Frozen Four 2015: Elite Players to Watch in Men's Hockey National Semifinals
The 2015 Frozen Four will feature an eclectic mix of teams and some incredibly talented players with extremely bright NHL futures.
While few expected the likes of Providence or Nebraska Omaha to make it this far, Boston University and North Dakota are simply doing what they're supposed to. Regardless of seeds or regular-season records, though, it takes a special group of players to make it among the final four teams remaining in NCAA men's hockey.
All four teams left in the field have the horses needed to go all the way but will need their best players to play at an elite level in order to play for a national championship.
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Ahead of the highly anticipated Frozen Four, here is a rundown of the players who will make the biggest impact in Boston on April 8-11.
Jack Eichel (Boston University)
Perhaps the biggest storyline in the NHL this season has been the race to the bottom of the standings as teams look to position themselves to draft one of two generational talents. Connor McDavid of the OHL is viewed as the consensus top selection, but Boston University's Jack Eichel isn't far behind.
The BU superstar has enjoyed a spectacular freshman campaign, leading the nation with 67 points on 24 goals and 43 assists. Teammates Evan Rodrigues and Danny O'Regan are also among the top 10 scorers in the country, and there is no doubt that they owe much of that to Eichel's play.
To put Eichel's season into perspective, Howard Simon of WGR 550 in Buffalo, New York, provided a list of his accomplishments on Twitter:
The Canadian junior leagues are geared toward offense, while NCAA hockey is seemingly truer to the NHL style. Eichel is playing against guys who are much older and more experienced than him in most cases, which makes his year even more remarkable.
As pointed out by NHL.com's Mike Morreale, Eichel is doing things that college freshmen generally don't do:
Eichel's season will be viewed as a great one regardless of how it ends, but a national title would undoubtedly put a bow on it.
The Terriers need Eichel to continue his dominance in order to get past North Dakota, and if they are able to do that they will be favored against the winner of the matchup between Providence and Omaha.
Based on everything Eichel has done so far, it probably wouldn't be wise to bet against him at this point.
Jon Gillies (Providence)
Although Providence may be lacking to some degree in terms of offensive firepower, the Friars are a definite threat to win it all due largely to the presence of goaltender Jon Gillies.
The 21-year-old netminder was a third-round pick by the Calgary Flames in the 2012 NHL draft, and it is abundantly clear that the Flames landed a good one, as he has often put the Friars on his back and stolen games this season.
Gillies has been consistently great since his freshman season, but Providence head coach Nate Leaman believes he continues to improve, according to Mark Divver of the Providence Journal:
"He's been our rock for three years. The big thing is he's gotten better this year. I know he had an opportunity—Calgary was looking at him last year—but when you come back and you spend that next year, it's important that you improve. I think Coach (Kris) Mayotte has had a big impact on him. Jon's improved this year.
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No matter how Gillies performs in the Frozen Four, he will forever be remembered as one of the greatest goaltenders in Providence history, as evidenced by these career stats, courtesy of NCAA Ice Hockey on Twitter:
The most talented teams don't always win in hockey, since hot goalies are capable of stealing victories. Gillies has a .929 save percentage and 2.01 goals-against average, which means Nebraska Omaha will have its hands full in the Frozen Four.
Provided Gillies plays up to his potential, the Friars figure to be playing for all the marbles.
Jake Guentzel (Nebraska Omaha)
Omaha's run to the Frozen Four has taken many by surprise considering its modest 20-12-6 record, but the Mavericks suddenly find themselves just two wins away from taking the national championship.
It will take a team effort in order for the underdogs to come out on top, but they also need leading scorer Jake Guentzel to perform at an elite level.
Guentzel has had a strong year with 38 points in 35 games, and although he is clearly a far cry from Eichel, he is the second-most productive offensive player remaining in the tournament, according to Scott McLaughlin of WEEI.com:
The 20-year-old center is an NHL prospect as well, having been drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the third round of the 2013 draft. He isn't a big goal scorer but is an excellent passer who manages to make those around him better.
Guentzel needs to elevate his own play in addition to the performances of his teammates. If he is able to pull that off, then Omaha's miraculous run may not be over quite yet.
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