In October, Boston College and North Dakota “tried” to play a game in Chestnut Hill, Mass. The regular-season affair never ended, thanks to the foggy combination of high temperatures and humidity inside a building with frozen water.
The ice didn’t melt, but conditions created enough fog to stop the game after two periods. The game went into the books as a 0-0 tie.
Six months later, the teams will meet again in a game that will have an ending.
The Eagles and Fighting Sioux will finish what they started April 10 in the semifinals of the Frozen Four at the Pepsi Center. They face off at 4 p.m., followed by Notre Dame against Michigan.
During a teleconference Tuesday with the Frozen Four teams, BC coach Jerry York said it is fitting that the Eagles and Sioux settle their score.
“My wife and I were kidding about that (Monday) night at supper,” York said. “It’s almost an extended (end).”
And predictable. In the past eight years, BC and UND have met five times in NCAA Tournament games, including twice for the national championship (2000 and ’01). This is the third straight year they have met in a Frozen Four semifinal. BC holds a 3-2 edge in the five games.
“We’ve got a great history of playing the Sioux,” York said. “The fog game will go down probably as the most unusual game. It just seems that if we’re going to advance in the tournament, we’re going to have to go through the Sioux at some point.”
North Dakota and Michigan advanced to Denver as No. 1 seeds. The Wolverines are the No. 1 seed overall and have the best record in the country (33-5-4).
That’s a surprise, considering Michigan has just two seniors and plays regularly with 10 freshmen in its 20-man lineup.
“I don’t think anyone thought we’d get here with (10) freshmen and two seniors,” said Michigan star forward Kevin Porter, a senior along with linemate Chad Kolarik. “But we’ve played well all year, and here we are. ”
College hockey big-game matchup
Boston College and North Dakota will face each other in an NCAA Tournament game for the sixth time in the past nine years April 10 in the Frozen Four semifinals at the Pepsi Center. A look at their previous head-to-head NCAA Tournament games:
Year Result Game
2000 North Dakota def. Boston College 4-2 NCAA final
2001 Boston College def. N. Dakota 3-2 OT NCAA final
2005 North Dakota def. Boston College 6-3 East Regional final
2006 Boston College def. North Dakota 6-5 Frozen Four semis
2007 Boston College def. North Dakota 6-4 Frozen Four semis
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
