Friday, April 06, 2012

US college hockey celebrates excellence with Frozen Four Tournament

While we imagine Don Cherry won't be checking things out, some 30 NHL GM's and their scouting staff will not doubt be following developments in Tampa this weekend.

The NCAA's Frozen Four is underway, Thursday's semi final games sending Boston College Eagles  and Ferris State Bulldogs on to the US National Championship game on Saturday night.

The Big Rapids, Michigan school goes up against one of the NCAA's most dominating teams in the Golden Eagles, after a 3-1 semi final victory over Union.

The Eagles advanced to the final game on the strength of a 6-1 trouncing of Minnesota.

If marks the fifth time that Boston College has advanced to the NCAA's championship game in the last seven seasons.

It's clearly a David v Goliath situation for Saturday, Ferris a relative unknown in college hockey until a remarkable run this year, going up against the perennial finalists in the Frozen Four.

The NCAA is proving to be a fast growing alternative for hockey players who wish to combine their hockey with academics, while many hockey hopefuls still feel the best path to the NHL is through the Canadian Junior hockey ranks, the success of such schools as Ferris and Union suggest that there is an ongoing migration to the college game both in the US and Canada,

Boston College Eagle
Ferris State Bulldogs
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Union College Garnet Blades

You can follow along with the lead up to Saturday night's puck drop through the NCAA Frozen Four website, as well we offer up some items of note below.

Washington Post-- Ferris state advances to NCAA hockey title game
USA Today-- Boston College pounds Minnesota in Frozen Four semifinals
Pioneer Press-- Boston College hands Gophers a crushing defeat
Inside College Hockey-- Frozen four semi: Boston College Crushes Minnesota
Minneapolis Star Tribune-- BC expects to be in Frozen Four winning trophies
Boston.com-- Eagles expect extraordinary efforts
Tampabay.com-- Boston College routs Minnesota 6-1 in Frozen Four to reach title game
Albany Times Union-- Union bounced out
NESN-- Union College, Ferris State to make First NCAA Frozen Four Appearance
M Live-- Ferris State hockey team keeping grounded in championship run

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