Wednesday, April 9, 2025

Men’s Notes: Seen and Heard in St. Louis

Frozen Four Teams Meet with Media Wednesday

Wednesday was the final day of preparation for Boston University, Denver, Penn State, and Western Michigan prior to Thursday’s NCAA Frozen Four semifinals.

Members of the media had the opportunity to meet with coaches and players from all four teams following their practices at Enterprise Center.

Denver and BU are no strangers to this environment; the defending NCAA champion Pioneers are searching for their third national title in four years, while the Terriers are making their third Frozen Four appearance in as many seasons under head coach Jay Pandolfo.

On the other hand, their respective opponents, Western Michigan and Penn State, are both making their first Frozen Four appearances. Despite the disparities in Frozen Four experience, all four teams were loose and in good humor during Wednesday’s media obligations.

It was the proverbial calm before the storm. Tomorrow, the focus shifts back to the ice where NCHC rivals DU and WMU will clash in the first semifinal (4 p.m. CT), followed by BU versus Penn State in the nightcap (7:30 p.m. CT).

Both games can be seen on ESPN2, ESPN+ and TSN+.

Frozen Four Media Kit (.pdf) | Tournament Bracket | TV Schedule

Daily Scoreboard | Weekly Schedule | Stat Leaders | Goaltending Leaders

Must Read:

Boston Globe: Brilliant, boisterous Hutson brothers have Boston University chasing history at another Frozen Four

College Hockey News: Boumedienne’s rapid improvement turning heads

College Hockey News: WMU’s Valente Making All the Right Moves

College Hockey News: Time to shine for Denver’s Pohlkamp

College Hockey News: 50 years ago in St. Louis, Michigan Tech won its last national championship and the memories are still very much alive

Denver Post: DU captain Carter King proof hard work makes dreams come true

Kalamazoo Gazette: ‘The Bronco bandwagon is getting absurd’: Fans rally as WMU hockey heads to Frozen Four

PSU Collegian: Men’s hockey sets sights on Frozen Four clash with Terriers

St. Louis Post Dispatch: College hockey roots run deep for Blues owner Stillman, CEO Zimmerman

The Athletic: Life as a top NHL coaching prospect: David Carle is soaking in every second, and championship, at Denver

The Athletic: Alex Bump became a ‘college hockey superstar’

USCHO: Boston University ‘just focused on Thursday’ as Terriers shooting for sixth NCAA championship, first since 2009

USCHO: Defending national champion Denver has ‘taken a real growth mindset’ during 2024-25 season as Pioneers look to repeat

USCHO: Western Michigan’s plan for Frozen Four means Broncos ‘going to approach it like we do every other game – that our next game is our most important game’

USCHO: Penn State in first-ever Frozen Four after Nittany Lions decided on ‘absolutely refusing to let anybody get negative’

Must Hear:

College Hockey Today: Frozen Four preview

Winnipeg Sports Talk: Talking Frozen Four with NHL VP of Hockey Development Kevin Westgarth

Bronco Buddies:

Western Michigan coach Pat Ferschweiler played collegiately for the Broncos from 1990-93. Today in St. Louis, Ferschweiler’s former college teammate, current Robert Morris coach Derek Schooley, eagerly reminded College Hockey Inc. that those Bronco rosters now read like something of a Who’s Who of the hockey world.

One of their assistant coaches was Mike Schafer, who is retiring after 30 years as head coach at Cornell. The players included:

Three current Division I head coaches in Ferschweiler, Schooley and St. Lawrence bench boss Brent Brekke
Clarkson associate head coach Chris Brooks
Winnipeg Jets scout Brian Renfrew
Philadelphia Flyers President of Hockey Operations Keith Jones
Philadelphia Flyers Director of Pro Scouting Mike Eastwood
Former St. Louis Blues forward Jamal Mayers

Schooley also took the opportunity to note that there’s only one person in NCAA Division I men’s hockey who has also been inducted into the St. Louis Amateur Hockey Hall of Fame: Derek Schooley.

Wilson Announces Retirement:

Longtime RIT head coach Wayne Wilson (Bowling Green ’84) announced his retirement Wednesday afternoon, bringing to a close his 26-year run behind the Tigers’ bench.

The winningest coach in program history, Wilson finished his career with a 471-337-82 (.575) NCAA record and guided RIT through its transition from NCAA Division III to Division I. He won the Spencer Penrose Award as national coach of the Year in 2010 and took the Tigers to seven NCAA Tournaments – four as a Division I program and three in Division III.

Wilson played collegiately at Bowling Green from 1980 to 1984 and began his coaching career at BGSU in 1988-89.

College Hockey Inc. congratulates Wilson on his distinguished NCAA career.

Awards Watch:

The 2025 recipient of the Hobey Baker Memorial Award will be announced live on NHL Network on Friday. The broadcast begins at 5 p.m. Central from Stifel Theatre in St. Louis.

During the broadcast, recipients will also be named for the Mike Richter, Derek Hines Unsung Hero, Tim Taylor Rookie of the Year, and Hockey Humanitarian awards. The NCAA Division I men’s hockey All-America teams will also be unveiled.

Notebook Quotebook:

“The ride up and the ride down are a little dicey – some tight quarters for a big fella – but once you’re up there it’s fine.”

— Ferschweiler on his previous visit to the famous arch in St. Louis (source: NCAA press conference).

NHL Note of the Week:

Eleven players who competed in last year’s NCAA Frozen Four have already reached the National Hockey League. Four of those players can be found in the top five of the NHL’s rookie scoring race: former Boston University teammates Macklin Celebrini and Lane Hutson, and former Boston College teammates Cutter Gauthier and Will Smith.

Fries at the Bottom of the Bag:

Denver sophomore D Boston Buckberger (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) won the NCAA’s Elite 90 award for scholastic achievement Wednesday. Buckberger is an accounting major with a 4.0 cumulative grade-point average … Ferschweiler won the 2025 Spencer Penrose Award on Tuesday as the NCAA Division I Men’s Hockey/AHCA Coach of the Year. Ferschweiler has guided his alma mater to a 32-7-1 record this season, capturing NCHC regular-season and playoff titles along the way … Former Maine G Victor Östman (2020-24) made his NHL debut Tuesday night with the Seattle Kraken. He played the full third period in relief against Utah and stopped all 12 shots he faced … Ostman was the 35th NCAA alumni to debut in the NHL this season.

Longest Active Team Winning Streaks:

8 games, Western Michigan (began March 7 at Miami)
2 games, Boston University (began March 27 vs. Ohio State, NCAA first round)
2 games, Denver (began March 28 vs. Providence, NCAA first round)
2 games, Penn State (began March 28 vs. Maine, NCAA first round)

Longest Active Point Streaks (Frozen Four participants):

8 games, F Charlie Cerrato (Penn State)
- 3-14—17, began Feb. 22 at Michigan State
8 games, F Liam Valente (Western Michigan)
- 2-7—9, began March 7 at Miami
8 games, F JJ Wiebusch (Penn State)
- 9-5—14, began Feb. 22 at Michigan State

Longest Active Goal Streaks (Frozen Four participants):

5 games, F JJ Wiebusch (Penn State)
- 6-2—8, began March 7 at Michigan (Big Ten quarterfinal)
3 games, D Zeev Buium (Denver)
- 3-3—6, began March 22 vs. Western Michigan (NCHC championship)
3 games, F Matt DiMarsico (Penn State)
- 4-1—5, began March 15 at Ohio State (Big Ten semifinal)
3 games, F Quinn Hutson (Boston University)
- 3-1—4, began March 20 vs. UConn (Hockey East semifinal)

Longest Active Goalie Winning Streaks (Frozen Four participants):

8 games, Hampton Slukynsky (Western Michigan)
- Began March 7 at Miami
2 games, Matt Davis (Denver)
- Began March 28 vs. Providence (NCAA first round)
2 games, Arsenii Sergeev (Penn State)
- Began March 28 vs. Maine (NCAA first round)
2 games, Mikhail Yegorov (Boston University)
- Began March 27 vs. Ohio State (NCAA first round)

College Hockey Inc. Resources:

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