Frozen Four 2012: Parker Milner and Players Who Will Lead Schools to Final

The Frozen Four has two great showdowns between two phenomenal goalies. BC’s Parker Milner will be one of those goalies who will lead his team to the finals.

These two goalies will be a big reason why their team’s will advance to the finals where they will put on a goaltending clinic. 

Parker Milner

Milner has been a huge reason as to why the Eagles are in the Frozen Four against Minnesota. He dominated in the Eagles' regional final game, shutting out Minnesota Duluth, 4-0. 

His 33-save performance was his second-straight shutout in the NCAA Tournament after blanking Air Force, 2-0. 

The shutout over Minnesota Duluth was even more impressive, since the Bulldogs were the defending NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey champion. Milner had to withstand an onslaught of shots in the last six-minutes, as the Bulldogs outshot the Eagles 14-2 to close the game. 

However, it all wasn’t Milner shutting down the Bulldogs, as he got a great performance from his defense, who forced missed shots and blocked a number of pucks. 

The Eagles will have to put on the same defensive clinic to advance to the finals. 

Coming into the semifinals game, Minnesota has outscored their opponents 12-5. However, they have not run into a strong defensive team like the Eagles yet in the tournament. 

Taylor Nelson 

Nelson has been a rock in net for the Cinderella story of this hockey tournament, Ferris State. 

Their impeccable run to the Frozen Four has been led by their goalie and his great play against Denver in the opening round and Cornell in the Regional Final. 

Nelson has shut down opponents, allowing one goal per game while stopping 45 out of 47 shots. In an interview from Boston.com, Nelson said of his team’s surprising run to the Frozen Four:

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“Each and every year, they talk about how Ferris State is going to be low in the polls, low in the standings, low in our league, and low in the nation,’’ he said. “I guess you kind of get tired of it.’’

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He will have to be even better to lead the Bulldogs to the Championship Game as Union has outscored their opponents 7-3 leading into this game. 

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