Frozen Four Preview

The 2010 Frozen Four kicks off (or, faces off I guess) tomorrow in Ford Field. While there were some concerns about attendance at Ford Field (especially with no Michigan or Michigan State), it looks like those issues have been resolved and the atmosphere should be great for the Frozen. And hey, it will be nice for that stadium to see a championship team for once.

It’s hard to pick a team that is coming in with the most momentum. After all, each team had to win two hard fought games to get to get to Detroit, but I am going with RIT as the hottest team. Goalie Jared DeMichiel allowed 3 goals in their 2 NCAA tournament games, and he held high-flying Denver to just 1. He was also named a 3rd team All-American by INCH today. RIT has vaulted up to 5th overall in scoring offense, although given that they have done it against Atlantic Hockey, it’s tough to see them putting in nearly 4 goals against Wisconsin and either BC or Miami. Fortunately, they don’t have to as their defense has been stellar. They’re the 3rd ranked scoring defense in the country, allowing just over 2 goals per game, and since Atlantic Hockey has some teams who can definitely fill the net, RIT could hold Wisconsin in check. Just ask Denver.

Speaking of the Badgers, it’s tough to find a better team in the country. They were my pre-tournament pick as national champion, and for good reason. The sheer amount of individual talent they have is amazing. Two first team All-Americans, two Hobey finalists, the probable Hobey winner (Blake Geoffrion). And just look at this blueline: Brendan Smith, Ryan McDonagh, Jake Gardiner, Cody Goloubef, John Ramage. Wisconsin has 5 defensemen who are as good or better than anyone else in the Frozen Four. They had 3 players on this year’s United States World Junior team that won a gold medal, and one on Canada’s gold medal winning team last year.

The one chink in Wisconsin’s armor may be in net, as Junior Scott Gudmandson has stellar numbers, but has looked shaky at times. Still, when you have those defensemen ahead of you, you can be shaky. But Wisconsin has all the first and second round NHL picks you could ever want, and they have tons of experience. The players from the World Junior Teams, like I mentioned, as well as Senior Blake Geoffrion.

Miami has the experience thing down pat as well, having made the national championship game last year. The preseason #2 team in the country has done maybe the two toughest things to do in sports: rebound from disappointment and win when you’re supposed to. At 29-7-7 they have the nation’s best winning percentage and at 1.84 goals allowed per game they have the country’s stingiest defense. At 9th in scoring offense they are the “weakest” offensive team in the field, but remember they put up their goals in the CCHA, which was probably the best defensive conference this year. The key word, as I mentioned earlier, is experience. Miami’s top 5 scorers are a Senior and 5 Juniors. Jarod Palmer, who might be this year’s winner of the “I can’t believe he’s been in college this long” award, leads the team with 18 goals and 45 points. Junior Tommy Wingels is 2nd on the team in scoring, and was a 3rd team INCH All-American.

Perhaps the most interesting storyline for Miami is in net. They have rotated Cody Reichard and Connor Knapp fairly evenly (Reichard has played in 7 more games), and their numbers are remarkably similar: They’re separated by just .08 in GAA and just .001% in save percentage. Cody Reichard was named CCHA player of the year, but it was Connor Knapp who started in the regional final against Michigan and had a 55 save effort to get Miami to the Frozen Four when it seemed like they were getting outplayed badly. Knapp and Reichard are both very very good, but it will be interesting to see if they both see ice time.

Boston College is seemingly the forgotten team in this Frozen Four, weird for a team that just ended a streak of three national title games in a row. The Eagles are led by a deep and talented forward crew. Their star is Sophomore Cam Atkinson, who was only bested in goals by UNH’s Bobby Butler. The Eagles are more than just the Cam Atkinson show, however, as they have 7 double digit goal scorers. Their most talented player might be Freshman Chris Kreider who, after scoring just 1 goal before Christmas, ended up with 14 on the year. On the blueline, BC is led by Senior and future Pittsburgh Penguin Carl Sneep, who has greatly improved from his Freshman to Senior season and has 11 goals this year, which is tied for 6th nationally among defensemen. His 11 goals is also almost double his total from his first three seasons (6).

In net, BC may have some trouble. Junior John Muse has had some problems, with just over a 2.5 GAA and only a .907 save percentage. Freshman Parker Millner has been a little better (2.32, .909) so after winning a title with a Freshman two years ago, it will be interesting to see if Jerry York tries that route again.

While all four teams certainly have the ability to win the title, I am going to be boring and pick Wisconsin to beat Miami in the championship game.