FanNation

With wins against Niagara and Clarkson on March 28 and 29th, respectively, the Michigan Wolverines ice hockey team advances to the Frozen Four for the first time since 2003 and for a NCAA record 23rd time. In a dominating 5-1 win on Friday against the Purple Eagles (with a hat trick plus one from Kevin Porter) and a decisive 2-0 shutout versus the Golden Knights on Saturday the Wolverines paved their way to Denver and a showdown with the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. They face the Irish rather than the Michigan State Spartans who Notre Dame defeated on Saturday night. UM is 2-0 against the Irish on the season. Versus MSU however, the Wolverines are 1-2-1. In one of the MSU losses the were without star forward Chad Kolarik and were only outscored 10-9 in all four games. I'd still rather see them play the Irish than a major in-state rival such as State. With no Frozen Four appearances since 2003 they are full of players with no experience in this big of a game. I don't care what sport it is, I'd pretty much rather be on a team that faces an opponent who they've owned all year rather than a team who's technically been more dominant and carrying a state-load of pressure. Not to get ahead of myself, but...if they win over ND on April 10th they will face the winner of the Boston College/North Dakota game. Michigan beat BC in the first game of this season, and have not seen North Dakota at all. North Dakota is always a tough team, and I've repeatedly seen them play spoiler to the Wolverines...but I digress.