On Wednesday we previewed the tournament favorite, North Dakota. Today we are taking a look at their National Semi-final opponent, the Michigan Wolverines. The top team in the CCHA during the regular season is not stranger to the Frozen Four. They have won the National Championship nine times but not once since the turn of the century. Their last National Championship came in 1998, 13 years ago.
(Can the Wolverines knock off the top seed and advance to the finals?)
The Michigan Wolverines made an early exit from the CCHA Tournament and are out to prove a point. Their disappointed loss in the semi-finals left a big question mark as they made their way to the National Tournament. Would they be able to rebound after the loss or would they falter?
How They Got to The Frozen Four: With the questions looming, Michigan faced hungry Nebraska-Omaha team in round one. Perhaps UNO sensed weakness from the Wolverines loss less than a week prior but they made it clear it would not be a Michigan blowout. Down 2-0 after the first period, Michigan looked to be in trouble. Would this be the end of the season for the top team in the CCHA? When the second period began they answered the bell and came out as a new team. Hard work and a successful powerplay helped them back into the game to eventually tie it 2-2. A fortunate bounce in OT completed the comeback an Michigan moved on to round two.
In round two no one would have been surprised if Michigan played Boston College but they faced a team who had knocked off BC, Colorado College. In a battle of the west, Michigan was able to take down Colorado College and advance to the Frozen Four. Unlike the first round, Michigan jumped out to the two goal lead in the first period but held on to earn the right to face the North Dakota.
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