Perhaps you’ve seen the bumper sticker: “Give Blood, Play Hockey.”
That’s for the pros. In college, players are more apt to advertise: “I’m a Glutton for Punishment, Hit Me Where It Hurts.”
This week at the Frozen Four, the top four college teams in the country will absorb any punishment needed to block a shot and help their team win.
Bleeding is what the pros do. In NCAA hockey, the mandatory facemask typically prevents serious injuries above the neck, turning collegians loose to become more brazen and challenge shooters face-to-face.
“It takes courage to step in front there and eat it, but we have the guys to do it,” Boston College captain Mike Brennan said. “It can play a big role in winning games, especially championship games.”
Just ask the Denver Pioneers. In the 2004 national championship game against Maine, the Pioneers blocked 27 shots, compared to the Black Bears’ five. DU won 1-0 in a game that proved self-sacrifice can win you a national title.
“It’s a huge part of the game,” said Michigan defenseman Mark Mitera, the Wolverines’ top shot blocker. “Denver blocked 27 shots in that game, so that’s 27 less shots that goalie has to face.”
In the NHL, players slide and protect their face when attempting a block. In college, the standard move is dropping to one knee to maximize the blocking area. The NCAA style can be more effective but at a greater risk of injury. College players still have unprotected areas, and deep bruises to the top of the knee, the inside of the elbow or wrist and even the abdomen can be the result of staying vertical.
Blocking shots is important in the NHL but rarely do the pros go to a knee in front of shooters. They usually slide sideways hoping the puck hits their shinguards.
The masked college players call sliding selling out, because a skilled puck carrier can make a move and take the blocker out of the play. By using the one-knee technique, defenders can keep themselves in the play.
“That (facemask) shield protects you, to where you can get on one knee and eat it, and not worry about losing teeth,” said Brennan, who leads the Eagles with 50 blocked shots. “For the defenseman especially, it’s all about trying to limit shots on goal, and you have to block as many shots as you can.”
The NCAA mandated face shields in 1980. Before that, the college and pro games were more similar.
“After the full masks were mandatory, I noticed that some players were blocking shots more often and many players would even block pucks head first,” said former DU star defenseman Greg “Woody” Woods, who completed his career in 1979. “Also, the full masks started a bad trend of sticks being (used) higher, as opposed to keeping them down, which was once an unwritten rule because of the exposed face.”
Woods played in an era of flimsy equipment. Now, the pads covering the shoulder, midsection, elbow and shins offer more protection.
“It fits better, protects better, and is lighter than the old stuff, so that’s another reason these kids are blocking more shots than we used to,” Woods said. “But that can also be part of the false sense of security.”
Equipment manufacturers offer neck guards, steel wristbands and boot flaps for the top of the foot, but the majority of college players don’t wear them.
Brennan said the worst place to take a slap shot is above the knee, which is exposed when players drop to their knees.
“Also the belly,” he said, “that really burns.”
Typically, players try to keep shots low. But some shots can float up and hit the neck or wrists.
“You can only hope it bruises, and that it heals quick enough so you don’t think about it too much,” Brennan said, “because you know there’s going to be a lot more to stop.”
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
By the book
A look at the major rules differences between the NHL and the NCAA:
Obstruction College hockey rules are mostly old-school NHL. The NCAA, like the NHL, has cracked down on obstruction. But the NCAA still allows moderate hooking, holding and interference.
High sticking Because of the face masks, high sticking in college is not a common penalty. With no blood, errant sticks to the head are usually overlooked.
No-touch icing The NHL has discussed using this NCAA rule, which is when a team sends the puck past the opponent’s end line from beyond the red line, play is immediately blown dead.
Sheet familiarity There is no official ice sheet dimension or markings in the NCAA. Games are contested at various-size rinks, some with NHL markings. After the NHL lockout in 2005, the NHL increased the offensive zone by moving the blue lines closer to the red line and the end lines closer to the end boards. The Pepsi Center will keep its NHL markings for the Frozen Four.
One-referee system The NCAA uses one referee, one fewer than in the NHL. However, NCAA linesmen (officially called assistant referees) are allowed to call penalties that aren’t seen by the referee.
Mike Chambers
NHL draft picks
The following players were selected by NHL teams during their draft-eligible years (ages 18-20):
Michigan (12)
F Carl Hagelin, Fr., N.Y. Rangers
F Louis Caporusso, Fr., Ottawa
D Steve Kamfler, So.,,Anaheim
F Chad Kolarik, Sr., Phoenix
D Mark Mitera, Jr., Anaheim
F Max Pacioretty, Fr., Montreal
F Aaron Palushaj, Fr., St. Louis
F Kevin Porter, Sr., Phoenix
F Matt Rust, Fr., Florida
G Billy Sauer, Jr., Avalanche
D Chris Summers, So., Phoenix
F Ben Winnett, Fr., Toronto
North Dakota (11)
D Taylor Chorney, Jr., Edmnton
D Joe Finley, Jr., Washington
F Michael Forney, So., Atlanta
F Matt Frattin, Fr., Toronto
F Rylan Kaip, Sr., Atlanta
F Andrew Kozek, Jr., Atlanta
D Derrick LaPoint, Fr., Florida
F Brad Malone, Fr., Avalanche
F T.J. Oshie, Jr., St. Louis
F Chris VandeVelde, So., Edmnton
F Matt Watkins, Jr., Dallas
Boston College (nine)
D Anthony Aiello, Jr., Minnesota
F Dan Bertram, Sr., Chicago
F Brock Bradford, Jr., Boston
F Benn Ferriero, Jr., Phoenix
F Nathan Gerbe, Jr., Buffalo
D Tim Kunes, Jr., Carolina
F Andrew Orpik, Jr., Buffalo
F Nick Petrecki, Fr., San Jose
D Carl Sneep, So., Pittsburgh
Notre Dame (seven)
D Ian Cole, Fr., St. Louis
D Teddy Ruth, Fr., Washington (traded to Columbus)
F Ryan Thang, So., Nashville
F Ben Ryan, Fr., Nashville
G Brad Phillips, Fr., Philadelphia
F Erik Condra, Jr., Ottawa
D Kyle Lawson, So., Carolina
Schedule of events at the Pepsi Center
Today
Practices open to the public and free
11 a.m.-noon — Boston College practice
12:15-1:15 p.m. — North Dakota practice
1:30-2:30 p.m.— Notre Dame practice
2:45-3:45 p.m. — Michigan practice
Thursday
Semifinals
4 p.m. — Boston College (23-11-8) vs. North Dakota (28-10-4), ESPN2
7 p.m. — Michigan (33-5-4) vs. Notre Dame (26-15-4), ESPN2
Friday
11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. — Game 1 winner practice
12:30-1:30 p.m. — Game 2 winner practice
4:30 p.m. — Player autograph session
5:30-7 p.m. — Award announcements, including Hobey Baker, Hockey Humanitarian Award and All-America team
7-8:30 p.m. — Frozen Four skills challenge at Skyline Park (tickets $10)
1:30-4 p.m. — College Hockey Celebration with concert and fan booths
Saturday
Noon-2 p.m. — Free skating for general public
5 p.m. — Championship game, ESPN
