Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Men’s Notes: Seen and Heard in Saint Paul

Players, Coaches Meet with Media at Xcel Energy Center

Each of the Frozen Four participating teams met with the attending media Wednesday, with each head coach and select players brough to the podium at team press conferences, while locker rooms were also open to reporters following each practice.

Two-and-a-half weeks ago, Denver won the NCHC Frozen Faceoff at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul. DU head coach David Carle said it’s good to be back.

“I think the NCAA always does a great job, certainly, at this event,” said Carle. “We’re really grateful for all the work they do, and it’s a big lift by Visit Saint Paul, the building, the Gophers, the host institution and all the people that come and lay the groundwork, logistics infrastructure, I think to make it a really special experience for the players, and that’s the most important thing is that they have a great experience here.”

Carle continued: “And this place, this city, this state, they know hockey. They know how to run it at a really high level. And we’ve been blown away by the hospitality we’ve received thus far.”

Frozen Four Media Kit (.pdf) | Tournament Bracket

Visit College Hockey Inc.’s 2024 NCAA Frozen Four Media Kit (above) for more tournament information, statistics, and key storylines.

National Scoring Leaders | National Goaltending Leaders | National Team Leaders

Must Read:

Boston Globe: Everything you need to know about BC and BU in the Frozen Four
Boston Herald: Boston College captain Eamon Powell ready for Frozen Four battle with Michigan
Michigan Daily: By changing with Michigan hockey, Philippe Lapointe has found his identity
NHL.com: Celebrini, Gauthier among players to watch at Frozen Four
Sportsnet: Huston focused on winning NCAA title, but NHL looms for Canadiens prospect
The Rink Live: Michigan isn’t the only team loaded with NHL talent at Frozen Four
The Rink Live: 10 NHL prospects to watch at the Frozen Four in St. Paul
USCHO: Resilient Michigan team peaking at right time as Wolverines return to Frozen Four
USCHO: Back in Frozen Four means powerhouse BC squad continuing ‘pretty impressive tradition here’

Must Hear:

College Hockey Today: Regional reactions and Frozen Four forecasting
Pucks in Deep: Featuring Grand Forks Herald reporter Brad Schlossman
Talking Hockey Sense: 2024 Men’s Frozen Four Preview Special: Predictions, Hobey Baker Pick, More
The Pipeline Show: Featuring BU head coach Jay Pandolfo, Denver head coach David Carle

Celebrini Center of Attention:

Boston University freshman Macklin Celebrini (Vancouver, British Columbia) is used to attention.

The youngest player in NCAA Division I men’s hockey this season – he’ll play his entire freshman year as a 17-year-old – Celebrini has come as advertised, racking up 32 goals and 64 points as one of three “Hobey Hat Trick” finalists for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award. His teammates say the attention given to Celebrini on the ice benefits his teammates.

“It’s pretty special having a player like him on our team,” said sophomore D Lane Hutson (Chicago, Ill.). “I think when the other team has to worry about him so much, it definitely creates chances for other guys.”

Attention also follows Celebrini off the ice and will continue to do so well beyond this weekend. After all, he is widely projected to be the first player taken in this summer’s NHL Entry Draft. That’s far from his mind in Saint Paul, however.

“I don’t think I’m very focused on that,” said Celebrini. “We’ve got a job to do this weekend. And it’s kind of cliché, but everything else will take care of itself. So, we’re focused on Thursday first of all and playing the best hockey for 60 minutes and then not looking past that.”

Rizzo’s Return:

The highest scoring team in the country will receive an additional boost for Thursday’s semifinal matchup against Boston University.

Junior captain Massimo Rizzo (Burnaby, British Columbia), out since early February with a lower-body injury, will be in the lineup according to DU head coach David Carle.

“He’s been on his progression path, obviously, for a little while here, and I think our medical team’s done a great job with him,” said Carle. “He’s been able to skate since getting back from Springfield in a regular jersey and take contact and get involved.”

Rizzo was the nation’s leading scorer with 44 points in 28 games at the time of his injury.

Friendly Fire:

No player in this year’s Frozen Four has played in more college hockey games than Michigan fifth-year D Marshall Warren (Laurel Hollow, N.Y.), who has 170 to his career. The first 130 of those games came at Boston College, making Warren uniquely suited to provide his Michigan teammates with a first-hand scouting report.

“They’re a fast, skilled team, like we know already,” said Warren. “But I think they played good on the line rush, similar to Minnesota a little bit, with their top two lines. We’ve just got to wear them down, be hard in front of our net.”

Marshall said fraternization with his former teammates has been nil as of late.

“Our group chat has been pretty quiet ever since we beat Michigan State [at regionals],” said Warren. “Right now, I’m emotionless about it. It’s a business trip for us. We have to beat them. They’re in my way, our way.”

Notebook Quotebook:

“The first day of training camp for us, he pissed a lot of guys off but it was because of how competitive he is. He doesn’t give anyone an inch, and he’s like that every day. And for a 17-year-old to push a group of older players like that, it’s pretty impressive, and it says a lot about him and about his career and about how much he cares.”

— Boston University head coach Jay Pandolfo on freshman F Macklin Celebrini (Vancouver, British Columbia) during today’s Frozen Four press conference.

NHL Note of the Week:

Dallas F Joe Pavelski (Wisconsin, 2004-06), who helped lead the Badgers to an NCAA title in 2006, continues to climb up the all-time NHL scoring chart of college hockey alumni.

Pavelski’s assist Sunday at Colorado was his 1,066th career NHL point, moving him past Keith Tkachuk (Boston University, 1990-91) for seventh-most by a former NCAA player. Pavelski added a goal two nights later against Buffalo, putting him two points away from matching Dave Taylor’s (Clarkson, 1973-77) career total of 1,069.

Fries at the Bottom of the Bag:

Second-year Boston College head coach Greg Brown won the 2024 Spencer Penrose Award on Wednesday as the NCAA Division I Men’s Hockey/AHCA Coach of the Year. Brown has led his alma mater to a 33-5-1 record in 2023-24, a 19-win improvement from last season … North Dakota sophomore F Jackson Blake (Eden Prairie, Minn.) signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday. Blake had 22 goals and 60 points in 40 games this season and was one of three “Hobey Hat Trick” finalists for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award.

Longest Active Point Streaks Among Frozen Four Participants:

10 games, F Macklin Celebrini (Boston University)
- 9-13—22, began Feb. 17 vs. Providence
7 games, D Lane Hutson (Boston University)
- 3-7—10, began March 7 at Providence
6 games, F Will Smith (Boston College)
- 6-9—15, began March 9 at Merrimack

Longest Active Goal Streaks Among Frozen Four Participants:

3 games, F Dylan Duke (Michigan)
- 5-2—7, began March 23 at Michigan State

College Hockey Inc. Resources:

Did you know? 93% of NCAA Division I men’s hockey players earn their degree!