Ek’s Note: On the cusp of tonight’s highly anticipatedfrozen four in St Louis we probably introduced our latest member of the hockey buzz team. College hockey contributor Luke Ravitz. Luke was a high level player himself so he brings a very unique perspective he’s played with or adjacent to many of the players in college hockey right now. I’ve talked to a lot of people about college hockey over the years and I’m extremely excited for you guys to meet him… along with this article there will be a special edition of the HockeyBuzzCast today at 2 PM Eastern time where Luke and I will discuss tonight‘s games which start at 5 PM. Luke is the youngest writer on the site, so please join me in welcoming him..

Article below. Watch the Podcast Live at 1pm ET.


Frozen Four Showdown:
The Battle for the National Championship in St.Louis

The Frozen Four is upon us, and this year we will see two teams making their first appearance.
The four remaining teams will play at the Enterprise Center, located in St. Louis, for a chance to
claim the national title. This year’s tournament has featured many upsets and overtime thrillers.
Two of the four teams competing clinched their spot in the Frozen Four with overtime winners,
thanks to Boston University's Quinn Hutson and Penn State’s Matthew DiMarsico. This year's
final four will include stars who will dominate the NHL. So this will be one for the
ages.

With that, let’s see who is going for the ultimate victory and how they got to the Frozen
Four.

Denver Pioneers: Defending National Champions
Record: 31-11-1 (Finished Regular Season #6)
Odds to be Champions: +200 (DraftKings)

The Denver Pioneers come into this Frozen Four as defending national champions, and they are
ready to make another run at the title. With a loaded roster led by Jack Devine, the country’s top
point producer, and Zeev Buium, Wild prospect and the NCAA’s best defenseman, the Pioneers
are a problem to deal with. Goaltender Matt Davis, the seventh-best in the nation in goalie
winning percentage, is another key factor in their success.

Head coach Dave Carle, who is also a top candidate for an NHL position this summer, has already led the team to two national championships and two World Junior Golds in just four years. Carle’s
experience and leadership have positioned Denver as the favorites heading into St. Louis. They are aiming for their third national title in a span of just a few seasons.

Western Michigan Broncos: 1st Frozen Four appearance
Record: 32-7-1 (Finished Regular Season #3)
Odds to be Champions: +280 (DraftKings)

For the first time in school history the Western Michigan Broncos have made it to the Frozen
Four. Head coach Pat Ferschweiler has led the team to its best season ever. The Broncos
have been one of the most dominant teams in the country this year. Players like Alex Bump, a Flyers prospect tied for fifth in NCAA goals, Grant Slukynsky, who has 26 assists, have played
important roles in Western Michigan’s success. Goaltenders Cameron Rowe and Hampton
Slukynsky are both spectacular which gives the Pioneers even more insurance. Western Michigan enters this tournament as one of the most dangerous teams in the nation, and they’ll be looking to continue their historic season in St. Louis.

Boston University Terriers: A Powerhouse in Pursuit of Another Title
Record: 23-13-2 (Finished Regular Season #8)
Odds to be Champions: +280 (Draftkings)

The Boston University Terriers are no strangers to the Frozen Four, making it their 25th
appearance in the tournament and third consecutive year in the mix. The Terriers are led by the
dynamic Hutson brothers, with Cole Hutson, a Capitals prospect, and Quinn Hutson, who
ranks among the top 15 in the nation for points, assists, and goals per game.

Additionally, freshman Cole Eiserman (Islanders prospect) and Ryan Greene (Blackhawks prospect) bring offensive firepower that makes Boston University a dangerous scoring team. With a championship legacy and a team full of NHL talent, Boston University is looking to add another
title to their storied program.

Head coach Jay Pandolfo has been an important piece in leading the Terriers to their third
straight Frozen Four appearance in his first three years with the program. For the second straight year Pandolfo is a finalist for the Spencer Penrose Award (National Coach of the Year). Pandolfo now has a combined 10-0 record in NCAA regional games as a head coach and player. He is also the third Division I men's hockey head coach to reach the Frozen Four in each of his first three seasons.

Penn State Nittany Lions: The Underdogs With a Championship Mentality
Record: 22-13-4 (Finished Regular Season #12)
Odds to be Champions: +380 (Draftkings)
The Penn State Nittany Lions are the underdogs of this year’s Frozen Four, but don’t let that
fool you – they’re as dangerous as they come. After a tough start to the season, Penn State turned things around, finishing the year with a 11-4-4 record in their last 19 games. Players like Aiden Fink, a Hobey Baker Top 10 finalist, and standout freshmen Charlie Cerrato and JJ Wiebusch
have given the Nittany Lions a deadly offense. Matthew DiMarsico, who scored the overtime
winner in the Allentown Regional, will also be crucial in their game against BU.

Head coach Guy Gadowski, now in his 14th season with Penn State, has done an incredible job
guiding the team and program. Despite a slow start, the Nittany Lions are entering St.
Louis with momentum and a hunger to prove they can compete with the best. Gadowski was
recently named a National Coach of the Year finalist for the fourth time in his career. He looks to
lead his team and school to their first national championship, though it sure won’t be easy.

Matchups
Semifinal #1
Denver vs Western Michigan- 5:00pm on Espn2

The defending champs, Denver Pioneers, will be going up against fellow NCHC team, the
Western Michigan Broncos. The two teams already met this year on December 6 and 7, both in
Kalamazoo, MI. The Broncos took the victory in the first matchup with a 3-2 win. In that game WesternMichigan goaltender Camerone Rowe made 29 saves. The next night, Denver’s Samu
Salminen tied the game with 1:06 remaining and Captain Carter King got the winner for the Pioneers in overtime.

The twp also met in the NCHC Frozen Faceoff Championship in a roller coaster game. The Pioneers took a 3-0 lead in the 2nd period, but Western Michigan found extra gas in the tank eliminating a three goal deficit and forcing overtime. In 2OT, Flyers prospect and NCHC Forward of the Year, Alex Bump found the back of the net and clinched Western Michigan’s first NCHC title.

Players to look out for:

Zeev Buium (MIN)-Zeev is considered one of the best defenseman in the country. His edgework
and ability to protect the puck creates chances for the Pioneers and he has thesecond most assists in the country behind teammate, Jack Devine. Buium was drafted 12th overall in the 2024 NHL Draft by the Minnesota Wild. The California native had an outstanding freshman year, recording the first 50-point season by a Denver freshman since 1983-84. He also won the NCHC Rookie of the year, and is a Hobey Baker Finalist. He has 48 points (13g, 35a). Buium, along with his coach, Dave Carle, are attemoting to win two World Junior gold medals and two NCAA National Championships in two years.

Jack Devine (FLA)-Devine brings speed and physicality to his game. Known for his motor,
Devine led the nation in points with 57, and assists with 44. After being drafted in the seventh
round (221st overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft, Devine has something to prove. He finished
his last two collegiate seasons with 55+ points. Devine will need to produce for the Pioneers to have a better chance in this game. In the three meetings against each other, Devine only recorded two points.

Alex Bump (PHI)- Bump, former Mr. Minnesota finalist in high school, has been a force since
entering the Bronco lineup in his freshman year. After putting up 36 points, an being T-8th in goals in the nation this past year, Bump could potentially sign a deal with the orange and black. Since March 7, the Broncos are 8-0 and Bump has scored in 7 of those 8 games, including his 2OT snipe vs Denver. As the assistant captain in his sophomore year, Bump’s leadership and scoring potential need to be evident vs the defending champs.

My winner: Denver

Semifinal #2
Boston University vs Penn State- 8:30pm on Espn2

Boston University will be making another appearance in the Frozen Four against a team that is
new to this stage. Penn State will be playing in their first Frozen Four in the program's history.

The two teams have not faced each other this season so we are definitely in for a great game.
The Terriers finished up the year ranked #8 after losing to Uconn in the Hockey East semifinals.
They then had to go up against tough opponents in Ohio State and Cornell. The Terriers
handled OSU in a 8-3 victory where freshman phenom defenseman and Capitals prospect, Cole
Hutson, netted one and had three assists. In a tight and close game, Junior Quinn Hutson, brother of Lane and Cole, scored the overtime winner which marked his 50 point season. In the Allentown
regional, Penn State used pro Nittany Lion crowd to their advantage and took care of #3 Maine.
Sophomore forwards Matthew DiMarsico and Dane Dowiak both scored two in a 5-1 victory.
Penn State found themselves in a familiar position having been in the 2023 regional final in Allentown. All they needed.was one win to make history in Penn State athletics. In an instant classic, Penn State and Uconn battled it out until the end where freshman forward Charlie Cerrato got his 10th assist of the postseason, setting up linemate Matthew DiMarsico to finish off the Huskies

Players to look out for:

Cole Hutson (WSH)- Hutson has been under the spotlight since his record breaking year at the
U.S National Team Development Program (NTDP). In 2022-23, he set the single-season
record for points by a defenseman with 68. The following year, he broke the NTDP record for
career points by a defenseman with 119, and had 51 points in 51 games. Hutson was drafted 43rd
overall by the Washington Capitals in the 2024 NHL Draft. Since his start at BU, he mirrored his
brother Lane’s success displaying his tremendous skating and hockey IQ. After being third in the
nation in assists with 32, Hutson looks to continue to produce for this Terrier team and lead them
to their sixth national championship.

Cole Eiserman (NYI)- Another freshmen and NTDP teammate of Hutson, Cole Eiserman is a
pure goal scorer. Before attending BU, Eiserman set the NTDP record for most goals (127),
passing Cole Caufield. Eiserman is also 2nd all-time in points in the program (193) behind Jack
Hughes. Eiserman has become a weapon for the Terriers on the powerplay tallying 10 goals. He
was also the only freshman in the country with over 20+ goals. Penn State will need to gameplan
their penalty kill in order to stop Eiserman’s and Hutson’s dominance.

Aiden Fink (NSH)- Fink, 5’10 and 160 lbs, was one of those players under the radar coming to
State College from the AJHL. The Predators used their last pick in the 2023 Draft to select Fink
in the 7th round (218). As a freshman last season, Fink led the Nittany Lions in points (34).
Coming into this season, he definiely wanted to put his name on the map and he absolutely did so. He backed it up with a Hobey Baker contending season. With 23g and 30a for 53 points, Fink was one of the best players in the country with his playmaking and scoring abilities. He ranked 3rd in ppg and 4th in points overall. Fink told Nolan Wick with Onwardstate.com, “For me, to get to the next level, there’s a of doubters that are saying that I’m not strong enough, not big enough, and that stuff. So that gives me a little bit more motivation in the workout room.” Can Fink lead his Nittany Lions to one of the biggest upsets in college hockey history in their first Frozen Four?

My Winner: Penn State

Back with more for the Final!

Join the Discussion: » 5 Comments » Post New Comment

» Landeskog plays 14 minutes for AHL Colorado Golden Eagles. NHL Soon?

» NCAA Final Set. Time for another “What the EK?” Buzzcast Returns Monday @1

» TOP Source:”Marner is still not a happy camper and likely to move on.”

» My Elevator Ride with Ovechkin.

» What current player has the best shot of getting close to Ovechkin 895?