2013 NCAA FROZEN FOUR PREVIEW:
It's four schools you usually don't think of when you think about the Frozen Four, and that's for good reason -- three of the four have never made it to the last four and that last one hasn't done it since 1953.
The latter school, Yale, was a long shot to get out of it's regional after being put in with college hockey powerhouses like Minnesota and North Dakota. Yale pulled the 3-2 upset over Minnesota in overtime of the regional semifinals then bullied North Dakota 4-1 to punch it's ticket to the Frozen Four.
Quinnipiac had a spectacular year and was the #1 overall seed going into the tournament after a 27-7-5 record this season. The Bobcats drew a first-round match up against Canisius, dropping the upstate New Yorkers 4-3. Union upset BC's shot at a repeat title, but were stopped cold by Quinnipiac 5-1 in the regional final.
St. Cloud State may have been the final at-large bid allowed in by the committee, and the Huskies have proven they were worth the inclusion. St. Could State destroyed both Notre Dame and Miami (OH) by a combined 9-1 to stake its spot in the Frozen Four and a national championship would be a momentus victory for the school surrounded by other hockey powerhouse universities.
UMass Lowell romped Wisconsin 6-1 in the first round setting up a match with New Hampshire in the regional final, and were able to hold the Wildcats scoreless in a 2-0 win that propelled them into the last four teams remaining.
All four teams are looking for unprecedented success but only one can walk away with the national title. Get you tickets for the Frozen Four and witness history in the making and dreams becoming reality at the Consol Energy Center this April!
2013 NCAA FROZEN FOUR INFORMATION:
Date: April 11th & 13th, 2013
Venue: Consol Energy Center
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Format: The two Semifinal games will be played on Thursday. The winners of those two games will meet on Saturday in the Championship game.
Ticket info: The tickets marked as "both days" or "2 days" are priced for both days, so they gain you access to the Semis and Finals (3 games). Other tickets are marked as single day, and will only gain you entry on either Thursday for the Semis or Saturday for the Championship Game.
FROZEN FOUR
Thursday, April 11 -- Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, PA.
TBD vs. TBD.
TBD vs. TBD.
National Championship
Saturday, April 13 – Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, PA.
NCAA FROZEN FOUR HISTORY:
- 2012 Fronzen Four Championship: Boston College defeated Ferris State
- 2011 Frozen Four Championship: Minnesota-Duluth defeated Michigan.
- 2010 Frozen Four Championship: Boston College defeated Wisconsin.
- 2009 Frozen Four Championship: Boston University defeated Miami University.
- 2008 Frozen Four Championship: Boston College defeated Notre Dame.
- 2007 Frozen Four Championship: Michigan State defeated Boston College.
- 2006 Frozen Four Championship: Wisconsin defeated Boston College.
- 2005 Frozen Four Championship: U. of Denver defeated North Dakota.
- 2004 Frozen Four Championship: U. of Denver defeated Maine.
- 2003 Frozen Four Championship: Minnesota defeated New Hampshire.
- 2002 Frozen Four Championship: Minnesota defeated Maine.
- 2001 Frozen Four Championship: Boston College defeated North Dakota.
- 2000 Frozen Four Championship: North Dakota defeated Boston College.
- 1999 Frozen Four Championship: Maine defeated New Hampshire.
- 1998 Frozen Four Championship: Michigan defeated Boston College.
The NCAA Men's Hockey Championship may be overlooked by many, as hockey isn't the most popular of American sports, but it is one of the greatest spectacles on the collegiate level. Also known as the "Frozen Four," the event dates back to 1948 when the first championship was held. The competition has followed the same structure since its inception, with 16 teams entering a single-elimination tournament and fighting for the right to reach the championship game. With many of the schools participating in the Frozen Four coming from Northern states, it's a bit of a regional phenomenon, but it is still one of the greatest hockey exhibitions you'll find in the U.S.
The Frozen Four got its start in Colorado Springs, Colorado, when the University of Michigan faced Dartmouth. Michigan emerged victorious and would become one of the toughest teams in Division I. Teams that hail from the Great Lakes region have won 19 championships since the start of the Frozen Four, followed by Massachusetts with 10 and Colorado with nine. Individually, the University of Michigan boasts the most NCAA Men's Hockey Championships with nine since the start of the tournament.
While many of the players who participate in the Frozen Four eventually end up in an NHL uniform, there are a few subtle rule differences between the professional and collegiate level. To start off, fighting isn't outlawed, but a first offense will carry a one-game suspension whereas an NHL player will only receive a five minute penalty. The icing rule is also simplified in the NCAA - in the NHL, a player on the opposing team must touch the puck for an icing infraction to be called. Instead, NCAA refs blow the play dead and resume play when it crosses the goal line. In effect, this has helped to speed up the game and avoid any last-minute collisions as players bound after the puck.
There are a few variations between the collegiate and professional game, but hockey fans know that this is their chance to see a new generation of players before they go pro. The Frozen Four is one of the most hallowed championships in NCAA sports that is always filled with its share of surprises and continues to be one of the great traditions in college athletics.
See Also:
Frozen Four Preview History