Irish Hockey Tonight!

So for the first time in its history, the University of Notre Dame has made the Frozen Four. This is no small feat, and in fact, its a very big deal in some circles.

Thanks to the basketball team completely failing in the tournament, and the football team completely failing about 2 minutes into their season, this is the biggest sporting accomplishment by a Notre Dame team this year. And it deserves some recognition and school pride.

With that said, I doubt many of you know what to expect tonight when you watch (9:30 est on ESPN2). So here are some cliff notes:

First off, they are playing Michigan. Now, I shouldn't have to say anything more to get you to watch, but I will.

Notre Dame is all around solid. Their goalie is in his first year playing full time and has been "good to great".

Notre Dame made it this far on their defense. Its loaded with quick, strong players. Brock Sheahan is the guy to watch on the Defense.

Also Kyle Lawson and Ian Cole are two young defensemen who bring excitement to the ice whenever they are on it.

Ryan Thang is the Irish's biggest scoring threat. But for consitancy, check out Dan Kissel.

As for someone to always have your eye on, its Christian Hanson. Who apparently is both "very big" and "has a nice scoring touch". And no, I did not lift that straight out of someone's porn resume.

Mainly though, all the accolades come down to Coach Jackson, who has been credited with leading this team in a creative, smart, and study direction. They don't wow anyone, they just get it done.

Across the ice is the uneducated, future janitors of America, The University of Michigan.

The have a talented team, consisting of 12 NHL drafted players (to ND's 7).

They dominate the power play, and apparently move the puck really well.

They are also "stupid", which is no real insight when talking about Michigan players. But apparently, they tend to make a lot of stupid penalties. Although this could be them being stupid...like a fox as it could force the other team into getting frustrating, making penalties of their own and setting up the aforementioned powerplay, playing right into those dirty wolverine hands.

From someone who knows better than I:

"Notre Dame wins turnovers at a 60% rate (according to the WSJ article from last week, the best in the NHL wins 58%), while Michigan is at a 47%. This means they will try and play a smooth game without much stoppage of play. This will especially come into importance in our zone where they will try and keep play going while we should try and tie it up as much as possible."

"If the game is a run and gun exhibition of skill, Michigan stands to gain. If it is a game of working and grinding to negate every threat and create every opportunity, then ND favors."

And one must never forget that Michigan sucks.

And Ann Arbor is a dirty whore.

Go Irish.

* Special thanks to the posters on NDNation's hockey board.