Ice road trekkers

Denver will be the final stop for the best in college hockey

By Pat Rooney, Special to the Rocky

Published January 2, 2008 at 12:45 a.m.

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David Zalubowski / Associated Press

University of Denver goalie Peter Mannino makes a sprawling save against Dartmouth on Saturday. The Pioneers, ranked No. 3 in the country, beat the Big Green 5-3 to win the Denver Cup tournament.

Jerry S. Mendoza / Associated Press

Michigan's Kevin Porter gets sandwiched by Notre Dame defenders. The Wolverines and Fighting Irish are playing well enough that they might reach the Final Four in Denver.

Dave Schwarz / The St. Cloud Times

Colorado College goalie Richard Bachman awaits a shot by St. Cloud's Matt Hartman, center, as Nate Prosser defends. CC is No. 4 in the nation.

Five years of planning has come down to the final 100 days.

In a little more than three months, the Frozen Four returns to the state where college hockey crowned its champions in the first 10 years of the sport's existence.

When the puck drops for the first national semifinal April 10 at the Pepsi Center, four of the nation's best college hockey teams will try to forge a triumphant finish to their quests for the crown.

Adding excitement during the stretch run to the Frozen Four is the promising performances of local powers Colorado College and the University of Denver, which is hosting the event alongside the Metro Denver Sports Commission. DU and CC are ranked third and fourth in the nation, respectively, and are among the midseason favorites to reach college hockey's ultimate stage.

If that intrigue isn't enough, Air Force again will contend for an NCAA tournament berth out of the Atlantic Hockey Association, and CC will play host to the West Regional at the World Arena two weeks before the sold-out Frozen Four.

In other words, college hockey fans should be jumping out of their seats all across the Front Range for the next three-plus months. Judging by the atmosphere last year, when AFA nearly pulled off a monumental upset of Minnesota in the West Regional at the Pepsi Center, the intensity and excitement could reach frenetic levels.

"It has been kind of surreal - we got the event five years ago and now it is right around the corner," said Jon Schmieder, executive director of the Metro Denver Sports Commission. "An event like this sells itself, but if we could get a Colorado school in there, that would be gravy. When Air Force scored that first goal against Minnesota, the place was rocking."

Teams to watch

With the college hockey season at its halfway point, here are eight teams that have emerged as candidates to reach the Frozen Four:

* Miami (Ohio)

At a glance: The RedHawks, coached by former Denver assistant Rico Blasi, have spent much of the season at the top of the polls.

Why they will: RedHawks boast a little bit of everything, beginning this week ranked first in the nation in scoring and scoring defense.

Why they won't: Bad luck in the tournament draw. Miami's most likely destination is the Midwest Regional in Madison, Wis., where the RedHawks might have to get past the hometown Badgers or another Western Collegiate Hockey Association club that likely will have the crowd on its side.

* Michigan

At a glance: Stung last year in the West Regional final at the Pepsi Center by North Dakota, the Wolverines are hoping for an opportunity to put on a better show in Denver.

Why they will: Wolverines boast perhaps college hockey's top offensive force in Kevin Porter, who leads the nation in points (31), goals (19) and power-play goals (10).

Why they won't: The NCAA tournament is a goaltender's tournament, and Michigan's Billy Sauer, an Avalanche draft pick, has yet to prove himself in postseason play.

* Denver

At a glance: Pioneers have shown flashes of their NCAA title form of 2004 and 2005 but must avoid the stretch-run meltdowns that have soured their past two seasons.

Why they will: Senior goaltender Peter Mannino is playing like a Hobey Baker Award candidate and proved he can carry a team through the postseason, when he won the Most Outstanding Player Award as a freshman at the 2005 Frozen Four.

Why they won't: A well-rounded club has suffered curious shortcomings on the power play, converting only 13-of- 92 opportunities.

* Colorado College

At a glance: The Tigers play 11 of their final 16 games at home and likely will play on home ice in the West Regional at the World Arena.

Why they will: Colorado College boasts a balanced offense and will be able to take advantage of home-ice prowess that has produced a 7-0 mark at the World Arena.

Why they won't: Freshman goaltender Richard Bachman will be challenged to continue his impressive debut, and the Tigers must overcome the turmoil surrounding the recent suspensions of Cody Lampl and Derek Patrosso.

* Notre Dame

At a glance: The resurgent Fighting Irish missed their first Frozen Four berth by one game last year and return most of a cast eager to take the next step.

Why they will: Notre Dame, a less-explosive version of league rival Miami, ranks fifth in the nation in scoring and scoring defense.

Why they won't: Goaltender Jordan Pearce has stepped in admirably for departed Hobey Baker finalist David Brown but is untested in the postseason.

* North Dakota

At a glance: The Fighting Sioux have a knack for finishing strong and have reached the Frozen Four in each of the past three seasons.

Why they will: T.J. Oshie and reigning Hobey Baker winner Ryan Duncan form one of the most versatile scoring tandems in the nation, and goalie Jean-Philippe Lamoureux is one of the nation's best.

Why they won't: The Fighting Sioux have been getting breaks for three consecutive years and might have to go through CC in Colorado Springs to run their Frozen Four streak to four.

* Michigan State

At a glance: Defending national champions have flown a bit under the radar, but that's what the Spartans did last year before getting hot at the right time.

Why they will: The Spartans return the top four scorers from their title-winning team. Goaltender Jeff Lerg's numbers are down slightly, but he proved his mettle in the Frozen Four last year.

Why they won't: The Spartans have struggled defensively, ranking 32nd in the nation in goals-against average, at 2.79.

* Massachusetts

At a glance: With three consecutive wins against nationally ranked New Hampshire, Notre Dame and Colorado College, the Minutemen have served notice they belong among the nation's elite.

Why they will: UMass isn't flashy but has been adept at notching wins in defensive struggles and shootouts.

Why they won't: The Minutemen's lack of dominance in any one area could prove costly in the one-and-done format of the NCAA tournament.

Road to Denver

The 16-team NCAA tournament field will be announced March 23 after the conclusion of conference tournaments across the nation.

* East Regional

March 28-29

Times Union Center, Albany, N.Y.

* Midwest Regional

March 29-30

Kohl Center, Madison, Wis.

* Northeast Regional

March 29-30

DCU Center, Worcester, Mass.

* West Regional

March 28-29

World Arena, Colorado Springs

* 2008 Frozen Four

Pepsi Center

Wednesday, April 9

Team practices (times TBA; open to public)

Thursday, April 10

Semifinal 1, 4 p.m.

Semifinal 2, 7 p.m.

Friday, April 11

Team practices (times TBA; open to public)

Skills challenge (times and ticket information TBA)

Saturday, April 12

National championship game, 5 p.m.

He said it

"We had a little dry run last year at the West Regional, but the Frozen Four is a different animal. Not that we had any bad teams at the regional, but this will be the four best teams in the country. When you get down to championships at the collegiate level, whether it is basketball or hockey, it's really special."

Ron Grahame, former DU goaltender and current associate athletic director.

Numbers game

10 consecutive national champions decided in Colorado Springs at Broadmoor Arena from 1948 through 1957, the first 10 champions crowned in college hockey. The national championship returned to Colorado Springs in 1969, when DU won its fifth national title, and Denver hosted the finals in 1961, 1964 and 1976.

Financial impact

The Metro Denver Sports Commission has conducted studies that forecast the Frozen Four will have an economic impact of $10 million to $11 million on Denver. About 15,000 tickets already have been dispersed outside the state, meaning at least that many people will be spending their money for up to four days in Denver.

Putting on a show

The Metro Denver Sports Commission, which is serving as host of the Frozen Four with the University of Denver, is hoping to make a strong impression with the NCAA. This summer, the commission will bid for the 2013 or 2014 Frozen Four, as well as the women's basketball Final Four sometime after 2011.

The Frozen Four already has sites selected through 2012:

2009: Washington, D.C. (Verizon Center)

2010: Detroit (Ford Field)

2011: St. Paul, Minn. (Xcel Energy Center)

2012: Tampa, Fla. (St. Pete Times Forum)

• January 12, 2008

  1:32 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  JLP157 writes:

  While I agree with most of the content in your article, I would like to know what breaks you feel the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux have received to reach the Frozen Four for the last 3 consecutive years.

  In 2005, North Dakota had to beat both Boston University and Boston College in Worcester Mass. to advance.

  In 2006, North Dakota hosted the Western Regional and beat Michigan and Holy Cross to advance. So is it their fault that Minnesota lost to Holy Cross first?

  In 2007, North Dakota beat Michigan and Minnesota in Denver to advance. Where is the break there? Not having to play Denver University?

  I will be waiting to see what these consecutive breaks are you cite in your article. I assume you are using the Holy Cross game in Grand Forks as one example, but that is still only one. I will eagerly await your response to see what the other breaks could possibly be.....

  John Petersen

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