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.

Project for Awesome 2013 - Mandi Schwartz Foundation

One of the best ways to give on the holiday season is to give to those in need. Every year, I highlight a special hockey related foundation to highlight for the Project for Awesome website campaign. It's a great way to get introduced to new funds and charities that really need the attention and money to keep hope (and awesomeness) alive into the next year.
This year, I've chosen to highlight the Mandi Schwartz Foundation because it's a situation that became a heart-felt story where a young woman was in dire need of help. Whereas I think hockey fans are so special, the true goodness in everyone shines through when one of our own is in trouble.

But as I wrote about Mandi's tragic loss in 2011, her life and personality and will to persevere is carried on through her family and friends.

Please consider giving to the Mandi Schwartz Foundation or get yourself tested as a possible bone marrow doner. It would be awesome!

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.

BIG 10 Creates Hockey Conference in 2013-14

Even though the decision is to be made official when the group of ADs and Chancellors meet in June, the Big Ten will invite the collection of traditional rival schools Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Penn State to finally be reconciled underneath the same conference competition banner.

The conference has been passively supportive of each school as they competed regionally through separate allegiances to the CCHA, WCHA and ACHA. But the plans according to reports, is to continue a strong non-conference games with each others long standing rivals.

Minnesota director of athletics Joel Maturi said. “At the same time there are some mixed emotions for us, as Minnesota is an original and proud member of the WCHA. We would depart with fond memories, and the sincere belief that many of the great WCHA rivalries that the Gophers have been a part of will continue through non-conference play.”

The other plan in forming the new conference is just how many games they would play as well as settling a conference championship to push on through to a NCAA Frozen Four tournament national title bid.

The teams will play a 20-game league schedule, with each team playing each other four times. That would leave each team with at least 14 non-league games per season to fill.

As per the NCAA rules, for the league to be recognized by the NCAA governing body, they needed a minimum of 6 teams. Which they have.

The icing on the cake is also the likely possibility of expanding into more programming on the Big Ten Network. Despite the logjam of football programming, the conference can now diversify among its shows during the fall sports seasons.

[Via: Big Ten Conference, Big 10 Network, or College Hockey News]

Michigan Holds World Attendance Record For Hockey Game

For the critics of the survival of hockey in America, this latest news story must really stick to them in all the wrong ways. But to the American hockey fans, this story's headline is certainly going to prompt some chest pumping and gloating. Even then it's also a preview of what's in store for the NHL at the Winter Classic and provides more proof that the sensational event of holding a hockey game outdoors to large crowds.

As the article reports, 113,411 people were watching the historical event. It would dwarf the 77,000+ German fans who witnessed a game in their country.

Two Big Ten schools University of Michigan and Michigan State recently held a record-setting hockey game that shows the strength of not only hockey in America but at the collegiate level as well. Also added in for flavor, the in-state rivalry between the Spartans and Wolverines had to boost the local interest.

It was held 9 years to the day that both schools had met previously at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. If only they told the Spartans to show up and make a game of it, the instant classic would be beneficial for both teams. Instead, it was the Michigan Wolverines who did all the scoring.

Microphones were placed close enough to the ice to amplify the normal hockey sounds of the puck hitting the boards and players skating swiftly back and forth, making it easier for those seated far away to feel like they were part of the action.

At the end of the first period, the Wolverines took a 2-0 lead thanks to defenseman Jon Merrill. But once the second rolled around, the Michigan left winger and Swedish born Carl Hagelin scored in the second period as well as the third. David Wohlberg also added a goal for himself too. Michigan goalie Shawn Hunwick also got to the shutout while stopping all 34 shots he faced.

[Via: The Times Union]

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]

Paul Kelly Goes to College

I was hoping that eventually, Paul Kelly once he was removed from his NHLPA position, that he might be heralded as Gary Bettman's understudy. When he first took office, I had a sense that he was a formidable opponent. Interviews on the FAN 590 as well as the long resume, he seemed like he could do just about any leadership job.

We might be one step closer to realizing that reality now that Paul Kelly has taken a executive director job of NCAA College hockey with a new governing group named College Hockey Inc. It's mission will oversee all NCAA Division I teams in the United States.

But just because he is learning with college athletics, Mr. Kelly will also, according to the article, be often in contact with the NHL and NHLPA.

[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]