6/30/03- Hockey: NCAA Frozen Four Make-Up Call

Last week the NCAA announced that Detroit would not be the site of the NCAA Frozen Four.  At least not for a long time- at least 2009.  Some people (and even some professional journalists) seem surprised that Detroit was snubbed.  The argument seems to be that since Joe Louis Arena is hosts so many well attended NCAA hockey events during the regular season it should be a natural location for the Frozen Four.

Make-Up Call

The reality of the situation is easy to grasp for anyone who has followed NCAA hockey for the last couple of years.  Some division I hockey programs are upset that Michigan has been allowed to host the NCAA regionals at Yost Ice Arena so often during the last several seasons.  As Michigan fans know playing at Yost is an incredible advantage to the Wolverines.  For as much as the NCAA tries in vain to make it a neutral site the truth is that Yost is an extremely hostile environment to opposing teams no matter what their seed may be.  The Wolverines have ridden the support of the partisan crowd to the Frozen Four much to the dismay of their opponents.  And don't think that Michigan's failure to win once getting to the Frozen Four the last several season hasn't raised some eyebrows at the National level.  When not playing in a friendly building (Yost or Grand Rapids) the Wolverines have failed to impress.

The NCAA was not going to to give the Wolverines a chance to play a Frozen Four in a building Wolverine fans affectionately call Yost East.  Detroit never had a chance and either did Minnesota/St.Paul considering that Minnesota has just come from two consecutive National Championships (one of which was won on their own backyard.)

The NCAA awarded Frozen Fours to St. Louis and Denver.  Denver was a lock.  Denver and Colorado College have both whined over the years that the seedings were unfair.  Both have been dealt losses at Yost by the Wolverines.  The NCAA selection committee just gave them a make-up call to stop their whining.  St. Louis is a more puzzling selection...

Baghdad Bob was known for clueless announcements on the state of the war in Iraq.  In Ann Arbor, whenever we want to know the mind of the Michigan Athletic Department no matter what facts may be we just read the Ann Arbor News.  Seriously, from reading the Ann Arbor News 'coverage' of the NCAA Frozen Four selections you'd think that the NCAA had no valid reasons to pass on Detroit.


A Certain Point of View

Actually, I'm glad that Detroit won't be hosting the frozen four.  Joe Louis Arena is a pit.  I avoid it like the plague.  It is a tired, out-of-date facility with poor amenities and terrible parking.  Attending games there is a trial.  I realize that everyone doesn't share this opinion.  Michigan Assistant Coach Billy Powers gave the following quote to the Ann Arbor News-

"It's too bad that more people outside the Detroit area don't know the gem that Joe Louis is for college hockey..."

With all due to respect to Coach Powers his experience at Joe Louis Arena is a little different than the average fan.  I'm sure that his view of the ice is pretty good from the bench.  He doesn't have trouble parking at the arena, deal with obnoxious drunken 'fans', eat the substandard concessions, or wait in the long lines to use the restrooms.  In short, I'm sure that it's a thrill for the teams to play in the same building as the Detroit Red Wings but Wolverine fans much prefer Yost or any other college rink for that matter.  The reality is that Joe Louis is one of the worst venues in the NHL. 

The Leaders and Best Will Be Back...

The Wolverines weren't totally shut out however.  Grand Rapids was awarded some future regionals and Van Andel Arena is a great facility.  Not playing at Yost or Joe Louis Arena will make the road to the next National Championship more difficult but the Wolverines will prevail!!

Go Blue!

Phil Callihan
UMGoBlue.COM, Editor-in-Chief
phil@umgoblue.com
 

Phil Callihan is the Editor-in- Chief of UMGoBlue.COM.  Phil graduated from the University of Michigan in 1993 and has been a football season ticket holder since 1994.

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