It’s Boston College versus North Dakota, and Notre Dame against Michigan.
Big-time, name-brand programs, indeed. The Pepsi Center is going to rock with college hockey.
And the host Frozen Four school and its star player aren’t completely left out in the cold.
That’s right, we haven’t seen the last of University of Denver senior goaltender Peter Mannino.
Mannino, who completed his magnificent career March 28 when the Pioneers lost a first-round NCAA Tournament game to Wisconsin, will put on his pads one more time as a collegian Friday night.
The 2005 Frozen Four MVP and DU’s all-time leader in shutouts (15) is scheduled to participate in the Frozen Four Skills Challenge at The Can.
DU senior defenseman Andrew Thomas, Colorado College senior wing Jimmy Kilpatrick and Air Force senior center Eric Ehn also were selected to participate in the event that will cap a busy Frozen Four “off” day.
The Pioneers, Tigers and Falcons combined to go 0-3 in the NCAA Tournament, but at least one of their senior stars can say they skated at the Frozen Four.
The national semifinals are Thursday — Boston College-North Dakota at 4 p.m. and Notre Dame-Michigan at 7 p.m. — and the winners meet for all the marbles at 5 p.m. Saturday. Colorado is hosting the Frozen Four for a record 15th time, but the first since 1976.
Before the first Skills Challenge in 2005, the Frozen Four’s host venue was quiet or serving other activities. Now fans are encouraged to hang out at the rink most of the day.
Team practices will be open to the public beginning at 11:15 a.m., and after the “College Hockey Celebration” at nearby Skyline Park, “Friday Night at the Frozen Four” goes from 4:30 to 9 p.m. inside the Pepsi Center.
There will be a player autograph session, followed by the Hobey Baker Award and Hockey Humanitarian Award presentations, and then the Skills Challenge.
Tickets for the event are $10 and available at the Pepsi Center box office or Ticketmaster outlets. The Hobey Baker and Skills Challenge segments will be televised live by ESPNU.
Speaking of TV, Thursday’s Michigan-Notre Dame semifinal game could break ratings records. This isn’t football, but the Wolverines and Fighting Irish have loyal followings in every sport, particularly when they play each other.
“Everyone is pretty excited,” Notre Dame senior Mark Van Guilder said from South Bend, Ind. “People are planning on making the trip. Everyone is in hockey mode. It’s not football or basketball anymore.”
The Irish, who won the West Regional in Colorado Springs as a No. 4 seed, made the Frozen Four for the first time. Michigan qualified for a record 23rd time, but first since 2003.
“My first three years, we obviously didn’t make it,” said Michigan senior center Kevin Porter, the favorite to win the Hobey Baker Award. “That was pretty disappointing, so this year has been pretty special. Just a tremendous year.”
Michigan and Notre Dame are Central Collegiate Hockey Association rivals. BC comes from Hockey East and North Dakota from the Denver-based Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
The Eagles and Fighting Sioux are no strangers, either. In the past seven years, they have met five times in the NCAA Tournament, including the past three at the Frozen Four.
“It’s incredible how many years we’ve played against them,” BC coach Jerry York said.
Frozen Four schedule
A list of this week’s activities (at the Pepsi Center unless otherwise noted):
WEDNESDAY
Team practices (open to the public)
11 a.m.: Boston College
12:15 p.m.: North Dakota
1:30 p.m.: Notre Dame
2:45 p.m.: Michigan
THURSDAY
Semifinals
4 p.m.: Boston College (23-11-8) vs. North Dakota (28-10-4), ESPN2
7 p.m.: Notre Dame (26-15-4) vs. Michigan (33-5-4), ESPN2
FRIDAY
Team practices (open to the public)
11:15 a.m.: Winner of semifinal Game 1
12:30 p.m.: Winner of semifinal Game 2
1:30 – 4 p.m.: College hockey celebration at Skyline Park featuring Opie Gone Bad
2:30 – 3:30 p.m.: Hobey Hat Trick autograph signing
4:30 – 9 p.m.: Friday Night at the Frozen Four
• Championship teams autograph signing
• Hobey Baker Memorial Award presentation
• Hockey Humanitarian Award presentation
• Skills Challenge (ESPNU)
• Autograph session featuring Skills Challenge participants
SATURDAY
8 a.m. – 1 p.m.: Youth clinic at the Ritchie Center on the University of Denver campus
Noon – 2 p.m.: Public open skate
Championship game
5 p.m., ESPN
TV GAME OF THE WEEK
Big Monday to decide Big Dance.
Three major NCAA championships will be decided this week, beginning tonight with the men’s basketball final between Memphis (38-1) and Kansas (36-3) in San Antonio. Catch it on KCNC-4 beginning at 7 p.m.
The women’s hoops crown will be decided Tuesday in Tampa, Fla., and the hockey championship will be won Saturday at the Pepsi Center.
THE HUNT FOR STANLEY
Back in the saddle.
Seven of eight Western Conference teams are making a repeat appearance in the NHL playoffs, with the Avalanche the group’s only newcomer from a year ago. Colorado replaces Vancouver, which nose-dived last week to drop out of the postseason race.
The Avs begin the marathon that is the Stanley Cup playoffs Wednesday night at Minnesota, the team Colorado defeated 4-3 in a shootout Sunday in the regular-season finale for the Northwest Division rivals.
You have to like the Avs’ chances. Except for season-ending injuries to Marek Svatos and Brett Clark, they are healthy. And hungry. And goalie Jose Theodore appears capable of leading this squad all the way.
GARY PLAYER, LONG PLAYER
Pegged to pass Arnold.
Gary Player is set to begin his 51st Masters this week, which would break the record he shares with Arnold Palmer. The Masters is in its 72nd year, and Player will have played in 70 percent of them. That’s longevity.
COLORADO ON MLS ROAD
Revolution welcomes Rapids.
Our furthest look ahead takes you to Saturday and to the Rapids’ third game of the Major League Soccer season, at New England. The Rapids are coming off a 3-2 loss at Kansas City after opening the season at home with a 4-0 rout of David Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy.
