Women’s Hockey: 2014 Frozen Four Preview
It’s in right in our backyard this weekend, in Hamden, CT. Quinnipiac has become successful enough in college hockey to be awarded this year’s women’s Frozen Four. The participants are Minnesota, Wisconsin, Clarkson and Mercyhurst.
The Mercyhurst Lakers (24-8-4, 15-3-2) are making it’s second straight Frozen Four, defeating #2 Cornell (24-6-4, 15-4-3), scoring the game winning goal 8:08 into the third period. Mercyhurst actually outshot Cornell, 37-31, and had the upper hand on power plays, going 2 for 6, while the Big Red went 1 for 4 on the power play. Mercyhurst made the tournament at-large after losing to RIT in the CHA (Colleege Hockey America) final, 2-1, in double OT. RIT ended the season 20-15-3 (11-7-2) and didn’t even make it to the postseason. The legendary Megan Agosta must be enjoying the success she helped create. Mercyhurt is the only team to make it to the this year’s Frozen Four playing on the road.
The Clarkon Golden Knights (29-5-5, 16-2-4) of the powerful ECAC are making it to it’s first Frozen Four after defeating Boston College (27-7-3, 18-2-1), 3-1. Clarkson dominated the game, from beginning to end, scoring a goal in each period. BC only scored a power play goal with 3:45 remaining in the game. Prior to their tournament game, Clarkson lost the ECAC championship game on home ice to Cornell, 1-0. Cornell scored the only goal of the game in the first period. Clarkson finished as the regular season champions, with Harvard finishing one point behind and Cornell finishing three behind.
The Wisconsin Badgers (28-7-2, 21-5-2) defeated the Harvard Crimson (23-7-4, 16-3-3), 2-1, to make it to another Frozen Four in front of a sold-out LaBahn Arena. Harvard was outshot, 44-24 and only feat being managing to kill all of Wisconsin’s power plays, score a goal with 3:36 remaining in the game and only being able to remove the goalie with 29 seconds left for an extra attacker due to the relentless pressure from Wisconsin. Wisconsin finished second in the very top-heavy WCHA, finishing 7 points behind first-place Minnesota and 18 points ahead of third-place North Dakota. Wisconsin lost to North Dakota in the WCHA semifinals, 1-0, due to North Dakota’s goalie Shelby Amsley-Benzie blocking all 35 shots. North Dakota was outshot, 35-24.
Defending champion and #1 Minnesota (37-1-1, 26-1-1) reached the Frozen Four by defeating Boston University (24-13-1, 14-7-0) in the tournament, 5-1. Minnesota outshot BU, 46-29. Prior to the NCAA tournament, the Golden Gophers defeated North Dakota to win the WCHA championship, 3-1. Minnesota also dominated control of the puck in the game, outshooting North Dakota, 44-21. The Gophers have won the last two championships and have four overall, 2004, 2005, 2013 and 2012.
The Wisconsin Badgers also have four national championships, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2011. The Mercyhurst Lakers have three other Frozen Four appearances, 2009, 2010 and 2013, losing to Wisconsin in 2009 in the final but defeating Minnesota in the semifinal. Wisconsin and Minnesota will play in one semifinal game and Mercyhurst and Clarkson in the other. The final will be a challenge of an established WCHA powerhouse against new blood.
Women’s NCAA-sponsored hockey only began in 1997. Women’s Frozen Fours began in 2001. Plenty more yet to be accomplished in the sport. It has spread like wildfire. All of the championships so far have been won by Minnesota, Minnesota-Duluth and Wisconsin, the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs having the most with 5. Will be interesting to see if Clarkon or Mercyhurt can prevent either WCHA team from tying Minnesota-Duluth. Will be also interesting to see if someone new can win it all.
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