Despite some snow in the air, in the Mile High city, college hockey fans still gathered inside the Pepsi Center for the Frozen Four semifinals, which was truly a “frozen” event. In the first game, North Dakota and Boston College took the ice for the fourth consecutive year in the NCAA tournament. Three of those meetings, including this year, came in the semifinals.

In the first period it was all Eagles. Hobey Baker candidate, Nathan Gerbe, netted two goals, including one shorthanded, leading BC to a 4-0 first period lead. Dan Bertram and Andrew Orpik got the other two goals. Gerbe struck again in the second with his third goal of the game to make it 5-0 in the second. Ben Smith would later get a goal on an assist from Gerbe to make it 6-0 after two.

The Sioux did get a goal late in the third, but overall it was not a good night for Dave Hakstol’s club. The final score was 6-1.

“They [BC] came out and played a very good hockey game,” said North Dakota head coach Dave Hakstol, who lost to the Eagles for the third straight season in the Frozen Four semifinals. “They made some plays early on and certainly get full value for the win.”

The Fourth Wheel

When scoring four or more goals, The Eagles are 89-0-1 in their last 90 games. Their last loss when scoring four or more goals came in 2003 when BC lost to the Fighting Sioux in a 6-4 final.

Six Times the Fun

Tonight’s six goal outburst was the third consecutive time in the national semifinals that the Eagles have scored that many goals against their new rivals, the Fighting Sioux. Overall, BC has outscored North Dakota by a score of 18-11 in those three games. The last time BC scored six goals was in the Beanpot final against Harvard in a 6-5 overtime victory.

BC Class of 2008

The class of 2008 will play in their last collegiate game on Saturday. On the resume, senior class has won 105 games. This is the seventh senior class under Jerry York with at least 100 victories.

Neutral Sites Best for BC

In 11 games at neutral sites, the Eagles are 10-1. Their only loss was the first game of the year in the Ice Breaker tournament against Michigan.

Third Time the Charm?

York’s squad will be making their third straight appearance in the national championship game. The last time a team made three straight title games was Lake Superior State from 1992-94.

“Each year is different, each team is different, and each path is different” York said. “There’s not a lot of similarity between this team and the last two years. It’s just a different makeup.”

The Second game featured a first timer, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Michigan Wolverines. This is the third time the two teams have met this season, both of which were won by Michigan. Notre Dame jumped up to a quick 3-0 lead after one and dictated the game. Michigan goaltender Billy Sauer was pulled in favor of backup net-minder Bryan Hogan.

The second period was a struggle, until Michigan scored two goals in 15 seconds making the three goal deficit to 3-2 midway through the period. Chad Kolarik got his second goal and tied the game at 3-3 early in the third on a power play. Notre Dame got one back only to see that lead slip away again.

However, the Irish got their swagger back in overtime as freshman Calle Ridderwall, from the point, got one past Hogan to give the Irish a 5-4 victory and their first national title game appearance.

Jackson’s Experience

Head coach Jeff Jackson has won two National titles with Lake Superior State. Jackson has taken two lesser known teams in college hockey (at the time he arrived) and brought them to their first Frozen Fours in school history. This will be the third time that Jackson has been to a national championship game; overall, he is 6-1 in the Frozen Four.

Senior Experience

Notre Dame senior Mark Van Guilder has played in a school record 162 games. Teammate Brock Sheahan is right behind him with 160 games.

First Time

The national championship meeting between Boston College and Notre Dame will be the first hockey title game involving two catholic schools. The last time two private schools played in the national championship was 1985 when RPI defeated Providence.

Attendance

Tonight’s attendance figures for the semifinals were 18,543 in the first game and 18,544 for the second game. Combined, the total attendance was 37,087 the third best draw in the first day of the Frozen Four. Don’t know how the extra person got into the second game, but those were great attendance figures nonetheless, despite inclement conditions outside.

Promotions

The first 15,000 fans who exited the Pepsi Center Thursday night received a free poster. On Saturday, only the first 2,500 people will receive a free knit hat when entering the arena.

Saturday nights match-up between BC and Notre Dame should be a good one as two catholic schools will battle for the national title.