Men’s Frozen Four

The skills competition still needs some work, but it’s getting there. I wish there were more emphasis on the players themselves and less on trying to make sure the audience was having “fun”. People I talked to were there for the competition and not the promotions and comments from the various people with mics. My … Read more

No surprise that Keven Porter won the Hobey – he’s been the top choice for most of the season. But it would have been hard to fault the pick of the other two finalists. I can make a case for either Gerbe or Jones, as can most college hockey fans. The choice of Will Bruce … Read more

Friday was its usual mishmash of practices, events and awards. Some random observations: A nice turnout as usual at the team practices. Both teams looked loose. The question on most people’s minds was why every player on the Fighting Irish wears a “7” on the back of their practice jersey. Junior Luke Lucyk wore Number … Read more

Any time you pick an NCAA field, there’ll be complaining from teams and fans who disagree with the selections or the seedings. This year was no exception, as Wisconsin and Notre Dame, a couple of teams that struggled down the stretch, got invites based on the objective system used by the NCAA Ice Hockey Committee. … Read more

Notre Dame continues it magical ride with a 5-4 overtime win over favored Michigan. At 5:44 of overtime, Dan Venard’s shot was stopped by Hogan, but he left a big rebound for Calle Ridderwall, who beat the Michigan goaltender low-stick. The fourth line and third set of “D” come through for the Irish, who will … Read more

We’re going to overtime between Michigan and Notre Dame, tied 4-4. Shots on goal in regulation: 29-21 in favor of the Wolverines. Next goal wins.

After being held to just seven shots on goal over a period and a half, Notre Dame broke through with a nifty goal by Kevin Deeth, who took a neat feed from Dan Kissel and came in all alone on Hogan, beating him stick side. That made it 4-3 Irish. But with 5:21 to play, … Read more

Men on the ice for Note Dame resulted in a power play for the Wolverines, and Chad Kolarik batted a bouncing puck out of midair past Pearce to complete the comeback. We’re tied at three each.

It’s setting up to be an exciting third period with the Irish clinging to a 3-2 lead. If Michigan comes back to win, Red Berenson’s move to replace Sauer will look mighty smart. I don’t think Sauer was playing that badly, but it sure woke up the Wolverines .

Wow. Just like that, the Wolverines have come to life. Chad Kolarik and Matt Rust scored 15 seconds apart to cut the Irish lead to one. Kolarik’s goal was a beauty from the high slot, and Rust banked in a rebound off the pads of Irish netminder Jordan Pearce into the net. 3-2 Fighting Irish … Read more

Billy Sauer appears to be done for the evening, as Bryan Hogan has started the second period in net for the Wolverines. Hogan last saw action back on March 1 against Ferris State. Hogan has appeared in five games this season. This building has not been kind to Sauer, who gave up seven goals on … Read more

Michigan had better get it in gear or we’re going to have an all-Catholic final. With just 34 seconds to go in the first period, Ryan Thang went end-to-end, beating Sauer near-post with a nifty backhand. Shots after one period: 11-9 in favor of Michigan.

And after only a 50 minute break, we’re back in action with Michigan and Notre Dame underway. Here are your lineups: Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Visiting Team) Forwards: Kissel–Deeth–Rankin Thang–Ryan-Van Guilder Regan–Hanson–Minella Rudderwall–White–Guentzel Defense: Sheahan–Ruth Cole–Lawson Blatchford–VeNard Goal: Pearce Michigan Wolverines (Home Team) Forwards: Pacioretty–Porter–Kolarik Hagelin–Rust–Palushaj Winnett–Caporusso–Turnbull Farrdig–Miller–Naurato Defense: Mitra–Vaughan Summers–Llewellyn Langlais–Kampfer Goal: Sauer And … Read more

And 6-1 is your final with Jake Marto ruining John Muse’s shutout with 1:16 to play. Boston College has now defeated North Dakota in three straight NCAA semifinals, scoring six goals each time. 6-6-6…hmmm. The mark of the beast…of the East. Stay tuned for postgame thoughts and then your all-CCHA semifinal.

Other than some dumb penalties on each side, there hasn’t been much to report. With 6:32 to go, BC still leads 6-0. Shots at this point are 25-24 in favor of Boston College.

It’s 6-0 Eagles after two periods. The sixth tally was set up by…guess who? Nathan Gerbe. He threaded a pass to Ben Smith, who scored his 24th goal of the season. Will the third period be more than perfunctory?

Problems with the internet here at Pepsi Center, but we’re back now…for how long, I don’t know. But hey, it’s 4-0 BC, with Nathan Gerbe tallying twice so far for the Eagles. Lamoureux has not looked sharp so far for the Sioux, especially on the third BC goal… three of the four looked to me … Read more

Boston College has ended North Dakota’s season each of the past two years in this very game – the NCAA semifinals. In 2005 North Dakota ended BC’s season in the regional final. But is that enough to make a rivalry? “I think it’s a different feeling,” said BC defenseman Mike Brennan yesterday. “I mean, playing … Read more

Warmups are underway at the Pepsi Center. Here’s your line charts for today’s game: Boston College (Visiting Team) Forwards: Gerbe–Gibbons–Smith Price–Bertram–Gannon (starting) Whitney–Greene–Ferriero Kucharski–Lombardi–Orpik Defense: Aiello-Brennan Filangieri-Kunes Petrecki-Sneep (starting) Goal: Muse North Dakota (Home Team) Forwards: Duncan–Oshie–Kozek Watkins–Kaip–Frattin (starting) Miller–VandeVelde–Martens Radke–Zajac–Malone Defense: Chorney–Bina Finley–Genoway (starting) Jones–Marto Goal: Lamoureux