So I'm going to assume that unless you go to or are an alumni of a school
that's sending a team, most of you probably have no idea that the NCAA Hockey
playoffs start this weekend. College hockey has got to be the best kept secret
in all of sports. You really have no idea what you're missing. The playoffs
begin this weekend with regionals in Manchester (VT), Albany (NY), Colorado
Springs (CO), and
Grand
Rapids (MI), with the winners of the four regions traveling to the Fleet Center
in Boston April 8-11 for the Frozen Four. If you have never had the opportunity
to see college game (especially live), don't miss this chance! Yeah, you can
talk all you want about you're March Madness (which is great, don't get me
wrong), or the Bowl games, but nothing stacks up to the Frozen Four.



First of all, as a disclaimer, I can't guarantee that you'll fall in love with
it just by watching it on TV. Much like the NHL it is meant to be seen live. So
much of what's great about it is the atmosphere of the arenas. Though small,
college hockey has what I would say is the most diehard fanbase of any sport in
the United States at any level. The atmosphere at a college game, especially a
big one is like nothing you'll ever experience. Never in my life have I felt as
encouraged to shout profanity and fling insults as at Yost (Michigan's ice
arena). The fans are brutal. All opposing goalies are sieves, it's always their
fault, and when the phone rings it's their mom saying that they suck. At Yost,
when the opposing team takes a penalty the entire student section holds their
hand up and begins to wave...awwwwwww (and then as they step into the box) CYA!
chump! dick! wuss! douchebag! asshole! prick! cheater! bitch! whoooooooore!
sluuuuuuuuuut! (and the most recent addition) bertuuuuuuuuuzi! The way the
stands are built, the fans are right on top of the ice, and as any team that
comes into Yost will tell you, it's impossible to hear a damn thing over the
ruckus coming from the student section. Thus why Yost is known in the hockey
community as the single toughest barn to play in (unless of course you're
Michigan).



Of course the fans aren't the only reason to love college hockey. As with any
college sport in comparison to their professional counterpart, there's just more
emotion. The guys are out their bustin their asses every single game, shift in,
shift out, and not because they're getting a paycheck. They love the game.
They're out there making names for themselves. Emotions are almost always at
full throttle and the camaraderie amongst the players is obvious. Plus, they're
accessible. These guys (for those of us in college) are no different than we
are. Sure they're talented or whatnot, but when it comes down to it they're just
students like we are. They're the guys you go to class and eat lunch with during
the week and party with on Saturday nights. They're not too good to talk to you,
and it really makes going out to games on the weekend worth it when it's your
friends out there playing. I could really go on forever with reasons why it's so
great, but I'll spare myself the time and you the reading. But seriously, if you
get the chance, take the time to watch the Frozen Four in a few weeks, it's well
worth your time. GO BLUE!!