Men’s Frozen Four

TAMPA, Fla. — The three buses pulled out of Big Rapids, Mich., at nine in the morning on Wednesday. They arrived in Tampa on Thursday morning at 11. A mere 26-hour bus ride. Not exactly the stuff of travel brochures. “It really wasn’t that bad,” said John Roy, a Ferris State fan who rates his … Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Union goaltender Troy Grosenick and Greg Coburn talked after their 3-1 loss to Ferris State in Thursday’s Frozen Four semifinals. [youtube_sc url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a94kBeZxf1I width=500] [youtube_sc url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LbFOH5S9PE width=500]

TAMPA, Fla. — Here are the line charts for the second Frozen Four semifinal between Boston College and Minnesota: BOSTON COLLEGE (31-10-1) 9 Barry Almeida-24 Bill Arnold-21 Steven Whitney 19 Chris Kreider-12 Kevin Hayes-17 Destry Straight 13 Johnny Gaudreau-11 Pat Mullane-22 Paul Carey 27 Quinn Smith-18 Michael Sit-10 Danny Linell 4 Tommy Cross-8 Edwin Shea … Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — The location of Friday night’s festivities at the Frozen Four seem to be a little bit of a mystery to some fans, so here’s an effort to get everyone on the same page. Friday’s events take place at Channelside Bay Plaza, 615 Channelside Drive, in Tampa. Here’s the schedule of events (all … Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — An email came through Thursday morning saying that Boston College players would be wearing a new kind of helmet in the national semifinal game against Minnesota, one that’s designed to “manage the multiple type of hits in the game.” Concerns about player safety in respect to concussions seems to be at an … Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Here are the line charts for Thursday’s first national semifinal between Union and Ferris State: UNION (26-7-7) 15 Matt Hatch-19 Kelly Zajac-21 Wayne Simpson 9 Daniel Carr-27 Jeremy Welsh-7 Josh Jooris 16 Kevin Sullivan-12 Kyle Bodie-17 Daniel Ciampini 23 Cole Ikkala-18 Max Novak-11 Sam Coatta 22 Mat Bodie-28 Shawn Stuart 2 Nolan … Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — “Unless you’re Boston College, you don’t get here every year.” Minnesota coach Don Lucia was talking about his team’s joy at advancing to the Frozen Four and was stressing the importance of taking advantage of the opportunity when he paid his upcoming opponent the biggest of compliments. “Unless you’re Boston College,” he … Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Union coach Rick Bennett talks about Jeremy Welsh and more after the team’s practice Wednesday at Tampa Bay Times Forum. [youtube_sc url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEPPxGUgLXM width=500]

TAMPA, Fla. — Plenty of ink has been spilled discussing Boston College’s 17-game winning streak. And deservedly so. It’s an impressive achievement. Arguably, though, winning streaks are the stuff of regular seasons; the playoffs are a different animal. “If one win streak ends in the regular season, then you can start another,” BC captain Tommy … Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — For starters, there are the uniforms: maroon and gold. The similarities, however, go much deeper. Boston College and Minnesota enjoy two of the richest traditions in college hockey, dating almost all the way to the Hobey Baker years. BC hockey began in 1917, Minnesota in 1921. Since then, the two teams have … Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Video of opening remarks by Minnesota’s Don Lucia and Taylor Matson on Wednesday: [youtube_sc url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbf5LSUQRMU width=500]

TAMPA, Fla. — It’s currently almost 90 degrees outside the Tampa Bay Times Forum, a strange atmosphere to settle college hockey’s champion. But Minnesota coach Don Lucia thinks the change does the sport good. “It’s more of an event [now],” said Lucia. “I think it’s an event that cities want to bid on. So I … Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Minnesota’s upcoming clash with Boston College features a pair of teams with 64 NCAA appearances between them. When asked if there was a rivalry between two of college hockey’s premier programs, Gophers coach Don Lucia replied: “I don’t know if there’s a rivalry but more respect. They have a style where they … Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — After missing the NCAA tournament for three seasons thanks to finishes of fifth, seventh and fifth in the WCHA, the pressure was certainly on coach Don Lucia and his team this season. Despite some calls for a coaching change, Lucia was granted a three-year contract extension over the summer. His team responded … Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — It’s fairly common practice for hockey players to quit shaving once they get to the playoffs. Ferris State players began growing theirs when they clinched the regular season CCHA title. They had nearly two weeks to let their whiskers bloom before playing Bowling Green in the second round of the league playoffs … Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — All four teams in this year’s Frozen Four have top-10 defenses. Union and Boston College are Nos. 1 and 2, Ferris State is tied for fifth and Minnesota is ninth. Three of the Frozen Four teams also have offenses among the top 10: No. 1 Minnesota (3.67 goals per game), No. 4 … Read more

[youtube_sc url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lp7BhGwF9fU width=500] [youtube_sc url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds-m4I010Dc width=500] [youtube_sc url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIkfuUbQFhw width=500] [youtube_sc url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orpZh01vIas width=500]

TAMPA, Fla. — Some folks in the press are playing up the David-and-Goliath angle of the Ferris State-Union semifinal versus the Boston College-Minnesota game, even referring to the former as “junior varsity” as opposed to the alleged varsity game — the real game — between the Eagles and Golden Gophers. “I think that’s silly,” said … Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Supporters and skeptics alike look at the Union Dutchmen as a great success … so far. Winning a widely marginalized league and playing largely local opponents will create that perception, it must be said. Such an image begs the question from all corners: How will Union fare … not if, but when … Read more