NCAA Frozen Four: Wisconsin Seeks Seventh Title

After winning the NCAA title in 2006, the Wisconsin Badgers really reloaded.

To give you an idea of their depth, Hobey Baker Award (college MVP) finalist Blake Geoffrion is only his team's third best scorer. The Wisconsin blueline behind him is the best in the NCAA. They are physical, and rank second in scoring behind Rochester Institute—the team standing between the Badgers and their ninth finals appearance.

They demolished the Frozen Four Cindarella story, 8-1, to assert themselves as the team to beat. You do not win that handily in the Frozen Four without playing well in all phases of the game—offence, defence, special teams, physical play, hustle...etc.

The Badgers wasted no time getting on the board. They needed just 87 seconds to score, as tournament standout John Mitchell put one past Jared Demichiel for the 1-0 lead. About eight minutes later, second line centre Derek Stepan added another, and the Badgers were in control.

In the second period, the contest graduated into a rout. Just 2:18 in, Jordy Murray put in a loose puck for a 3-0 lead, giving the checking line its second goal. About two minutes later, third-pair defenceman Justin Schultz got the team's first power play goal.

By the middle of the period, feisty RIT lost their composure. Thanks to a boarding major, they gave the Badgers two five-on-threes that each resulted in goals: Michael Davies got the first and Geoffrion the second.

RIT disrupted the shutout at the end of the period with a power play goal, but the Badgers responded in the third with two late goals 20 seconds apart, scored by Stepan and Craig Smith. That gave the Badgers half as many goals as RIT had given up in their previous 12 games, and the top three lines all scored two or more goals.

Wisconsin now goes for their seventh national title, which would tie them for second best (behind Michigan's nine) all-time. Standing in their way is the same team that was their last foe in 2006, Boston College.

Combined with the drive for revenge, the Golden Eagles (21-10-2) are a seasoned and talented team. They survived a 3-5 January to win the very tough Hockey East title. Thursday they beat the best goaltending team in college hockey, Miami of Ohio, 7-1.

The fun starts at 6pm CDT Saturday, and it will be a great contest.