Frozen Four Pick Em 2016

I recently read that the odds of picking a perfect bracket in the other sport is the virtually impossible one in 9.2 Quintilian. I would like to re-introduce you to the nation-wide phenomenon of prognosticating the tournament winners in this year's Frozen Four tournament aka the NCAA Division 1 Ice Hockey Championships.

Confessions of a Hockey Fanatic Official Bracket for 2016

Above is the bracket that I carefully picked based upon the college hockey that I've been steadily increasing in watching now that the major 24/7 sports cable networks have been airing them. Of course, I'm a little disappointed to see my alma mater not on that bracket just yet. But I'm still giving them time to grow the program and develop some cache credibility.

But based upon the actual teams listed on this tournament, I feel that it's a real exciting opening first round as many of these schools have been visited the last four remaining in prior championship runs.

The biggest first round game standing out has to be the Notre Dame and Michigan game. With the recent news that Notre Dame will be joining the Big Ten (B10) next season, this is a measuring stick for Notre Dame against one of the biggest teams in college hockey and will be facing them on a regular basis. Michigan has clearly benefited from the area willing to make a big spectacle. They've been playing outdoor games and I'm sure a lot of the top quality kids who want to play NCAA level want to play in Michigan just for that experience alone.

I'm giving the more dominant Michigan Wolverines the benefit of the doubt to take their dominate Big 10 (B10) run and take care of the Hockey East conference teams.

Tampa Bay will return to be the host city of the NCAA Frozen Four since they last hosted it in 2012.

2013 NCAA Frozen Four Predictions

Confessions of a Hockey Fanatic, since it is Pittsburgh-based, is proud to have the NCAA Frozen Four championship tournament hosted in the city of Pittsburgh and played in the new CONSOL Energy Center.

Here is my tournament brackets filled out with the predictions (like NCAA Final Four) in the proper brackets. If you want to participate with me, then get your brackets into me by THIS Saturday March 30th.

Consol Energy Center Bids To Host NCAA Frozen Four

The good news about the new multi-purpose arena in downtown being built for the Pittsburgh area. Since the NCAA Tourney was successful in the DC area, the college association has decided that the Consol Energy Center would be a finalist in consideration to bring the NCAA championship ice hockey tourney to the city.

If Pittsburgh is awarded the Frozen Four, it would mark the first major team sport in NCAA history to conduct its national championship in the city.

I think this would be another great way to show off the new facility to hockey fans from all over. I don't quite know if any of the local teams would ever break into the finals in front of their hometown fans, but Robert Morris University has been quietly building a championship contending program. All it needs is a little more exposure to the rest of the hockey states like Minnesota and Massachusetts.

Of couse, we would see the Ohio State and Michigan teams here as they wouldn't have to make that far of a drive.

There has been college hockey in the Mellon Arena before. Penn State, Notre Dame and other schools have partaken in several challenge weekends once a year in an effort to promote NCAA college hockey opportunities.

[Via: Consol Energy Center]

Boston College Wins Frozen Four

Boston College is this year's NCAA college ice hockey champions. Congrats to them.

It has long since stood as a perennial hockey hotbed and produced a litany of NHL stars. And now that it captures yet another title, hockey will continue to grow at the University level.

It also grew a little more attention to the Big Ten Conference that had the Wisconsin Badgers on the front stage.

There are some really interesting facts that The Hockey News (link at the bottom) had pointed out in their article.

1. 37,592 was a record crowd to see it in Detroit's Ford Field.
2. This was the first shutout game final since 2004 when Maine was shut out by U of Denver.

[Via: The Hockey News]

Boston College Frozen 4 Champs

The old joke always said that "if you can't get into Notre Dame, you can always settle for B.C.". This time it was the Golden Eagles that got the last laugh in Denver's Pepsi Center.

B.C. had been suffering from being "the bridesmaid never the bride" while coming in second place the past 3 years. Nathan Gerbe, the national scoring leader, finally tasted success after having been on the previous losing teams and led by example scoring 2 goals and 2 assists.

"Since Day 1, we've been fixated on one trophy and that's the national championship," Gerbe insisted.

Buffalo Sabres fans should be excited for this Gerbe as his pro rights belong to them. Carl Sneep is also listed in the Pittsburgh Penguins system, so having him get a taste of success is certainly preparing him for success in the NHL.

I like that the 4-letter covered a good deal of the Frozen Four this year and I am sure it got coverage on other smaller networks. These athletes deserve its time in the sun. Maybe in a few years, people will start filling out bracket pools for college ice hockey like they do for the final four.

[Via: Sports Illustrated]

Men's and Women's Frozen Four

Okay, it is time once again to set your brackets and pick which teams will make the championship. Forget San Antonio! The real college action can be found in the Mile High City and Duluth.

The Mens Frozen Four is set to pick up it's opening rounds this week and finishing off in the Pepsi Center. Michigan University is the #1 national seed this year. As most Big 10 schools look to a strong showing in this frozen four, Wisconsin is also a very strong hockey school taking after many iconic traditions such as "Badger Bob". Minnesota and Michigan State are also in the regional brackets, but don't figure to me as lasting the whole way. The darkhorse in this tournament is Niagara Univiersity, but I dont expect them to last against Michigan. My underdog to root for is Princeton University with it's strong collegiate influence after producing Hoby Baker.

The Women's Final four have already concluded last weekend in Duluth, MN and hosted by the University of Minnesota Duluth. Womens teams aren't immune to the routine that college sports thrive on the public perception of elite schools dominating the athletic championships. Four schools this year have produced plenty of names that women hockey fans know fought their way to determine a champion. Harvard University, University of Minnesota Duluth, University of New Hampshire, and University of Wisconsin all played in this years final four. Even when most Americans could not find Duluth on a map if you spotted them the state, Duluth turned out to be a great host for a women's hockey championship. Head Coach Mark Johnson:

"I thought the crowd today, and certainly the crowd on Thursday, was certainly supportive of women's hockey. We thank the community and the area for supporting the tournament. Obviously, we're extremely disappointed. It's a long journey to get here. It takes a lot of commitment on the players' part, support staff, and administrators."

University of Minnesota Duluth took the most out of a home ice advantage by blowing out their finals opponent, Wisconsin, 4-0 and solidified their PK to 0-10.

[Via: Men's Frozen Four & Women's Frozen Four]