SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The NCAA Frozen Four West Regional skates into town starting Friday night featuring top seeded University of Wisconsin (UW), #2 seed Saint Cloud State University (SCSU), #3 seed Northern Michigan University (NMU), and #4 seed University of Vermont (UVM). The regional is made up of two teams from the WCHA (UW and SCSU), one from the CCHA (NMU), and one from Hockey East (UVM). All games will be played at the Xcel Energy Center, home of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild.
The NCAA Frozen Four tournament has been crazy the past few years with Miami (Ohio) University and Bemidji State University making names for themselves with impressive runs last season. The game Friday are: Wisconsin vs Vermont at 4:30PM Central Time, and Saint Cloud State vs Northern Michigan immediately following. The championship for the region is Saturday at 8PM Central Time.
University of Wisconsin (UW)
The third overall seed in the tournament, the Badgers carry the top seed in this regional. UW is no stranger to the building, as the annual WCHA Final Five tournament has a permanent home here in Saint Paul, the Badgers finished third in the tournament just last weekend. They finished with a record of 25-10-4, good for second place in the regular season, and have been picked by the likes of ESPN’s Barry Melrose to win the NCAA Frozen Four title.
The strength of Wisconsin comes from their defense, with a corps led by five NHL draft picks, including Brendan Smith, a finalist for the 2010 Hobey Baker Award. They are led in scoring by forward Michael Davies with 50 points (18G, 32A). Blake Geoffrion, another Hobey Baker Award finalist who leads the team in goals with 25.
Wisconsin current owns six NCAA Championships and currently has 11 NHL draftees on their roster: C Derek Stephan (Round 2, 2008 by NY Rangers), D Brendan Smith (Round 1, 2007 by Detroit), LW Blake Geoffrion (Round 2, 2006 by Nashville), C Craig Smith (Round 4, 2009 by Nashville), D Justin Smith (Round 2, 2008 by Anaheim), D Ryan McDonagh (Round One, 2007 by Montreal), D Cody Goloubef (Round 2, 2008 by Columbus), D Jake Gardiner (Round 1, 2008 by Anaheim), C Patrick Johnson (Round 7, 2008 by Montreal), C Podge Turnbull (Round 5, 2007 by Los Angeles), and G Brett Bennett (Round 5, 2006 by Phoenix).
Saint Cloud State University (SCSU)
Another team intimately familiar with their surroundings this weekend, the Huskies make their home just an hour from Saint Paul. They finished second in the WCHA tournament, losing the championship game to the University of North Dakota. They finished the WCHA season with a record of 23-13-5, good for third place. The Huskies are led in scoring by forwards Garret Roe and Nick Lasch, who each have 46 points (19 G, 27A).
One stat that may haunt the Huskies is the fact that they have never won a game in the NCAA tournament.
SCSU has seven NHL draftees: Goalie Dan Dunn (Round 6, 2007 by Washington), LW Garret Roe (7th Round, 2008 by Los Angeles), RW Ben Hanowski (Round 3, 2009 by Pittsburgh), Goalie Mike Lee (Round 3, 2009 by Phoenix), RW Nick Oslund (Round 7, 2006 by Detroit), D Oliver Lauridsen (Round 7, 2009 by Philadelphia), and C Aaron Marvin ( Round 3, 2006 by Calgary).
Northern Michigan University (NMU)
The Wildcats finished the CCHA season in fourth place with a 20-12-8 record, good for fourth in the conference. They played their way to a second place finish in the CCHA tournament losing to powerhouse Michigan University in the title game. This will be the school’s eighth trip to the Frozen Four with one championship under their belt in 1991.
NMU earned its bid with its strong showing in conference play all season long, with the cincher being the second place finish in the CCHA tournament.
They are led in scoring by Mark Olver with 48 points (19G, 29A), followed by Greger Hanson with 38 points (16G, 22A). Olver is also a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.
The Wild Cats have two NHL draftees: F Mark Olver (Round 5, 2008 by Colorado) and C Matt Butcher (Round 5, 2005 by Vancouver).
University of Vermont (UVM)
Vermont has to be considered the Cinderella story of at least the West Regional, having finished in eighth place in the regular Hockey East standings. The Catmounts made an impressive run last season, reaching the Frozen Four, losing to eventual NCAA Champions Boston College in the Semi-Final game. This will be the fifth visit to the Frozen Four for Vermont, who currently own a 3-5 record in the tournament.
Their bid to the NCAA is unconventional, having finished eighth in their conference, however non-conference wins against Denver, Yale, University of Minnesota – Duluth, Boston College, and University of New Hampshire kept the Catamounts ranked #14, and earned them a bid.
Forward Brayden Irwin leads the Catamounts with 34 points (15G, 19A), followed by Colin Vock with 28 points (11G, 17A).
UVM has never won an NCAA Frozen Four Chmapionship.
Vermont has four NHL draftees: D Drew MacKenzie (Round 7, 2007, by Buffalo), F Matt Marshall (Round 5, 2007, by Tampa Bay), F Kyle Medvec (Round 4, 2006 by Minnesota), and C David Pacan (Round 6, 2009 by Chicago).
The author can be reached at bryan.reynolds@prohockeynews.com
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