Thursday night marks the beginning of the 2018 Frozen Four, with Minnesota-Duluth facing off against Ohio State in one semifinal and Michigan and Notre Dame meeting in the other.
Each school fighting for this year's NCAA title has taken a unique road to Saint Paul. The Fighting Irish were here last year, the Buckeyes haven't made a Frozen Four appearance since 1998, the Bulldogs lost the 2017 national championship to the Denver Pioneers, and the Wolverines are in their first post-Red Berenson season, with one of their brightest lights also being the youngest player in college hockey.
Before the puck drops, here are two players to watch from each team:
Ohio State Buckeyes
F Tanner Laczynski: Laczynski is proving that draft position isn't what's important, it's what you do after you're drafted that matters most. Taken in the sixth round in 2016 by the Philadelphia Flyers, he leads the Buckeyes in scoring with 46 points in 40 games. He's a great skater who has developed into a reliable two-way player, and, in addition to his offensive skill, he's difficult to knock off the puck. Though when a player will turn pro is difficult to predict, Laczynski could sign with the Flyers as soon as the end of this season.
G Sean Romeo: Romeo has been a major factor in the Buckeyes' road to the Frozen Four. Per NCAA rules, he had to sit out last season after transferring from Maine, but he came back in a big way. Appearing in 36 games this season, he finished the year with a .927 save percentage, and his 22 wins are tied for second-most in program history. His focus in net is rock-solid, and if that remains the case, the Buckeyes have a solid shot at the title.
Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs
F Joey Anderson: Anderson captained Team USA at the 2018 World Junior Championship, his second appearance at the tournament. While his production for the Bulldogs decreased slightly this season from last, he showed improvement after the WJC, proving he's one of the best players on the Bulldogs and a solid prospect for the New Jersey Devils. He's smart and hard-working, with both good finishing ability and a mature defensive game.
F Riley Tufte: The Dallas Stars prospect joined his Bulldogs teammate Anderson at the WJC, where his size and speed were on full display. Going forward, he needs to work on his offensive consistency, but he improved visibly over the course of this season. A big plus is that he's one of the few prospects with the "NHL size" scouts desire - he's 6-foot-6 and 209 pounds - who can also skate well.
Michigan Wolverines
D Quinn Hughes: A consensus top-10 pick for the 2018 draft, Hughes is the youngest player in NCAA hockey. He was third-best on the Wolverines in scoring during the regular season with 28 points in 34 games, evidence of the offensive skill set that has heightened expectations. His high-level hockey sense leads to good decision-making at both ends of the ice (most of the time), and it's for that reason you should expect him to see a lot of minutes Thursday night.
F Cooper Marody: Marody's rights, previously held by the Flyers, were recently acquired by the Edmonton Oilers. When you look at what he's accomplished this season, it's easy to see why the Oilers wanted him. This year is Marody's first full, healthy campaign with the Wolverines, and his 50 points in 39 games were good enough for sixth nationwide. While there are some concerns about his strength on the puck, he has terrific offensive potential. He's a cerebral, creative playmaker who's loads of fun to watch.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
F Jake Evans: Drafted in the seventh round in 2014 by the Canadiens, Evans put up 42 points in 38 games (up from 42 in 40 last season) for his second consecutive point-per-game season. He's a good example of what patience can do for development, using the last two years to establish who he is as a player and show why the Canadiens should sign him. In addition to his college play, which earned him a Hobey Baker nomination, the senior represented Team Canada at this year's Spengler Cup. He's a good skater and his playmaking ability is a significant asset for the Fighting Irish captain.
G Cale Morris: Morris stepped into former Fighting Irish goaltender Cal Petersen's crease with apparent ease, winning the starter's job over freshman Dylan St. Cyr and finishing the season with a .945 save percentage - the highest in the nation. The sophomore is poised in net, able to control rebounds, and plays behind a solid group of defensemen. Morris' stellar play hasn't gone unrecognized, as he was named the Big Ten tournament's Most Outstanding Player and is a finalist for the Mike Richter Award, which honors the top goaltender in college hockey.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)
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