The NCAA Frozen 4 is ready to kick off, and two historic applications will battle for an opportunity to play for the Nationwide Championship. The Boston Terriers and the Minnesota Golden Gophers will sq. off at 5 ET on Thursday within the first half of a semifinal doubleheader, all with a spot within the Nationwide Championship on the road.
Boston and Minnesota to point out down within the NCAA Frozen 4 Semifinal
Each groups made fast work of the workforce’s that performed within the NCAA Regionals to get to the NCAA Frozen 4. Minnesota scored a mixed 13 objectives towards Canisius and St. Cloud State, in comparison with 3 for his or her opponents to coast to a spot in Tampa. The Terriers simply defeated Western Michigan within the regional semifinals earlier than beating Cornell, 2-1.
Followers of the film “Miracle” might bear in mind a central battle within the film being gamers from completely different faculties not getting alongside at first whereas coaching for the 1980 Olympics. The 2 colleges had been Boston and Minnesota. In the course of the Nineteen Seventies and 80s, there was no larger rivalry in faculty hockey or within the NCAA Frozen 4. The 1976 nationwide championship even resulted in an enormous bench clearing brawl.
SInce then, the rivalry has simmered between the Terriers and the Golden Gophers. Nonetheless, that would all change on Thursday afternoon as every little thing is up for grabs within the NCAA Frozen 4.
The Golden Gophers have maybe the most effective offense in faculty hockey. The Gophers have three of the most effective faculty hockey gamers within the nation in first-round picks Jimmy Snuggerud, Matthew Knies, and Logan Cooley. The three gamers have been practically unstoppable all season, and make up only a small however deadly piece of the Gophers’ assault.
The Gophers even have among the finest goaltenders within the nation in Justen Shut, who has a .928 save share and a GAA of 1.99.
The Terriers, alternatively, gained with grit and tenacity. Luke Tuch and Matt Brown are two leaders on a workforce that’s stocked with juniors and seniors. The Terriers even have a gifted blue line anchored by Montreal Canadiens prospect Lane Hutson.
Within the web is Chicago Blackhawks prospect Drew Commesso, who’s having a barely much less spectacular junior season in comparison with years previous, with a .914 save share and a 2.41 GAA.
Prediction: The Minnesota Golden Gophers have been in a position to put the puck within the web on a constant foundation. With the benefit in web, the Gophers ought to have the ability to do it right here as properly.
