The first national semi-final will be North Dakota's Fighting Sioux vs the Eagles of Boston College. The nightcap will pit two longtime rivals in other sports as well as hockey, the Wolverines of Michigan and the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.
Michigan advanced by defeating Clarkson in the East Regional final. Notre Dame advanced by upsetting CCHA rival and defending National Champion Michigan State. Boston College beat Miami (O) 4-3 in overtime and North Dakota advanced by winning in overtime as well over Wisconsin.
Michigan and North Dakota are the only two remaining #1 seeds. Boston College has been the national runner up the last two years running, losing both. In fact, despite a title in 2001, Boston College remains snakebit. No team has a better winning percentage in the NCAA tournament the last 11 seasons and yet, they lost in 1998 in OT to Michigan and lost last year to MSU with just 19 seconds to play.
Michigan has ben playing short on defense since the dismissal of Kevin Quick earlier this season and yet keep waiting for this perceived deficiency to show up. Michigan has had difficulties with Northern Michigan, a skating team that hails from an Olympic sized home rink and in looking ahead to the Frozen Four, only BC could even be considered such a team. Michigan, for one game anyway should be able to impose their will on ND.
The Fighting Sioux survived a very hostile crowd environment over last weekend to tip Wisconsin in OT. North Dakota struck twice quickly in the third to erase a 2-0 defecit. North Dakota, once they had gotten the momentum used their size to play havoc with the Badger defense and were able to get their forecheck going and take advantage of their size.
Relive the exciting finish from last year's final in St. Louis and see why college hockey gives tremendous bang for the buck.
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