Inside College Hockey | 2005 NCAA Frozen Four

April 8, 2005
NCAA Frozen Four Notebook
Seventh Heaven?
College hockey's one-game championship is unique – not better or worse, necessarily, but unique

By Joe Gladziszewski and James Jahnke

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The best two teams in the nation might not be playing in the national championship game, but the two teams that are playing best right now, unquestionably, are Denver and North Dakota.

College hockey's national championship tournament – unlike the playoffs at almost every other level of hockey – is a one-game knockout format. Those epic seven-game series that make the Stanley Cup playoffs one of the most exciting sporting events on the calendar are thrown into a blender to make a 60-minute hockey Smoothie.

The Pioneers got through the first round of this tournament with an overtime win and their opponent, the Bemidji State Beavers, had two shots ring off the goalpost. Inches can make the difference between playing another game and playing 18 holes.

"That's exactly it, one loss, you're out and that's it. Our freshman year, Michigan knocked us out," Denver senior forward Jeff Drummond said. "We had a great season and one game, boom, you're out. You just prepare like it's your last game. You don't have anything to save it for, you don't have another chance if you lose."

Mike Prpich, junior left wing for the Fighting Sioux, says that mentality is draining at this time of year. "You have to be on your game every night. I think it's harder in a one-game series because you have to focus every single night where maybe you can let a game slip in a seven-game series," he said.

It's not better or worse, it's just different. In a series, tensions and rivalries can build up. You know the team you're playing against, the goalie you're shooting on, and the defenseman you're battling for loose pucks in the corner. In this tournament, you learn on the fly. There are no tendencies or trends to pick up on.

But in the end, what matters is knowing that your season hangs in the balance.

"Even in juniors and stuff like that you have series. You have to lay it on the line, or you're going to regret it," Drummond said. "That's what it comes down to. There's no second chance so you have to make sure you bring it."

— Joe Gladziszewski

FORGET ABOUT IT

North Dakota goalie Jordan Parise is in a no-win situation.

If he remembers Saturday’s national championship game against Denver, it means the Fighting Sioux lost. But if North Dakota wins, he probably won’t even remember most of the title glory.

That's because when he’s at the top of his game, Parise recalls almost nothing. Who scored? Who knows? How many shots did he face? Ask someone else. He's so focused on stopping the puck that he filters out everything else. Some people call it "being in the zone."

Lately, Parise has had a lot of those good forgettable nights. He's held opponents to two goals or fewer in nine of his last 10 starts, and the only abberation in there was a 6-3 victory over top-ranked Boston College in the East Regional final. He flummoxed Minnesota in a 4-2 national semifinal victory Thursday night, including a spectacular glove save against a wide-open Garrett Smaagaard in the early going.

Even when considering his hot streak, Parise said he hopes Saturday's title tilt doesn't come down to goaltending. But that's not an indictment of his confidence. He simply understands that in a tight game, one bounce of the puck can be the difference.

"I'd rather have it be a blowout," Parise said. "Because you can play the game of your career and still lose on one lucky break."

At the same time, Parise feels a bit like he's playing with the house's money. As recently as the middle of February, the Sioux were in danger of missing home ice for the WCHA playoffs, let alone getting in position to qualify for the NCAA tournament.

"The way we were playing, I didn't think there was any way we could get this far," Parise said. "But I think everybody just bought into a system and the seniors stepped up their game and helped us out. We're just working that much harder than the teams we're playing, and we're getting those bounces now."

At least the bounces he can remember.

— James Jahnke

SEEN AND HEARD AT THE SCHOTT

• The happiest guy in the rink was undoubtedly Denver's Gabe Gauthier. He beamed ear-to-ear and shouted "Sweet!" when Pioneer SID Erich Bacher informed him that he wasn't needed at the press conference.

• Picture a shaggy dog shaking its hair when coming indoors after being outside in a rainstorm. Now picture this. North Dakota's Erik Fabian stepped off the ice and was ready for a rinkside interview with ESPN's Erin Andrews on Thursday night. Fabian, elegantly sporting "hockey hair" took off his helmet and rapidly shook his mane, in the process splashing Andrews.

• Thumbs up to Denver goalie Peter Mannino, who accomodated about a dozen adolescents seeking autographs after the Pioneers' skate. After signing and chatting with the kids, Mannino made certain to ask "Anyone else?" before heading up to the morning press conference.

• We wondered whether Paul Stastny or Chris Bourque fielded more questions about their fathers this season. Stastny indicated that it was probably the former Terrier, Bourque. "It wasn't bad for most of the year, but there's been a lot more of it lately."

• They're not in the lineup due to injury, but North Dakota's Rylan Kaip and Brady Murray looked like a couple of mites having fun outside the locker room by passing a half-spent roll of hockey tape back and forth in the hallway.

• Injured Sioux forward Robbie Bina, who had his neck broken on an illegal hit by DU’s Geoff Paukovich in the Final Five on March 18, was snapping digital photos of North Dakota’s Friday practice from the Value City Arena bench. Bina got some nice action shots, but he’s most likely to win an award for his portrait of sophomore forward Scott Foyt gliding along on one skate in full ice-dancing form.

• Further displaying his many talents, Bina won an end-of-practice “curling” competition over Colby Genoway and injured Rylan Kaip by getting his puck closest to the center-ice dot. He and Kaip threw their attempts from the bench while Genoway used a stick.

• Later in the day, Bina got a very warm round of applause from the crowd of around 2,500 at Nationwide Arena for the Hobey Baker Award ceremony. Both teams were able to attend after practice.

• Jon Foster, senior forward from Denver, has 21 goals this year. There are just 29 players in the nation that have accomplished that milestone. If you were to ask a college hockey fan to name those players, it would be a long shot that Foster's name would come into the conversation. "I wouldn't expect anyone to put my name on the list," Foster said. "I started off really hot this year. Goals just kept coming for me."

• Speaking of sticks, giant defenseman Matt Greene is the only Sioux player with a wooden twig. Apparently, fellow defenseman Kyle Radke used to be in the club, but he switched to composite during the season. Denver's Paul Stastny has also used a wooden wand during the year.

• Greene and Matt Jones are generally considered to be the most punishing defensive pairing in the nation. But who brings more wood on their hits? “I'd have to say he's the bigger hitter,” Jones said. “He demolishes guys."

• Freshman Travis Zajac said the Fighting Sioux won’t be looking for revenge against Paukovich on Saturday. “It’s always in the back of your mind,” Zajac said, “but it would be so much better if we win the game.”