BOSTON — The 2022 NCAA Frozen Four is here, with two semifinal games set to be played Thursday and the final on Saturday at TD Garden.
While there are no New England-based schools in the field, there are some quality prospects with high-end and/or intriguing pro potential who will be skating for the national title.
New England natives Matt Beniers and Mackie Samoskevich will be in action for Michigan, which will face Denver, while Minnesota plays Minnesota State. Here are some players from outside the region who are expected to be notable performers.
Denver
Bobby Brink
7/8/01, RW, right shot, 5-9/165
NHL rights: Philadelphia Flyers
One of three Hobey Baker finalists in the Frozen Four, the second-round pick in 2019 had a breakout junior season with 56 points. The Minnesotan is undersized and doesn’t have the explosive skating that pro teams want in smaller players, but his hockey sense and vision are off the charts. He’s got smooth puck skills and is a threat to score on every shift. He won a gold medal for Team USA in the 2018 World Junior Challenge against the heavily favored Russians, and played on a broken foot when he blocked a shot in the semifinal. He has silenced many doubters over the years and that goes for the NHL teams who passed on a chance to draft him, too. If all of that isn’t enough for an interesting story angle for a Boston Frozen Four, his full name is Bobby Orr Brink.
Michigan
Luke Hughes
9/9/03, D, left shot, 6-2/185
NHL rights: New Jersey Devils
When it comes to the X-factor … as in, excitement ... look no further than the fourth selection from the 2021 NHL Draft. At 18, the youngest of the Hughes brothers — brothers are Quinn and Jack — the New Hampshire-born freshman (whose dad, Jim, was an assistant with the AHL’s Manchester Monarchs) is an elite talent. He’s always been a sublime skater with high-end puck skills, but he’s grown into his body considerably and his defensive acumen has improved. While he’ll never be considered a shutdown defender, his 17 goals set a Wolverines rookie record, and he’s already on an NHL signing watch after just one season in Ann Arbor.
Michael Pastujov
8/23/99, LW, left shot, 6-0/190
NHL rights: Undrafted free agent
The fifth-year senior is Michigan’s most experienced player, and the only one left from the 2019 team that made the NCAA regionals. There are other more skilled and productive forwards on the roster, but in a one-and-done environment, he has the intangibles to make a difference. Watch for the older brother of Anaheim Ducks prospect Sasha Pastujov to use his more than 160 career NCAA games to do more than his 25 points would indicate.
Minnesota
Ben Meyers
11/15/98, C, left shot, 5-11/194
NHL rights: Undrafted free agent
The 2022 Olympian and Hobey Baker finalist is the most sought-after free agent expected to hit the open market after the weekend. It was Meyers who stepped up in the clutch with the overtime strike that ended the UMass Minutemen’s season in Worcester two weeks ago. He was also in the state over the summer, attending Boston Bruins development camp. He left a lot of onlookers impressed with his skill, pace, smarts and ability to make a lot of plays in small areas. He won a USHL championship with the Fargo Force, was a point-per-game performer for the U.S. Olympic team, and captained the Golden Gophers in his best offensive season as a junior. Winning an NCAA title would be the perfect swan song. He will likely be in the NHL a week from now.
Brock Faber
8/22/02, D, right shot, 6-0/185
NHL rights: Los Angeles Kings
If Hughes is an electric presence on the blue line, then Faber is the counterbalance. Another Olympian, Faber is an outstanding four-way skater with speed, agility and elusiveness. He uses his mobility to cut off skating lanes and disrupt offensive rushes. He’s not a big point producer, nor does he have the kind of powerful shot that will scare opponents. He does get back on pucks quickly and wheels them out with his impressive feet or crisp outlets and long lead passes. He is one of many NHL prospects on a loaded Minnesota roster, but the 2020 second-rounder plays an important role for Bob Motzko and his staff.
Minnesota State (Mankato)
Dryden McKay
11/25/97, G, catches left, 6-0/185
NHL rights: Undrafted free agent
When it comes to consistent excellence as a collegiate goaltender, you won’t find many better than the Illinois senior. In four seasons with the Mavericks, he has never had a goals against average higher than 1.76 or a save percentage below 92 percent. His 112 wins are a school record, and he’s the third Hobey Baker finalist. Although he lacks ideal pro size, there is no denying the quickness, focus, competitiveness and mental toughness that NHL teams value. When he is on his game, the Mavericks are a tough out, as his 37-4 record this season shows.
Brendan Furry
7/8/98, C, left shot, 6-1/198
NHL rights: Undrafted free agent
Furry has one of the most compelling backstories of any player at the Frozen Four. The Toledo product won an Ohio high school championship but nearly gave up playing hockey to enroll at Bowling Green State as a regular student. An opportunity to play one more season of midget won him a spot with the USHL’s Omaha Lancers as an undrafted camp invitee. He went on to score 40 points as a rookie, earned the team captaincy and eventually ended up with a top college program after initially committing to Niagara University. He’s big, strong, heavy on pucks and has a knack for making plays, along with a sneaky release.
