By: Neil Simmons | Follow me on Twitter / X: @NSimmz
The Frozen Four is the biggest stage in college hockey, annually featuring teams littered with NHL draft picks and future stars. Although the Boston Bruins will not have any prospects competing for the NCAA championship this coming weekend, they are no strangers to the occasion. The Bruins have had their fair share of college alumni who’ve made this stage and even gone on to win it all:
Past:
Tim Thomas (UVM, 1996) – Boston’s former Cup-winning goaltender built his reputation as a clutch playoff performer long before 2011. In 1996, Thomas led the nation in save percentage (.924) and backstopped Vermont to their first Frozen Four in program history, eventually falling to Colorado College in the semifinals in double overtime.
Kevin Shattenkirk (BU, 2009) – Shattenkirk may not have been able to capture the Stanley Cup in his lone season with the Bruins, but he had won trophies in Boston before retiring earlier this season. The veteran blueliner spent three years playing for legendary coach Jack Parker on Comm Ave, making the Frozen Four in 2009. Shattenkirk assisted on the championship-winning goal in overtime to cap off a stunning comeback for the Terriers, who trailed 3-1 with a minute left in regulation.
Noel Acciari (Providence, 2015) – Acciari’s Friars went on a sensational run exactly a decade ago to capture their first national title. Providence came into the tournament as the last team above the cut line and upended the top two seeds in their regional on home ice to make the Frozen Four in Boston. They defeated Omaha and stunned BU to capture the victory, with Acciari factoring on a goal in every game.
Present:
Andrew Peeke (Notre Dame – 2017 & 2018) – Peeke was a regular contributor on the blueline for three seasons in South Bend, including dressing in 79 games across their back-to-back Frozen Four runs in 2017 and 2018. The Irish bowed out in the semifinal to eventual champions Denver in ‘17 and made the championship the following year but fell to Minnesota-Duluth.
Cole Koepke (Minnesota-Duluth, 2019 & 2021) – Koepke joined a Duluth team fresh off a championship in 2018 and contributed to two more Frozen Fours in his three seasons as a Bulldog. Duluth repeated as national champions in 2019 by beating UMass, and the Minutemen returned the favor in 2021, eliminating Koepke and the Bulldogs in the national semifinals.
John Beecher (Michigan, 2022) – Beecher was part of a loaded Michigan squad in 2022 that boasted seven NHL first-round picks and entered the tournament as the top overall seed. The Wolverines handily won their region and made the Frozen Four in Boston, where Denver stonewalled them in overtime en route to another national championship.
Future:
Michael Callahan (Providence, 2019) – Callahan, who scored his first NHL goal on Tuesday night, made the Frozen Four as a freshman with Providence in 2019. He dressed in all 40 games on the Friar blueline during their run to the semifinals in Buffalo before being bounced by Cole Koepke and Duluth en route to their second straight title.
Ty Gallagher (BU, 2023 & 2024) – Before transferring to Colorado College, Gallagher was a significant blueline piece to back-to-back Frozen Four teams with BU. Gallagher played in 77 games across both tournament runs as the Terriers cruised through their regional brackets but were eliminated by Minnesota and Denver in the semifinals.
Andre Gasseau + Oskar Jellvik (BC, 2024) – Gasseau and Jellvik are appropriately paired as linemates on this list and at Boston College. The duo made the Frozen Four with BC last season, fending off reigning champions Quinnipiac in the regional bracket and crushing Michigan in the semifinal before being stifled by Denver (which has been a common occurrence) in the championship game.
The Frozen Four begins on Thursday evening on ESPN2 and ESPN+. Denver vs. Western Michigan’s puck drop is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET, followed by Boston University vs. Penn State at 8 p.m. ET.
Leave a Reply