Frozen Four Preview: Quinnipiac chasing first championship
Preview of the semi-final games, Quinnipiac vs. BC, and North Dakota vs. Denver.
Quinnipiac (ECAC) vs. Boston College (Hockey East)
2:00 pm PT on ESPN2
Quinnipiac comes into the frozen four being the only school never to win a title. This is their second frozen four appearance. They take on five-time national championship Boston College. Bobcat enters the tournament as the overall number one seed with only three losses this season. QU is 5-1 against hockey east teams, and BC is 2-1 against ECAC, only winning against Harvard.
BC has arguably the best goalie in the tournament in Thatcher Demko (Canucks). Ryan Fitzgerald (Bruins) and Colin White (Senators) seek to lead BC to its 6th title. QU has an offensive power. Sam Anas (undrafted) their highest scoring forward with over 50 points in 41 games is currently injured and status is questionable for Thursday. Travis St. Denis (undrafted) and Tim Clifton (undrafted) are also posting fantastic numbers for QU with 22-24-46 and 18-23-41 respectively.
Game 2: North Dakota (NCHC) vs. Denver (NCHC)
5:30 pm PT on ESPN2
The two NCHC powerhouses North Dakota and Denver are set to meet in the semi-finals. They each have seven national championships and numerous frozen four appearances. NoDak and Denver split their series earlier this season going 2-2-1 in five meetings.
Brock Boeser (Canucks has had a great rookie year with 54 points, leading North Dakota in points with Drake Caggiula (undrafted) with 46 points. Shark’s have their prospect Gage Ausmus playing for North Dakota. Denver’s top line of Danton Heinen (Bruins), Dylan Gambrell (2016 draft eligible) and Trevor Moore (undrafted) is one of the strongest in college hockey and can take on NoDak's defense. Heinen leads the team with 48 points.
On my way to Tampa…my sole hope is that BC loses.