ST. PAUL, Minnesota — Michigan will attempt its hand at a national semifinal match for the third consecutive year. In a matchup between two blue-blood institutions that don’t play each other as frequently as they should, the Wolverines will attempt to overcome the aforementioned hump against what may be the most talented squad in the country. They are a little deeper and a little more seasoned than the last two attempts.
The Wolverine hockey team’s postseason journey has many similarities to their football counterparts’ championship run, according to Michigan supporters. Just like Alabama football, Frozen Four opponent Boston College hockey boasts a pro-caliber roster, and Michigan is just as eager for a championship on the ice as it was on the football field.
In January, the Wolverines’ football team completed the task. The hockey team is now hopeful that this weekend in St. Paul, it will be the third time lucky.
“I remember that semifinal Alabama game,” senior forward Philippe Lapointe said to reporters on Wednesday. “The game’s momentum shifts were insane. Naur entered the room thereafter, and I recall him saying something like, “You guys see those momentum swings.” That is the tournament format. We are aware of that.
“This is our second year at this location. That, then, is the main focus. And maintaining emotional equilibrium while regulating such feelings during sudden changes in momentum.”
The football club, which is currently under the direction of a well-liked, younger head coach in Sherrone Moore, who showed decisiveness in his role as an interim coach, is providing insider tips on how to go past what looks to be an intense semifinal round. Boston College is the top-ranked team in the country, and despite the parity in college hockey, the squad has won 14 straight games and boasts 13 NHL Draft picks on its roster.
“A lot of the football guys are familiar with us,” senior defenseman Jacob Truscott stated. Since we are friends, it was great to be able to spend time with them and learn about their playoff experiences as a team. Having that confidence, knowing you’re the best, and going out there every day and competing with each other is the main thing they talk about with us and we have in the locker room.
“Obviously it’s cool to see the stats with the ’98 team and how it’s all aligning,” Truscott stated. “But in the end, it’s up to us to make history again—something that hasn’t occurred since 1998, when both hockey and football won in the same year. Although it’s encouraging to see those numbers, it’s up to us to see that through to completion.”
