Women’s Frozen Four 2023 – Schedule, prime gamers, the right way to watch

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The NCAA ladies’s nationwide title sport is about, with defending champion Ohio State seeking to make it back-to-back titles towards Wisconsin.

On the heels of the primary nationwide title in program historical past in 2022, the top-seeded Buckeyes beat Northeastern 3-0 to advance to the ultimate on Sunday, establishing the prospect to repeat. Ohio State shall be joined within the closing by Wisconsin, one other WCHA staff. The Badgers outlasted Minnesota in additional time, profitable 3-2 on a objective from Caroline Harvey.

The nationwide title sport is Sunday at 4 p.m. ET on ESPNU.

Subscribe to observe choose video games of the NCAA ladies’s hockey event, together with the Frozen Four.

Below is a take a look at the ultimate two groups, evaluation by ladies’s faculty hockey specialists Kelly Pannek and Clay Matvick, gamers to observe and a recap of the regional spherical.

Frozen Four schedule

All occasions Eastern

Semifinals, Friday
at Amsoil Arena, Duluth, Minnesota

Ohio State 3, Northeastern 0
Wisconsin 3, Minnesota 2 (OT)

National championship sport, Sunday
at Amsoil Arena, Duluth, Minnesota (4 p.m., ESPNU)

Ohio State vs. Minnesota

Teams at a look

Ohio State (33-5-2)

How they acquired right here: Coming off a loss to Minnesota within the WCHA closing, the defending nationwide champs fell behind Quinnipiac 1-0 of their regional earlier than snapping again into kind within the second interval. Fifth-year senior Gabby Rosenthal scored halfway by means of the interval to tie it and Lauren Bernard gave Ohio State the lead on the 16-minute mark. Patty Kazmaier Award finalist Sophie Jaques scored two objectives within the third interval, together with an empty-netter, to safe the 5-2 win, sending the Buckeyes to their third straight Frozen Four.

In the semifinal, Ohio State jumped out to an early lead simply 1:16 into the sport towards Northeastern on a objective by Sloane Matthews. Ohio State would add second interval objectives from Makenna Webster and Hadley Hartmetz of the best way to the 3-0 win. Goalie Amanda Thiele made 15 saves, recording her fourth shutout of the season.

Key stats: Ohio State completed with 44 pictures on objective towards Quinnipiac and outshot the Bobcats 24-3 within the second interval. … Jaques scored her ninth power-play objective of the season, most within the nation, and set the WCHA file for profession objectives by a defenseman (61). … In the semifinal, the Buckeyes outshout the Huskies 53-15 … Northeastern did not have a shot on objective for the primary 9 minutes of the sport.

Wisconsin (28-10-2)

How they acquired right here: The Badgers needed to win twice to make it again to the Frozen Four, following a 9-1 rout of Long Island within the first spherical with a formidable 4-2 win at No. 3 seed Colgate. In a matchup of two of the most effective offenses within the nation, Wisconsin’s protection stole the present because the Badgers outshot Colgate, 35-15.

In the semifinal, Wisconsin outlasted WCHA rival Minnesota, profitable 3-2 on an OT objective from freshman Caroline Harvey. Minnesota held an early 1-0 lead earlier than two third-period objectives (Laila Edwards and Sophie Shirley) put Wisconsin in entrance. But Grace Zumwinkle tied the sport for the Gophers with simply over a minute left, sending it to an additional body.

Key stats: This would be the fifth assembly of the season between Wisconsin and Ohio State, with the Buckeyes holding a 3-1 edge. Ohio State outscored Wisconsin 15-8 within the 4 video games, with two of them determined in OT. … Two of Wisconsin’s three objectives within the semifinal had been scored by freshman (Harvey and Edwards).

Two gamers to observe within the closing

It looks as if each staff has at the least two or three extremely expert gamers who will stand out to anybody watching, however these 5 gamers are key to their staff’s success within the event.

Ohio State graduate defenseman Sophie Jaques. For the final two years, Jaques has led the nation in scoring by defensemen with numbers that rival these of the highest forwards. She was held with out a level in her final two video games, and as a key to the Buckeyes’ league-leading energy play, getting her on the scoresheet means good issues for OSU.

Wisconsin junior ahead Casey O’Brien. On a staff with a number of Olympians, gamers with senior nationwide staff expertise and a extremely touted freshman class, O’Brien has persistently been one of many Badgers’ greatest gamers all season. Like so many others on her staff, she has a ton of velocity and may shoot the puck in addition to anybody, however I really feel she is at her greatest when she provides a tenacity and grit that makes her actually enjoyable to observe and is essential to her staff’s success. — Kelly Pannek

Experts roundtable

Kelly Pannek, who helped Minnesota win two nationwide titles (2015 and 2016), is a two-time Olympian, member of the U.S. nationwide staff and a PWHPA All-Star. ESPN’s Clay Matvick shall be calling the Frozen Four broadcasts on ESPN+ and ESPNU.

What most impressed you from the regional spherical?

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Kelly Pannek: Northeastern goaltender Gwyneth Philips had a formidable efficiency towards the Yale Bulldogs to steer her staff again to the Frozen Four. Phillips made 38 saves, with 17 of these saves coming within the third interval. When a goalie can have that sort of efficiency in one of many largest video games of the season, it has to convey a lot confidence to her staff.

Clay Matvick: The continued defensive excellence of Northeastern. The Huskies have not allowed a couple of objective of their final seven video games. Their goaltending has been completely excellent all season with Gwyneth Philips enjoying as properly, and typically higher, than her predecessor, Aerin Frankel. For coach Dave Flint, that is the final go-round with Alina Mueller, Chloé Aurard and Maureen Murphy. It’s a terrific probability for this group to exit in fashion.

Who is your choose to win the nationwide title?

Pannek: I’ve to go together with Minnesota. It isn’t any secret that protection wins championships and I actually like the best way they’ve dedicated to the defensive aspect of the sport all through the playoffs. It additionally does not harm that they’re getting scoring all through their lineup and never simply counting on one or two gamers to supply.

Matvick: Minnesota appears to be the staff enjoying probably the most full hockey proper now. Offensively, they’ve a humiliation of riches with the reigning Patty Kazmaier Award winner Taylor Heise and U.S. Olympians Abbey Murphy and Grace Zumwinkle, who’s third within the nation with 61 factors. Five of their six defenders are seniors and Skylar Vetter has been a gradual and typically electrical goaltender. With Duluth proper up the street from Minneapolis, the Gophers ought to have a number of fan help too, so that they’ll be very powerful to beat.

Who is your choose to win the Patty Kazmaier Award (to be introduced Saturday)?

Pannek: Ohio State’s Sophie Jaques. She has proven over the past two years how large of a menace she is, at the same time as a defenseman. She has put up forward-like numbers offensively, whereas enjoying a ton of minutes towards the opposition’s greatest gamers in a extremely sturdy league. Frankly, after the previous two seasons, if she does not win, I’m undecided what it will take for a defenseman to take house the award.

Matvick: Northeastern’s Alina Mueller has gained a number of awards and he or she’s achieved a terrific deal each as collegiate participant and Olympian. However, regardless of being a top-10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award a file 5 occasions, she’s by no means gained it. Mueller is the all-time main scorer in Hockey East and he or she’s gained the convention participant of the yr thrice whereas guiding the Huskies to a few straight Frozen Fours. After one other spectacular yr, through which she’s fourth within the nation in objectives and factors, I feel it is her flip to win the Patty Kaz.

Regional outcomes

All occasions Eastern

Regional semifinals, March 9
Quinnipiac 3, Penn State 2 (3 OT)
Wisconsin 9, Long Island 1
Minnesota Duluth 2, Clarkson 0

Regional finals, March 11
No. 5 Northeastern 4, No. 4 Yale 1
No. 6 Wisconsin 4, No. 3 Colgate 2
No. 2 Minnesota 3, No. 7 Minnesota Duluth 0
No. 1 Ohio State 5, No. 8 Quinnipiac 2

The area

Statistics coming into the NCAA event

Ohio State

play

1:07

Why energy of schedule affected Ohio State’s Frozen Four seeding

Angela Ruggiero and Kendall Coyne Schofield talk about why Ohio State’s more durable schedule propelled it to the No. 1 seed within the Women’s Frozen Four.

How they acquired in: At-large bid (misplaced to Minnesota 3-1 in WCHA closing)

Numbers to know: The dominant Buckeyes are second within the nation in scoring offense (4.39 objectives per sport) and eighth in scoring protection (1.78). Ohio State’s energy play has transformed at a .344 clip, greatest within the NCAA. This is the second straight 30-win season for the defending nationwide champs.

Kelly Pannek’s take: Ohio State has performed all season like a staff that is able to defend its nationwide championship. The Buckeyes are a robust, bodily staff with talent and velocity to match. They are coming off a loss within the WCHA event championship, however I’ve little question that they’ll discover a manner to make use of that of their favor. They are the staff to beat.

Minnesota

How they acquired in: WCHA event champion

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Numbers to know: Minnesota has the most effective offense within the nation, scoring almost 5 objectives (4.71) per sport. Taylor Heise, the 2022 Patty Kazmaier Award winner as nationwide participant of the yr, leads the NCAA with 29 objectives and 1.77 factors per sport and in addition has a .635 faceoff proportion. The Gophers had been 3-1-1 towards No. 1 seed Ohio State this season.

Pannek’s take: This seems like a must-win yr for the Gophers, with their final nationwide championship coming seven years in the past. They have all of the firepower up entrance and simply confirmed they’re keen to do the soiled work on protection in profitable the WCHA event. If Minnesota can proceed to again up its potent offense with stingy protection, it is going to be a tricky staff to beat.

Colgate (32-5-2)

How they acquired in: ECAC event champion

Numbers to know: Colgate is 2-0 towards Yale, handing the Bulldogs their solely two regular-season losses. Senior Danielle Serdachny leads the nation with 43 assists and 65 factors.

Pannek’s take: With assertion wins on its strategy to clinching the ECAC event title, Colgate could also be peaking on the proper time. The Raiders have performed a tricky schedule all season and are stronger for it. With Colgate displaying nice stability on either side of the puck, and a few early postseason success added to the combination, it would not be shocking to see the Raiders in Duluth.

Yale (28-3-1)

How they acquired in: At-large bid (misplaced to Clarkson 4-3 in ECAC semifinal)

Numbers to know: Junior Elle Hartje leads the nation with 1.19 assists per sport (37 in 31 video games). Sophomore goalie Pia Dukaric is second within the nation with a 1.29 GAA and third with a .939 save proportion. Yale is fourth in scoring offense (4.13 objectives per sport) and second in scoring protection (1.32).

Pannek’s take: Yale has been a prime staff all yr in a robust ECAC convention. People neglect that this staff was a Frozen Four staff final season and the Bulldogs have backed it up with their efficiency this yr. With a semifinal loss to Clarkson within the ECAC event, the Bulldogs must get the momentum again early within the NCAA event.

Northeastern

How they acquired in: Hockey East event champion

Numbers to know: Northeastern has allowed solely 30 objectives in 35 video games, with senior goaltender Gwyneth Philips main the nation in goals-against common (0.83) and save proportion (.960). Graduate pupil Alina Mueller has a plus-45 plus/minus, and the Huskies are 28-0-0 this season when she scores some extent.

Pannek’s take: Making its sixth consecutive look within the NCAA event, Northeastern is the staff to beat in Hockey East. This group has a robust veteran core, led by three-time Hockey East Player of the Year Alina Mueller. With a lot of playoff expertise and leaders who’re hungry to get this system’s first nationwide championship, this can be the yr Northeastern breaks by means of.

Wisconsin

How they acquired in: At-large bid (misplaced to Minnesota 4-2 in WCHA semifinal)

Numbers to know: This is Wisconsin’s tenth straight NCAA look, the longest lively streak within the nation. The Badgers had been 2-0-2 within the common season towards league champion Minnesota. Wisconsin is prime 5 within the nation in each scoring offense (third, 4.17) and scoring protection (fifth, 1.61).

Pannek’s take: Halfway by means of the season it seemed as if Wisconsin could not even make the NCAA event, however with a robust end to the common season, the Badgers are again to being the kind of staff we count on to see in Madison. Wisconsin is loaded with expertise, and it appears like they might be reaching their fullest potential on the proper time to make a robust NCAA run.

Minnesota Duluth (25-9-3)

How they acquired in: At-large bid (misplaced to Ohio State 2-1 in WCHA semifinal)

Numbers to know: Minnesota Duluth was 1-4 this season towards prime seed Ohio State, however all 5 video games had been determined by one objective (two in additional time). The Bulldogs have 13 shutouts on the season, tops within the nation.

Pannek’s take: UMD all the time makes noise come playoff time, and I anticipate this NCAA event to be no totally different. Graduate Emma Soderberg is likely one of the greatest and most skilled goaltenders within the nation, and in entrance of her is a mature staff that has made deep event runs. With Duluth being the host of this yr’s Frozen Four, I’ve little question that the Bulldogs will do the whole lot they’ll to be there.

Quinnipiac (29-9-0)

How they acquired in: At-large bid (misplaced to Colgate 5-1 in ECAC semifinal)

Numbers to know: Quinnipiac is fourth within the nation in scoring protection (1.51) and fourth in staff faceoff proportion (.559). The Bobcats are 6-6 over their final 12 video games.

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Pannek’s take: Quinnipiac has turned its program round prior to now few years and is making its second straight NCAA event look. The Bobcats began the season off sturdy with a 10-game win streak, however have not proven the identical consistency within the second half. One factor that’s essential to Quinnipiac’s event success is its penalty kill, which is second within the nation at 92%.

Penn State (27-8-2)

How they acquired in: CHA event champion

Numbers to know: Kiara Zanon is tied for fourth within the nation with 25 objectives and has an NCAA-best 5 short-handed objectives. This is Penn State coach Jeff Kampersal’s third NCAA look (Princeton, 2006, 2016).

Pannek’s take: Penn State is making its NCAA event debut after promising regular-season showings the previous couple of years. The Nittany Lions are led by extremely proficient forwards junior Kiara Zanon and freshman Tessa Janecke, and junior goalie Josie Bothun can steal video games. The Nittany Lions could have a tricky street to the Frozen Four, however they’ve an opportunity to solidify themselves as a perennial challenger.

Clarkson (29-10-2)

How they acquired in: At-large bid (misplaced to Colgate 8-2 in ECAC closing)

Numbers to know: Clarkson goalie Michelle Pasiechnyk is fourth within the nation with a 1.45 GAA. The Golden Knights scored two large late-season wins, beating Quinnipiac to finish the common season and knocking off Yale in double additional time within the ECAC event.

Pannek’s take: Although it has been a couple of years since their final journey to the Frozen Four, the Golden Knights are not any stranger to postseason success (11 NCAA appearances). In comparability to different groups within the area, Clarkson is towards the underside for each offensive and defensive statistics, so to make a push, it should must be firing on all cylinders — because the Knights had been in beating Yale within the ECAC event.

Long Island (20-13-3)

How they acquired in: NEWHA event champion

Numbers to know: In its fourth season of competitors, Long Island posted its first 20-win season. Goalie Tindra Holm has the fifth-best save proportion within the nation at .937.

Pannek’s take: As the staff representing the latest league in Division I ladies’s hockey, Long Island can have its work lower out for it right here. The Sharks will want a unprecedented efficiency between the pipes from sophomore Holm and capitalize on any alternatives they get within the offensive finish in the event that they wish to maintain their run going.

Players to observe

It looks as if each staff has at the least two or three extremely expert gamers who will stand out to anybody watching, however these 5 gamers are key to their staff’s success within the event.

Minnesota sophomore goalie Skylar Vetter. Vetter has proven stretches of dominance this season on her strategy to being a top-three finalist for WCHA goalie of the yr. On a staff with the best scoring offense within the event however one of many worst objectives towards per sport common, Vetter has the chance to set the defensive tone for her staff.

Ohio State graduate defenseman Sophie Jaques. For the final two years, Jaques has led the nation in scoring by defensemen with numbers that rival these of the highest forwards. She was held with out a level in her final two video games, and as a key to the Buckeyes’ league-leading energy play, getting her on the scoresheet means good issues for OSU.

Colgate senior ahead Danielle Serdachny. The main scorer within the nation, Serdachny is coming off an impressive ECAC event efficiency the place she recorded 4 objectives and 5 assists in 5 video games. A well-rounded heart with a ton of talent, Serdachny is a participant you count on to see shine in large moments.

Northeastern graduate ahead Maureen Murphy. Playing on a line with Alina Mueller, Murphy does not all the time get the popularity she deserves as a key piece to her staff’s success. Murphy is a gritty ahead who skates properly and may end. She has scored some large objectives for Northeastern in previous seasons, and I’m certain she’s prepared so as to add extra.

Wisconsin junior ahead Casey O’Brien. On a staff with a number of Olympians, gamers with senior nationwide staff expertise and a extremely touted freshman class, O’Brien has persistently been one of many Badgers’ greatest gamers all season. Like so many others on her staff, she has a ton of velocity and may shoot the puck in addition to anybody, however I really feel she is at her greatest when she provides a tenacity and grit that makes her actually enjoyable to observe and is essential to her staff’s success. — Kelly Pannek