The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Frozen Four notebook: BU coach wary of RedHawks

Bengals' Maualuga charged with assault
2/11/12
Thomas’ patience finally rewarded
2/11/12
RedHawks stuff Alabama-Huntsville
2/11/12
Commentary: Tressel fans object to ‘disgraced’ tag
2/10/12
Trustees approve OSU compliance office
2/10/12
> More sports headlines

By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer Updated 10:15 PM Friday, April 10, 2009

WASHINGTON — Boston University hockey coach Jack Parker was asked what it will take to win a national championship today, April 11, at the Verizon Center when his team faces the Miami RedHawks.

“You’ve got to have talent, and you’ve got to have talent with determination,” he said.

Parker doesn’t intend to make the mistake of assuming those traits apply only his team.

He called the RedHawks “a very talented and very determined” team “that is playing at the top of its game. I was impressed with their team speed and I think they have as good a group of forwards that we will have seen all season.”

Parker also said he was impressed with Miami’s “commitment to defense and how hard they play, especially when they are a man down.”

Inexperience can help

Miami coach Enrico Blasi was asked how a less experienced team made it farther in the NCAA Tournament this year than last year’s much more experienced squad.

“I wish I knew,” Blasi said. “Sometimes when you’re out in front and you’re the No. 1 seed and you’re expected to win, you put so much pressure on yourself. You want it so bad and you push yourself so far it’s just not going to happen.

“And sometimes when you’re not expected to win, you go out and play the way you’re capable of playing,” he said. “Having so many young guys, they probably don’t know what’s going on right now, and that’s probably not a bad thing.”

Fan favorite at last?

The RedHawks are warmed by the thought that they might be playing in front of a mostly friendly crowd tonight.

It didn’t happen in Minnesota in the NCAA West Regionals, especially when they were facing Minnesota-Duluth, and it didn’t happen Thursday at the Frozen Four semifinals where — although the RedHawks had a block of very vocal supporters — most of the unattached spectators took up the cause of Bemidji State because fans love the little guy. Think of the movie “Hoosiers.”

The RedHawks are likely to pick up the support of many of those fans tonight when they face the top-ranked Boston Terriers.

“It would be great to have the majority of the crowd favoring us,” said Miami senior captain Brian Kaufman. “I don’t think that’s happened for a while.

“But ultimately, what happens between the boards is what we’re trying to focus on right now.”

Award season

BU senior defenseman Matt Gilroy won the 2009 Hobey Baker Award — given annually to the top player in college hockey — Friday night at the Frozen Four.

Gilroy has totaled 36 points on eight goals and 28 assists in 43 games, which ranks third among all defensemen in the nation.

The American Hockey Coaches Association/Reebook All-American teams also were announced Friday night. Miami sophomore Carter Camper was named to the West second team.

Camper leads the RedHawks in scoring with 41 points on 20 goals and 21 assists.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.

Share this article