2014 Frozen Four: Boston College and the Combatants
By Joe Micik
2014 Frozen Four: Minnesota Golden Gophers
Minnesota has been good all year long, and they have plenty of recent history with the Eagles. The two teams faced off earlier in the season (BC 0-1-1 at Minnesota), but who could forget how the Eagles pounded the Gophers to make the title game in 2012. Certainly not them, as Boston College handed Minny an embarrassing 6-1 loss.
The Golden Gophers won their way to Philadelphia by taking down Robert Morris, 7-3, and St. Cloud State, 4-0. They are a force with which to be reckoned, scoring a goal and a half per game more than they give up. Minnesota entered the tournament as the presumptive favorite, hosting their regional games a stone’s throw from campus.
The Eagles would only see them in the championship game on Saturday.
2014 Frozen Four: North Dakota (????)s
The Team Formerly Known As Fighting Sioux is no stranger to the Frozen Four, having just made it for the 20th time in program history. They are also no stranger to Boston College, a team with which they are 11-11-1 all-time, including games of significant import (such as the 2000 and 2001 title games, won by UND and Boston College, respectively). The Eagles won the most recent tournament meeting, being the national semifinal in 2008.
North Dakota, the four-seed in the Midwest, started their somewhat improbable run to Philly by beating regional rival Wisconsin in the semis, and then posting a dramatic double-overtime win over Ferris State.
All they have to do to make the championship tilt is beat another regional rival, Minnesota. That won’t be an intense, chippy game or anything.