ing games in one day. In the first game Wisconsin ran away with it early and eventually beat RIT 8-1, which was then followed by BC's 7-1 win over top ranked Miami. The day started off well though as my dad, little brothers, and I went to HockeyTown, which is a very cool sports bar/restaurant with a Detroit Red Wings and Tigers theme..I think I was the only Union fan in the building. I even had a Cornell fan take a picture of me because I was the only one wearing a Union jersey. ECAC fans weren't well represented. I saw a handful of RPI fans, a decent amount of Cornell fans, two Yale fans, and a Clarkson fan.
Within the first few minutes of the Wisconsin-RIT game you knew the game was over. Wisconsin was just too big for the Tigers, and the Tiger defense couldn't handle the balanced Badge
r attack. It just seemed that RIT went into the game knowing that there was no way they could win. The one bright part for the Tigers were their fans. Even though the game was over early, they were still loud and supportive. They even stayed around for the Miami-BC game and did some RIT chants. My choice for top player of the game was Wisconsin defenseman Brendan Smith, who picked up five assists in the game. He is tops in the nation among defensemen with 15 goals, 37 assists, and 52 points.
r attack. It just seemed that RIT went into the game knowing that there was no way they could win. The one bright part for the Tigers were their fans. Even though the game was over early, they were still loud and supportive. They even stayed around for the Miami-BC game and did some RIT chants. My choice for top player of the game was Wisconsin defenseman Brendan Smith, who picked up five assists in the game. He is tops in the nation among defensemen with 15 goals, 37 assists, and 52 points.I was really hoping the second game was going to be a lot better. After the first game ended I kept reassuring myself that both games couldn't be duds, and after the first period it felt like it was going to be that way. But, once the second period came around the flood gates opened and the slaughter was on. I was completely shocked how the nation's top ranked defense could allow seven goals, even if it is the second ranked offense in the
nation (I had a similar feeling when I watched Cornell allow six goals against New Hampshire). I am a big believer that a great defense beats a great offense, but I was proved wrong tonight as the Eagle offense kept on rolling. In seven playoff games (including Hockey East Playoffs) , BC has scored 40 goals (5.7 goals per game). I was really impressed with the BC forwards who were very, very quick and created a lot of exciting rushes down the ice.
nation (I had a similar feeling when I watched Cornell allow six goals against New Hampshire). I am a big believer that a great defense beats a great offense, but I was proved wrong tonight as the Eagle offense kept on rolling. In seven playoff games (including Hockey East Playoffs) , BC has scored 40 goals (5.7 goals per game). I was really impressed with the BC forwards who were very, very quick and created a lot of exciting rushes down the ice.Even though the games were uneventful, it was not my biggest gripe. I was extremely disappointed with the venue: Ford Field. Let's just say hockey should not be played in a football field... it's like trying to put a cube in a circle hole. You could easily see the turf of the football field, and it was weird seeing all the empty seats on the other side of the stadium. The sight lines were awful, the glass wasn't seamless, and the fans were WAY too far from the ice. There was no big scoreboard to look to and the stadium announcers/crew fell asleep at some times (didn't announce the ending of some periods, kinda messed up the starting line up introductions, forgot to put up shots on the scoreboard, etc.). It just didn't feel like the Frozen Four... it just felt like a gimmick. The crowd was totally subdued even though it was a record setting crowd for the Frozen Four. I'm sure the players hated the atmosphere. 
The bands were on the "field" behind the nets and had to have microphones in front of them so you could hear them. The food was ok (had a decent $7 gyro) and there were no lines for the bathroom, but the concourses were extremely crowded which was surprising for a football stadium.
The bands were on the "field" behind the nets and had to have microphones in front of them so you could hear them. The food was ok (had a decent $7 gyro) and there were no lines for the bathroom, but the concourses were extremely crowded which was surprising for a football stadium. I remember thinking when Ford Field was announced as a venue that it was going to stink... and it has. How could the NCAA possibly think they could fill up an entire football stadium for college hockey? College hockey has a loyal following, but its not the NCAA Basketball Final Four. The only way they could have sold out Ford Field was if Michigan and Michigan State met in one of the games. I really, really hope the Frozen Four is never put in a football stadium ever again.
Tomorrow is the off day. We will definitely be heading to the Skill Competition (and cheering for Union's Jason Walters of course). Before that we will be doing some combination of mini golf, heading to Windsor (Canada) for some brews (remember I'm still 20 years old), truck factory, going to Ann Arbor to see the Big House, or heading to the Frozen Four fan fest.
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