Feature

Feature stories

Just-In Time

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Justin Abdelkader started the season as one kind of player. He ended it by winning the NCAA championship for Michigan State with his late goal. Todd Milewski looks at the Most Outstanding Player of the Frozen Four.

Loose As A Goose

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Michigan State kept it loose all throughout the NCAA tournament, and it paid off for the Spartans. Paula C. Weston examines MSU’s X-factor.

Sending A Message

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Jeff Lerg has been told that he couldn’t do it. Yet he has, and he’s now a national champion. Lerg sent a message to the college hockey world with his play in this tournament, Chris Lerch says.

Kill Or Be Killed

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The simple fact of penalty killing is that even when you’re at your best, a good effort can beat you. North Dakota players knew what was coming Thursday night and executed accordingly, they said. Still, Boston College scored three times with the man advantage and ended the Sioux’s season. “That’s how special teams is sometimes,” … Read more

Friday Notebook: Michigan State

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So, you’re playing for a national championship for the first time in 20 years, and the eyes of the college hockey world are on you, and you’re the first team from your league to make it this far since 1998. What are you going to do? If you’re the Michigan State Spartans, you’re going to … Read more

The Defense Never Rests

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Boston College has plenty of talent on the offensive side, but don’t overlook the D-corps. Dave Starman profiles the Eagles’ blueliners.

Notebook: Boston College-North Dakota

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East Meets West Although North Dakota and Boston College are approximately 1700 miles apart, the two teams are building quite a rivalry. As part of a four-year agreement, the Eagles and Sioux will face off once against next year each regular season. More importantly, though, the teams have a knack for meeting each other in … Read more

Only The Young

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When St. Louis was vying to host the Frozen Four, serving youth hockey was a key part of the bid. This week, the city made good on its promise, Ed Trefzger finds.

Friday Notebook: Boston College

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Though Boston College, riding a 13-game winning streak, is easily the hottest team in college hockey, things haven’t always been that smooth this season for the Eagles. At the midway point, not only were things not going well on the ice, the team’s makeup and unity was extremely tested when head coach Jerry York stripped … Read more

David Topples Goliath Again

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Diminutive Jeff Lerg helped send his Michigan State Spartans into the national title game, showing Dave Hendrickson and the college hockey world that size doesn’t necessarily matter.

Change Of Pace

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There wasn’t one critical instant in Michigan State’s comeback win over Maine, but there was a key stretch. Todd D. Milewski looks at the Spartans’ change of pace Thursday.

Pressure Cooker

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Michigan State head coach Rick Comley is no stranger to the Frozen Four, but this is his first trip with the Spartans. Dave Starman finds that the NCAA championship holds unique memories for the Comley family.

The Journey Of A Captain

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He may not have captained his team to a championship, but Maine’s captain, Michel Léveillé, captained his life in his four years at Maine. Dave Starman looks at his journey.

No Surprise

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It may be a much different squad than last year’s Sioux, but Paula C. Weston finds that it’s not a surprise for North Dakota to be back in the Frozen Four.

What If?

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‘What If?’ That’s always the question, and it certainly was no different for Maine after its semifinal loss to Michigan State. Jim Connelly looks at the dreaded scenario.

Notebook: Maine-Michigan State

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Spartan Standards In 25 NCAA tournament appearances, Michigan State now improves to 27-28-1, including a 4-2 record under head coach Rick Comley in three trips. Comley has an overall 14-11 record in NCAA tournament games at the Spartans’ helm and at Northern Michigan. The Spartans will try for their third national championship Saturday; their previous … Read more

Wednesday Notebook: Maine

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As Maine’s top goaltender Ben Bishop sat injured during the stretch run, watching his Black Bears lose the final four games of the season, including the Hockey East quarterfinal series to Massachusetts, one thought sat in his mind. “Once we found out we were in the tournament, I really just wanted to get back out … Read more

Wednesday Notebook: North Dakota

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This is the first year in Frozen Four history that no No. 1 seeds have advanced to the championship tournament, and there’s a feeling in St. Louis that this is anyone’s title to capture. Said UND head coach Dave Hakstol, “This is a Frozen Four where we have four teams that are realistically playing their … Read more