Feature Story

News and notes from the 2008 NCAA Men’s Frozen Four

 

By Wally Shaver

Let’s Play Hockey Columnist

 

• Six Minnesotans occupied roster spots from the two finalists who competed for the NCAA national title this past Saturday night. Notre Dame’s roster included sophomore forward and leading scorer Ryan Thang (Edina), sophomore forward Garrett Regan (Hastings), freshman forward Ryan Guentzel (Woodbury), and senior forward and captain Mark Van Guilder (Roseville). From national champion Boston College came senior forward Joe Adams (Wayzata) and sophomore defenseman Carl Sneep (Nisswa). All but Adams played in the championship game.

 

• After suffering the 4-1 loss in the national title game, Notre Dame’s Mark Van Guilder commented, “I thought BC was tough all game. Their five defensemen really picked it up when Sneep went down – they did a great job. The big key to the game was their power play worked and ours didn’t.” BC’s power play went 2-4 while Notre Dame faltered at 0-8.

 

• Although the game was far from one of the more entertaining or well-played games in recent Frozen Four history, BC’s third straight trip to the national title game proved fruitful. Defensive adjustments had to be made early when Carl Sneep went down after taking a shot on the inside of the right ankle in the opening period. Sneep, who usually sports a regular shift, as well as power play and penalty killing duty, could only stand back on crutches and watch. “I was just hoping it (my absence) wouldn’t hurt the team, but they took care of business. At first I thought it was a stinger, but I couldn’t put any pressure on it. I give all the credit to the other D guys. They had to play spots where they normally wouldn’t play.”

 

• Boston College diminutive dynamo Nathan Gerbe was named Frozen Four MVP. Standing just 5’5", Gerbe bagged five goals and three assists in the two games. He was one of three finalists for the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s best player, finishing runner-up (along with Miami’s Ryan Jones) to Michigan’s Kevin Porter. Gerbe, a Buffalo draft pick, is strongly rumored to be heading to the pros and bypassing his senior year.

 

• This year’s Frozen Four was not a memorable one for goalies. Clearly the best goalie was Boston College’s outstanding young freshman John Muse who played every game all season and allowed only two goals against at the tourney. North Dakota’s Jean-Philippe Lamoureux allowed several soft goals as BC stormed to a 6-0 lead (eventual 6-1 win) in the first semifinal. Michigan’s Billy Sauer also surrendered a couple of softies in the first period when the Wolverines fell behind 3-0 in the first period. Michigan coach Red Berenson, commenting on changing goalies after the first said, “We just watched the No. 1 goalie in the country give up six goals. We had to change the momentum. It was a tough decision, but you’re trying to win the game.” Michigan rallied to tie the game at 4-4 against Notre Dame on a soft goal against Irish netminder Jordan Pearce, but then lost at 5:44 of overtime.

 

• Longtime St. John’s (Minnesota) head coach John Harrington, wanting to try coaching pro hockey, will head to Switzerland later this summer for the next two seasons to coach Ambri-Piotta. Former Gopher star Erik Westrum plays there, along with another WCHA alum Nick Naumenko (North Dakota). “Swiss league teams can have a maximum of eight imports on the roster over the course of the year. At any one time, you can only have five on the roster and only four can play in a game. We have room for one more import and I’d like to add a forward, possibly Grant Stephenson (Minnesota State Mankato),” said the new bench boss.  “Shouldn’t be a problem with the language as most of the guys speak English, but I’m brushing up on my Italian.”

 

• WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod and other college hockey dignitaries, met last Friday with NHL Players Association director Paul Kelly. Primary topic of discussion centered on the increasing exodus of college players leaving early to turn pro. College coaches are naturally deeply concerned about the early flights. “Discussions went very well,” said McLeod, “and more dialogue will continue but it may take a while to get any results.” 

 

• NHL teams love the college hockey players. For one thing, unlike kids coming out of major junior hockey in Canada or those from Europe, NHL teams don’t have to make payments to the teams they draft college players from. Plus, they can observe a players’ development to see if the pick pans out, helping to determine when and if they turn the college player pro. Player agents, who are approved by the NHLPA, don’t mind turning college drafts pro as soon as they can to start earning money (agents receive 3 percent commission on pro salaries). Also, since the new Collective Bargaining Agreement was instituted in 2004, first-year pros have salary cap limitations on what they can earn. The earlier they can start the clock (by turning pro), the sooner the second contract for bigger bucks can kick in. 

 

• The College Hockey America (CHA) conference will be down to four teams now that Wayne State has discontinued varsity hockey. That also means there will no longer be an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament for the league. The four remaining teams (Bemidji State, Alabama-Huntsville, Robert Morris and Niagara) are solid but need two more members. Bob Peters, league commissioner said, “We’re talking with several college hockey club teams (non-varsity) – there are over 300 around the country – and may get some movement there. But it’s tough. As one school administrator told me, with the Title IX issues, he’d rather spend six months in jail than have to deal with Title IX.” Oooh, ick – that doesn’t sound good. 

 

• However, the CHA also is seriously exploring a development with Atlantic Hockey (who have 10 teams in their league) in order to make something happen. College hockey coaches and administrators will be meeting in two weeks at their annual convention in Naples, Fla., and more will come out of those meetings. My best guess is to look for a realignment of the two leagues. Competitiveness aside, what is needed here is common sense strategies to insure the survival of the existing college hockey franchises. Look for two teams to leave the AHA for the CHA.

 

 

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