Frozen Four

[schwartzwatch]

Headed back to STL in a couple of hours. Hope the hockey gods take pity and prevent double overtime . Western Michigan simply doesn't realize they have no chance to win the championship ...which makes them very dangerous and potential winners of the championship. If I have to guess, it's Hockey East savvy and finesse versus NCHC muscle. BU's Russian goaltender was supposed to come next year, but the team brought him in from the Omaha Lancers in January. "Big Mike" turned a .500 club into the contender they are now. Could be the difference tonight. In any case, pregame is at 6:00, puck drop at 6:30 CDT on ESPN2. Enjoy.

[Jackie Chiles]

Wow, that place is loud.

How full is the arena?

[schwartzwatch]

Sorry. Wasn’t posting during the game. Full house 17,000. Pep bands, cheerleaders, like a football game.

[Frank Underwood]

What a great “team” performance by Western Michigan. Man, you can tell that team is incredibly well coached. Happy to see them win and they deserved it.

[schwartzwatch]

Final thoughts from the Enterprise Center: Western Michigan might have redefined the NCAA game in NHL terms. Heavy, physical approach where the Broncos simply outworked the Terriers at every turn. Won virtually all of the significant board battles by double teaming in the corners. Faster to loose pucks and a wall at the blue line. Very impressive performance. Big East owned the NCHC during the regular season, but not when it mattered. WMU/Denver was the real championship. Hopefully, the NCAA was impressed by the turnout (and last year's regional at Centenne) and will bring more league events to the Arch. Glad I went.

[George Zipp]

I think it's great that WMU won the natty without paying a dime in NIL money to its players. Just a bunch of kids playing as a team and winning the entire thing.

After watching the Tennessee QB nonsense play out in the media yesterday, I feel like the NIL is way out of control. I doubt it gets anywhere near the levels of SEC football in college hockey but still.

Congrats to WMU and congrats to the STL sports commission on another successful event in our city. Regardless of the whining of bitter Boston people on twitter.