BC-Michigan Frozen Four Preview

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Defense wins championships, right?

Someone didn't tell the Frozen Four teams that.

Denver, Boston College, Boston University, and Michigan head to St. Paul this week for the Frozen Four as the top four offensive teams in college hockey.

In Thursday's second national semifinal, BC will play Michigan for the first time in almost 10 years and the first time in the NCAA Tournament in 20 years since BC beat Michigan in the Northeast Regional Final in 2004 on an overtime goal from Ben Eaves. 

BC boasts Will Smith, Cutter Gauthier, Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault. Michigan counters with Dylan Duke, Rutger McGroarty and Gavin Brindley. 

Those seven players are all in the top 10 in the nation in scoring.

So, how do these teams plan on slowing each other down? It will start with the goaltenders.

Michigan's Jacob Barczewski was excellent in the Maryland Heights regional, especially in the final against Michigan State, when he made 38 saves only a few miles from his hometown. 

"He's been the guy all year," Michigan coach Brandon Naurato said. "Defense wins championships. Defense and goaltending are huge parts of this time of year."

Barczewski is a 25-year-old fifth-year senior. He'll be opposite a 19-year-old freshman in BC's Jacob Fowler. 

Fowler has won championships at every level and tends to play his best hockey when the lights are brightest. Last year, he led the Youngstown Phantoms to the USHL Clark Cup championship, posting a 1.36 goals-against average and a .952 save percentage in nine playoff games.

That same season, he helped the U.S. team win the World Jr. A challenge, going undefeated with a 1.75 goals-against average. 

"He's a talented goaltender," said BC coach Greg Brown. "The real key to Jacob is his mental game. He's very calm. He doesn't get high or low. His consistency for a young guy is really admirable. He's like that every day in practice, too. He's sharp."

Thursday's semifinal could very well be decided by which goaltender steals his team a few extra saves. 

If not the goaltenders, the defensemen will play huge roles. BC's Eamon Powell is an elite defender. He's among the best turnover generators in college hockey. 

Michigan hopes to get Seamus Casey back after he missed the regional final. Casey practiced last week, and he didn't wear a red no-contact jersey, so signs are pointing to him being available on Thursday.

Michigan's unsung hero could be Ethan Edwards. The junior defenseman, who was excellent against Michigan State in Casy's absence, is arguably Michigan's best defender. 

As for the offenses? Elite would be an understatement. 

Seven forwards among the two teams were drafted in the top 60, and six were picked in the first round over the last two seasons.

Michigan has Brindley (25 goals, 28 assists), McGroarty (16 goals, 36 assists), and Frank Nazar (17 goals, 24 assists). 

BC has its star-studded freshman line of Smith (23 goals, 46 assists), Leonard (31 goals, 28 assists), and Perreault (18 goals, 39 assists), along with 2022’s fifth-overall pick, Cutter Gauthier (37 goals, 27 assists), who is CHN's Player of the Year. 

"Talented players are really good off the rush and really good on the power play," Naurato said. "Team success comes from play in the offensive zone. If you want to score goals, you have to have players who can score. You want to score goals year in and year out? I think it's style of play. It's not me talking about myself. We lost eight first-rounders two years ago and we scored more goals each consecutive year. It's not just talent, it's being on the same page, style of play, and being predictable to each other."

Michigan's only loss in its last seven games has come to Michigan State in the Big Ten championship game. 

The second half was an excellent rebound for the Wolverines, who had fallen out of a tournament position in the Pairwise just a few weeks ago. 

"I think a lot of people may have counted us out," said Naurato. "Our players have always believed. Credit this group's resiliency for getting back to where we believe we should be."

Meanwhile, BC is on a 14-game winning streak. The Eagles haven't lost since Feb. 5, when they played Boston University in the first round of the Beanpot.