Men’s hockey Head Coach George Gwozdecky stood and watched the national championship trophy slowly passed around the Pepsi Center on Saturday evening. Passed around among the champion Boston College Eagles, not his DU Pioneers. It was a weekend the DU hockey team so badly wanted to be a part of, but instead had to watch from the sidelines as Notre Dame, North Dakota, Michigan and Boston College competed in the Frozen Four.
It was bittersweet for Gwozdecky and the rest of Denver athletics, as pride of hosting the event mixed with the pain of not being a participant.
“I am extremely proud of how our university put on this event. I thought they did a tremendous job. It is such a huge effort that falls on so few shoulders,” said Gwozdecky.
“It was tough when we got back from the Midwest regional. It started to become less after a few days, and then obviously this week starts picking up and that’s when it starts becoming a little more challenging.”
The Pioneers suffered a 6-2 defeat in the first round of the NCAA tournament at the hands of Midwest regional host Wisconsin, ending DU’s Frozen Four dream. After not making the NCAA tournament last season and also having to watch the West regional that DU hosted at the Pepsi Center, the hockey team was determined to skate in front of the home crowd this season, but once again it was not to be.
Boston College dominated lone WCHA representative North Dakota in the first Frozen Four semi-final 6-1. Notre Dame followed it up with a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory over Michigan in the second semi-final.
“It was kind of a crazy game. There was no time in which I felt comfortable,” said Notre Dame Head Coach Jeff Jackson, whose team led 3-0 before finally pulling out the 4-3 victory.
On the off day between the semi-final and championship game, the third annual NCAA Skills Competiton was held at the Pepsi Center. DU was represented by seniors Andrew Thomas, a defenseman, and goaltender Peter Mannino, who competed for the West squad.
Thomas and Mannino helped the West to a 13-6 win over the East team. Thomas won the accuracy shooting contest after going 4-of-8 in the opening round and 3-of-4 in a playoff against Luke Flicek of Army. Thomas also performed well in the fastest skater competition, recording a time of 4.55 seconds and losing by just .1 of a second in the final. Mannino stopped 7-of-8 rapid fire shots and 3-of-3 penalty shots. Gwozdecky and former DU assistant coach and current Miami (Ohio) Head Coach Enrico Blasi were co-coaches for the West squad.
On Saturday Boston College set the tone from the beginning and held off Cinderella story Notre Dame 4-1 to win the Frozen Four playoffs.
“I thought they had us on our heels early on with their speed, and I was a little bit surprised that our team played a little too cautious. Little disappointed in the fact that I thought our team could have made some plays and we didn’t,” said Jackson.
“Right after the regional, one of our players said ‘in nine days, our season is over,’ but we stress the fact that when you win a national championship, you’re season never ends because you refer back to your teams,” said Boston College Head Coach Jerry York.
After being a bridesmaid the last two years, the Eagles captured their third NCAA title in school history and first since 2001.
Next year’s Frozen Four will take place at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. on April 9 and 11.
In other DU hockey news, over the weekend junior defenseman Chris Butler decided to forgo his senior season and signed with the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League. Butler was drafted by the Sabres in 2005.
