy. Minnesota-Duluth hit a thud in their final game as national champions. While they looked dominant against Maine, they were simply students of a clinic hosted by Boston College. The Bulldogs could still be a solid team entering next season, they just couldn’t stand a chance against the suffocating defense of the Eagles.
East Regional: Union Survives to First Frozen Four
The regional that was tough to predict, Union has proven a lot of doubters wrong as the Dutchmen has the chance to play for their first national championship. Goaltender Troy Grosenick is the sophomore that has made himself a name in the college hockey world this weekend. The Hobey Baker Award semifinalist allowed just three goals in the two games played. Where defense is at a premium, he stood tall and made clutch saves against UMass-Lowell Saturday afternoon. Union has made themselves a name in the NCAA tournament, making the field for the first time last year and winning their first two games this year.
Midwest Regional: Bulldogs Scratch and Claw Their Way to Frozen Four Birth
If I were to tell you there was a Frozen Four participant that went on the penalty kill 10 times in two games, would you believe me? Probably not, but that’s what happened to the Ferris State Bulldogs as they held Denver to 0-4 and Cornell 0-6 in the Green Bay, Wisc. regional. Cornell even had a five-minute power play when a Ferris State player took a checking-from-behind game misconduct. It was 12 seconds after that penalty kill ended when Jordie Johnston scored the goal that sent his team to the Frozen Four. Credit also goes to goalie Taylor Nelson who allowed only two goals in the regional and kept opponents off the scoreboard during those 10 power play opportunities. Cornell posted the biggest upset of the regional tournament when they defeated No. 2 overall seed Michigan 3-2 in overtime. They weathered an early goal (1:11 into the game) and a late tying goal (4:01 remaining) by the Wolverines to win. Michigan didn’t help themselves by going 0-7 on the power play either.
West Regional: High-Powered Gophers Score 12 en route to Regional Win
The second semifinal in Tampa will be one of the most exciting games of the college season as high-scoring Minnesota will take on Boston College, a team that has not surrendered a goal in the NCAA tournament. The WCHA regular season champs booked their ticket to Tampa with a 7-3 victory over Boston University and took revenge on North Dakota, a team that eliminated them (and cost them a No. 1 regional seed) nine days ago in the WCHA tournament. The Gophers defeated the Fighting Sioux 5-2 Sunday afternoon. The 12 goals scored in the regional is similar to the 2003 Minnesota Team, when they defeated Mercyhurst 9-2 and Ferris State 7-4. That team was led by Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player Thomas Vanek as they won the national championship.
