ECH Frozen Four 2023 Preview

By alex berger - april 05, 2023

Happy Frozen Four week everyone! The three games this weekend determines who gets to hang a banner in October, and more importantly, who gets bragging rights all summer.

We get some pretty fantastic semifinal matchups this season. Minnesota/Boston University is a classic East-West matchup, while a best-defense vs. best-offense showdown will take place between Quinnipiac/Michigan. No matter who wins on Thursday, any potential championship game will be an exciting matchup.

This article will be a sort of combination to the last two posted on this site. You'll find season stats for all four teams, along with game recaps from their regional victories.

Side note, I brought up a stat in my tournament preview article that I feel is relevant to bring up again. The last four respective championships in the NCAA Men's Tournament, Denver '22, Massachusetts '21, Minnesota-Duluth '19, and Minnesota-Duluth '18 all won the tournament without allowing more than two goals in a single game. Massachusetts and Minnesota-Duluth '19 both won while only allowing three goals the entire tournament. Every single team in the Frozen Four is on their way to continue that streak, as none allowed more than two goals in a regional game. For as much offensive firepower will be on display this weekend, remember how important defense is in lifting a title.

#1 - Minnesota Golden Gophers

Five Total Championships, Last in 2003

Record: 28-9-1, 19-4-1 conference record

Conference Finish: 1st in Big Ten standings, eliminated in championship game by Michigan

Goals/Game: 4.2 (T-1st in NCAA)

Goals Against/Game: 2.2 (T-4th)

Shots For, Against/Game: 32.8 for, 28.2 against (7th, T-21st)

Power Play: 26.2% (4th)

Penalty Kill: 83.7% (T-12th)

Top Scorer: Logan Cooley, Freshman, Forward (20 G, 37 A, 57 P in 37 GP)

Top Goalie: Justen Close, Senior (25-9-1, 1.99 GAA, .928 SV% in 35 GP)

How They Got Here: Dominance

Regional Semifinal: 9-2 win against #16 Canisius

For a split second, the North Dakota fans in attendance thought they were seeing a repeat of Holy Cross' 2006 upset. Canisius senior forward Nick Bowman dangled through the legs of Minnesota's Colin Schmidt, then rifled a shot post-in to score quite possibly the "Goal of the Tournament" and give the Golden Griffins a 2-1 lead in the second period.

But after that goal, it felt like the Gophers flipped a switch. Sophomore Aaron Huglen ripped a shot top shelf off the rush to tie the game, and freshman Connor Kurth won a battle in front of the net to slide the puck under Canisius goalie Jacob Barczewski. The pair of goals gave the Gophers a 3-2 lead heading into the second intermission.

In the third period it was the Bryce Brodzinski and Logan Cooley show. Brodzinski scored a hat trick in the final frame while Cooley skated circles around everyone and posted three assists. Thanks to a five-minute contact to the head penalty from Stefano Bottini, the Gophers scored six goals (three of which were on the power play) to coast to a 9-2 win.

Regional Final: 4-1 win against #6 St. Cloud State

It was a fantastic atmosphere for this regional final at Scheels Arena on Saturday night. The "Let's Go Gophers" and "Let's Go Huskies" chants alternated before the starting lineups were even introduced. In the end, it was the Gophers who prevailed 4-1 to advance to their second-straight Frozen Four.

Minnesota started the game hot, outshooting St. Cloud 14-6 and dictating play throughout the first period. The Gophers were buzzing early and had a few good scoring chances before getting a power play opportunity just five minutes into the game. However, a big kill by he Huskies looked like momentum was swinging back, but just 24 seconds after the power play ended the puck made it's way to Bryce Brodzinski in the low slot, who fired it through the pads of Jaxon Castor to give the Gophers a 1-0 lead.

The Huskies fought back and drew a penalty just 90 seconds into the second period. St. Cloud got their top power play unit set up and got the puck to Adam Ingram on the far half-wall. The freshman gathered the puck, walked in, and fired a shot past the glove of Justen Close to tie the game at 1-1. The Gophers responded with a huge goal just minutes later. After gathering the puck from a St. Cloud turnover, Jackson LaCombe hit Logan Cooley with a perfect 100-foot pass to spring the Hobey Baker finalist on a breakaway. The freshman phenom did not miss, firing the puck through the five-hole of Castor. Despite a few more good looks from both teams, that would be the final tally of the middle frame.

St. Cloud pressed for a goal throughout the third period, including some great looks on the power play and a shot that just missed the net on a 3-on-2 rush. With 8:20 remaining and the game at 2-1, the Gophers needed someone to make a play to give them some breathing room. Enter Jackson LaCombe. After an offensive zone faceoff win, the senior defenseman wasted no time in firing a slapshot through four players and above the glove of Castor to make it a 3-1 game. The Gophers would survive 90 seconds of extra-attacker chances from the Huskies before Jaxon Nelson scored an empty-net goal to make it 4-1.

Why They Match Up Well Against The Field: High-End Talent

The Gophers boast two of the three Hobey Baker Hat Trick finalists this season. Freshman Logan Cooley (20 G, 37 A, 57 P) ranks second in the country in points, while sophomore Matthew Knies (21 G, 20 A, 41 P) is tied for the team lead in goals. I don't think I gave enough credit to this pairing until I saw them in person last weekend. Knies is so talented with the puck on his stick, and Cooley is able to make passes that other players might not even think are possible. Add Jimmy Snuggerud (21 G, 29 A, 50 P) to this duo and you have the best line in college hockey.

Then, you've got Bryce Brodzinksi, Rhett Pitlick, Aaron Huglen, Jaxon Nelson, and Mason Nevers to round out the scoring depth. That quintet has tallied 117 combined points so far this year.

Minnesota's blue line should not be overlooked either. Jackson LaCombe, Ryan Johnson, Mike Koster, and Brock Faber might be the most talented top-four in college hockey this season and yet they rarely get the recognition they deserve. Add one of the country's best goaltenders in Justen Close (.928 SV%, 4th in NCAA), and you've got, arguably, the most talented team in college hockey.

#2 - Quinnipiac Bobcats

Searching for First Championship, Last Title Appearance in 2016

Record: 32-4-3, 20-2-0 conference record

Conference Finish: 1st in ECAC standings, eliminated in semifinals by Colgate

Goals/Game: 3.9 (T-3rd in NCAA)

Goals Against/Game: 1.5 (1st)

Shots For, Against/Game: 32.4 for, 21.7 against (9th, 3rd)

Power Play: 22.8% (15th)

Penalty Kill: 86.1% (5th)

Top Scorer: Collin Graf, Sophomore, Forward (20 G, 36 A, 56 P in 39 GP)

Top Goalie: Yaniv Perets, Sophomore (32-4-3, 1.46 GAA, .932 SV% in 37 GP)

How They Got Here: Goaltending

Regional Semifinal: 5-0 win against #14 Merrimack

Quinnipiac dominated Merrimack in this one, outshooting the Warriors 35-15 and winning the faceoff battle 27-22. The game was tied 0-0 after the first period, but the Bobcats found their offensive game right away in the second. Joey Cipollone and Jacob Quillan both scored within 3:30 of the second second to give Quinnipiac a 2-0 lead in the blink of an eye.

The Bobcats settled in after that, playing very defensively and capitalizing on mistakes by Merrimack. Quinnipiac allowed just two shots in the third period and scored three goals, including another goal from Quillan, to cruise to a 5-0 win.

There were a few scares, but Yaniv Perets made 15 saves and posted his 10th shutout of the season, tying Michigan Tech's Blake Pietila for the most in college hockey this season. Overall, this was a nearly perfect hockey game for Quinnipiac.

Regional Final: 4-1 win against #9 Ohio State

Despite Quinnipiac scoring four goals, Yaniv Perets won this game for the Bobcats. The Hobey Baker finalist made 34 saves, including 26 in the second and third periods, to backstop Quinnipiac to their first Frozen Four since 2016.

It was a shaky start for the junior, as Joe Dunlap and Ohio State capitalized on a bad turnover and breakaway to take a 1-0 lead just 91 seconds into the game. However, Quinnipiac responded later in the period with two greasy goals in just 15 seconds. First it was Christophe Fillion capitalizing on the rebound after crashing the net. Next, Skyler Brind'Amour chipped a puck over a diving Jakub Dobes after a scramble around the net.

The Buckeyes controlled the play in the second period, outshooting Quinnipiac 15-3. However the Bobcats had the better of the chances, even hitting the crossbar at one point. Ohio State had two power play chances to tie the game in the second period but failed on both. They went 0-for-4 in the game.

It remained 2-1 until late in the third period. Time was winding down on a Quinnipiac power play with less than five minutes to go in the game. With the puck sliding from the corner to the slot, sophomore forward Christophe Tellier chipped the puck over Dobes and a defender and wacked the puck out of midair. Dobes got a glove on it, but the puck barely made it across the goal line to give the Bobcats a 3-1 lead. Jayden Lee would later score to ice the game at 4-1.

Why They Match Up Well Against The Field: Defense

There's no doubting that they have talent on offense (sophomore forward Collin Graf is third in the country with 56 points), but Quinnipiac's real strength this season is on the blue line. The Bobcats lead the country in fewest goals allowed per game (1.5), penalty minutes per game (6.9), and are third in shots allowed per game (21.7). This, paired with the second highest faceoff percentage in college hockey (57.2%), correlates to a ton of puck possession and a strong, clean defensive game.

It will be a best-against-best matchup when they face Michigan on Thursday. The Wolverines are scoring 4.2 goals per game this year, tied with Minnesota for the most in the country. However, Quinnipiac held Ohio State, a top-10 offense in the country, to just one goal in the regional final.

Sophomore goaltender Yaniv Perets leads the country in wins (32) and GAA (1.46), is tied for the most shutouts (10), and has the second highest save percentage (.932 SV%) this season. The only argument against his fantastic season is that he's only face 765 shots all year, the 29th most in the country.

#3 - Michigan Wolverines

Nine Total Championships, Last in 1998

Record: 26-11-3, 12-10-2 conference record

Conference Finish: 2nd in Big Ten, won conference championship against Minnesota

Goals/Game: 4.2 (T-1st in NCAA)

Goals Against/Game: 3.1 (42nd)

Shots For, Against/Game: 35.0 for, 33.5 against (4th, 55th)

Power Play: 23.8% (11th)

Penalty Kill: 77.3% (T-50th)

Top Scorer: Adam Fantilli, Freshman, Forward (29 G, 35 A, 64 P in 35 GP)

Top Goalie: Erik Portillo, Junior (25-10-2, 2.97 GAA, .909 SV% in 37 GP)

How They Got Here: The Only Overtime Game of the Tournament (So Far...)

Regional Semifinal: 11-1 win against #15 Colgate

This game could've been 8-1 if not for a frustration 'butt-ending' penalty from Colgate's Alex Young with 10 minutes to go in the third period. The Wolverines scored three more goals on the power play in under three minutes for an 11-1 win, scoring the most goals in a NCAA tournament game since 1961.

But how did it get to 8-1? Michigan had just a 1-0 lead after the first period and Colgate was playing them tough, getting exceptional goaltending from Carter Gylander. The breaks fell off in the second period for the Raiders. At different points in the middle frame, Michigan scored two goals in 45 seconds and three goals in 85 seconds. When all was said and done, it was 8-0 by the end of the second period. Nic Belpedio scored the lone goal of the game for Colgate three minutes into the third.

Michigan was just a class above the Raiders in this one. Adam Fantilli (1 G -1 A -2 P) and Luke Hughes (1-4-5) were the best players on the ice and looked like they could play in the NHL later this week. The Wolverines had a field day on special teams as well. They went 4-for-6 on the power play, 3-for-3 on the penalty kill, and scored a shorthanded goal.

Regional Final: 2-1 OT win against #8 Penn State

This may have been the most exciting 2-1 game of all time. The Big Ten showdown certainly lived up to expectations, as it was the only overtime game of the regional round.

Despite 28 shots in the first period, the game remained scoreless. Penn State goaltender Liam Souliere played one of the best games of his career, shutting down fantastic scoring opportunities from the high-end talent on Michigan's roster.

The game remained scoreless until late in the second period. With Penn State on the power play for the first time of the tournament, the Wolverines could not clear the zone, leading to a quick blast from the point by junior defenseman Christian Berger. Michigan goaltender Erik Portillo could not handle the rebound, which bounced right out to senior Connor MacEachern who fired it into the open net. That sent Allentown into a frenzy as the Nittany Lions took a 1-0 lead into the second intermission.

After a successful penalty kill early in the third, it looked like Souliere and Penn State were on their way to a shutout upset (despite the best jinxing efforts from the announcers). However, the Nittany Lions gave Michigan one more chance on the man advantage with nine minutes to go in the game. This time, Adam Fantilli made sure not to waste the opportunity. The NCAA points leader collected a rebound and somehow found a way to get the puck through Souliere on the short side, tying the game at 1-1 with 7:52 to play. The score remained until overtime.

We didn't get much bonus hockey. Just 52 seconds into the first overtime of the tournament, Michigan sophomore Mackie Samoskevich entered the Penn State zone, skated to the high slot, and fired an absolute laser past Souliere's blocker to send the Wolverines to the Frozen Four for the second-straight year. It was a tough end to the game for the Penn State junior as he played outstanding, making 41 saves in the loss.

Why They Match Up Well Against The Field: Underclassman Talent

Led by NCAA points leader Adam Fantilli, Michigan is absolutely loaded with freshman and sophomore talent. Their top nine scorers this season are underclassmen, including three who have scored 40 or more points. In total, 147/169 (87.0%) of Michigan's goals this season have been scored by freshman or sophomores.

Fantilli leads the way with 29 goals, 35 assists, and 64 points in 35 games this season. That's an absurd mark of 1.83 points per game, almost a third of a point (.27) higher than any other player this year. He's the third member of the Hobey Baker Hat Trick, and my pick to win it all this season.

Luke Hughes and Mackie Samoskevich, the respective fourth and 24th overall pick in the 2021 NHL draft, could have left after last season but stayed for a second year after a heartbreaking overtime loss to Denver in last year's Frozen Four semifinals. Hughes leads the Wolverines with 37 assists this season.

#5 - Boston University Terriers

Five Total Championships, Last in 2009

Record: 29-10-0, 18-6-0 conference record

Conference Finish: 1st in Hockey East standings, won conference championship against Merrimack

Goals/Game: 3.9 (T-3rd in NCAA)

Goals Against/Game: 2.6 (T-16th)

Shots For, Against/Game: 34.3 for, 27.7 against (5th, T-19th)

Power Play: 19.8% (T-29th)

Penalty Kill: 81.1% (31st)

Top Scorer: Lane Hutson, Freshman, Defenseman (15 G, 33 A, 48 P in 38 GP)

Top Goalie: Drew Commesso, Junior (24-7-0, 2.41 GAA, .914 SV% in 33 GP)

How They Got Here: No Mistakes

Regional Semifinal: 5-1 win against #12 Western Michigan

Yet again, this game was close after the first period, but the winning team pulled away in the second. It appeared as though Western Michigan opened the scoring after a scramble in front of the net, but the goal was disallowed due to goaltender interference. It was Hobey Baker finalist and "x-factor" Lane Hutson who opened the scoring, gathering a puck in the slot and firing a shot through the legs of Broncos' goaltender Cameron Rowe.

In the second period, Lane's brother Quinn made it 2-0 after burying a saucer pass on a 2-on-1 rush. The Terriers would score two more goals by the end of the second period, both were lasers from right in the slot. They added an empty-net goal late in the third period to put the game away 5-1.

NCAA's leading goal scorer Jason Polin scored the lone goal of the game for Western Michigan, a beautiful tip out of midair that snuck through the legs of BU goaltender Drew Commesso. The goal was Polin's 30th of the season, breaking the NCHC single-season record.

Regional Final: 2-1 win against #13 Cornell

This game felt like a breath of fresh air after a first round full of blowouts. There were just 35 total shots on goal this game, including just eight in the first period. The Terriers and Big Red remained scoreless after the opening frame despite a power play opportunity for each team.

The Terriers opened the scoring early in the second period, as senior forward Wilmer Skoog received a great pass across the goal from Jeremy Wilmer and fired the puck into a wide open net. Skoog has scored in both of Boston University's NCAA tournament games and now has 16 goals on the season. Cornell pressed for an equalizer but could not tie the game, despite hitting the crossbar on a great chance in-close, nine minutes into the second.

Heading into the third period the score remained 1-0. Seven minutes in the Terriers sprung a breakout through the Cornell defense, sending Ethan Phillips in on a partial breakaway. The senior made his way to the slot, fired a shot off the pad of Big Red goaltender Ian Shane, collected a rebound, and blasted the puck into the open net to double Boston University's lead.

With their season on the line, Cornell pulled the goalie with over 2:30 to go. They would make it a one-goal game with under 30 seconds to play, as the puck went in off of a Terriers' defenseman's skate after a scramble to the right of BU goalie Drew Commesso. The Big Red had one chance to tie the game, but a good chance with just eight seconds remaining was sent wide and they could not recover the puck from a scramble behind the net.

BU is headed to the Frozen Four for the first time since 2015, where they lost a heartbreaker to Providence 4-3 to finish 2nd.

Why They Can Win It All: Consistency

An elite offense (3.9 goals/game, T-3rd in the country) and an above-average defense (2.6 goals against/game, T-16th) has meant great consistency for Boston University over the course of the season. They are cumulatively outscoring opponents in each period this year: 44-30 in the 1st, 51-36 in the 2nd, 52-32 in the 3rd, and 5-2 in OT. The Terriers are also outshooting their opponents in every period, with a season total of 1337-1082 for-against.

The Terriers have lost back-to-back games just once this season, a four-game skid in mid-February, and have won every single game since then. BU is consistent, has great depth, and is one of the better possession teams in the country, all keys that could translate to a deep tournament run this season.

I've also got to give a shoutout to freshman defenseman Lane Hutson. The Hockey East rookie of the year led all defensemen in scoring this season (15 G, 33 A, 48 P in 38 games) and was a Hobey Baker finalist. Hutson is incredibly talented and had a case to make the Hobey Hat Trick. Look for #20 to make an impact this weekend.