BU, BC aim for all-Boston final at Frozen Four
ST. PAUL, Minn — There is a banner in the rafters of the Xcel Energy Center that simply reads “STATE OF HOCKEY” over an image of an outline of the state of Minnesota.
▶ BC’s Fowler, BU’s Caron a stellar duo in net. C6
It started out as a marketing campaign for the Minnesota Wild in the NHL, but has been embraced on the college level as well, and for good reason. Since 2013, a team from Minnesota has reached the Frozen Four 11 times, including 2022 when Minnesota and Minnesota State faced off at TD Garden while Boston College and Boston University failed to reach the tournament.
That script has been flipped this year. There are no Minnesota schools among the last four teams still standing, while BC and BU set to hit the ice here for Thursday’s semifinals, with the hopes of advancing to Saturday’s championship to set up a fifth matchup this season between the storied rivals that have occupied the top two spots in the rankings for most of the second half of the season.
But to do so, they will have to get by the two programs tied for the most NCAA titles, with Denver and Michigan having each won nine championships.
Both BC and BU appeared to be in great spirits at Wednesday’s media availability, embracing the moment as they attempt to reach the final in the same season for just the second time, and the first since 1978.
BU sophomore Lane Hutson had a little fun when asked to say something nice about freshman phenom Macklin Celebrini, who along with BC sophomore Cutter Gauthier is a Hobey Baker finalist.
“I think I’m good actually,” said Hutson, drawing laughs before answering the question. “He’s a pretty special player. It’s really fun playing with him. He makes it real easy for our guys, for me especially. But just seeing how hard he works, how hard he competes every shift. When your most skilled player is doing that, it makes everyone want to do it, and it’s easy to follow and get behind him.”
No. 2 BU (28-9-2) will take on No. 3 Denver (30-9-3)
in the opener. The Pioneers have been without forward Massimo Rizzo since the middle of February when he went down with a lower body injury, but coach David Carle said Rizzo would be in the lineup Thursday. The junior had 10 goals and 34 assists in 28 games.
Junior Jack Devine led Denver in goals (27) and points (56) to be named a Hobey Baker top-10 finalist for a Pioneers squad that leads the nation in goals per game at 4.7 and figures to present a challenge for BU’s defense.
“I think for us it’s dictating the way we want to play, worrying about ourselves, minimizing our mistakes,” said BU captain Case McCarthy. “It’s something that we’ve been growing as a team over the course of the year, and I think when we’re playing our style, we’re hard to deal with. We have speed. We have some physicality aspects. We just have to stick to our game and stay patient for a full 60 minutes.”
No. 1 BC (33-5-1) will face Michigan (2314-3) in the second game. Skating for the Wolverines will be defenseman Marshall Warren, who played four seasons at Chestnut Hill and captained the Eagles last season before transferring to Michigan for a graduate year.
When sophomore Seamus Casey, a second-round pick of the Devils in 2022, went down with an injury in the first-round win over North Dakota, Warren was moved up to the top defensive pairing and scored a goal in the regional final, a 5-2 win over Michigan State.
Warren has stayed in touch with his former teammates, but acknowledged that has not been the case this week.
“Our group chat has been pretty quiet ever since we beat Michigan State,” said Warren. “Right now, I’m emotionless about it. It’s a business trip for us.
“We have to beat them. They’re in my way, our way. And obviously after the game I’ll be a little emotional. But right now I’m just focused on playing Boston College and beating them.”
The Eagles are here on business, too, but also managed to have some fun at practice, looking loose and doing some chirping during drills.
“It’s still hockey,” said BC coach Greg Brown, who was named the Spencer Penrose winner as the Division 1 men’s hockey Coach of the Year on Wednesday. “I think it’s so important to be excited for the moment, but not to stress over it. It’s an opportunity for the guys to do something.
“They’d be kicking themselves if we didn’t get the opportunity to be here, so when you are here you should enjoy it and not stress over it.”