ST. PAUL, Minnesota The Michigan hockey team was indoors at Xcel Energy Center on a beautiful spring Wednesday afternoon, practicing in preparation for their national semifinal battle against No. 1 Boston College on Thursday. The sun was shining down on St. Paul, Minnesota.
Despite being in the Frozen Four for a record 28 times overall and for the third consecutive year, the Wolverines haven’t performed well on the biggest stage in college hockey in recent years.
Since their last national championship in 1998, they are 1-7 in semifinal matches; they are looking for better luck this year. The nation’s top four scoring offenses—Michigan, Boston University, University of Denver, and Boston College—are in this year’s field of 64 teams. In contrast to the previous two seasons, when Michigan was favored going into the NCAA Tournament, it is the only non-No. 1 seed left.
But as seen by their enthusiastic practice on Wednesday and the news conference that followed, the Wolverines don’t feel like the underdogs.
Adversity makes champions, so in a way, I think it’s kind of exciting when people doubt you, said defenseman Marshall Warren, a graduate transfer from British Columbia. We’ve had some hardship this year. We’ll probably continue proving folks wrong since it’s fun to do so.
Upon arriving in St. Paul, Michigan’s practice produced the following sights and sounds:
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