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Get to know your Frozen Four finalists

Ben Roethlisberger

FILE - In this Jan. 3, 2010 file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is shown on the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins in Miami. Authorities in Georgia say Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is being investigated in an allegation of sexual assault. Police say the incident occurred early Friday, March 5, 2010, in a nightclub in Milledgeville, about 85 miles southeast of Atlanta. The player owns a home nearby. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

AP

With Miami of Ohio knocking off Michigan in double overtime after a dubiously early whistle prevented a goal for the Wolverines, the NCAA Frozen Four is set to go on April 8. Here are the two games that will be played that Thursday. And just for fun, I will scour the Internet to give you a few fun (and a few not-so-fun) facts about each school. I’m sure Brandon will fill you in later on, you know, actually relevant stuff. Miami of Ohio

  • Ben Roethlisberger went there. He should be an honorary Finn based on the sheer difficulty of spelling his last name. If nothing else, he could at least share a beer or two with Jamie Langenbrunner (not a Finn, just another guy with a challenging last name, mind you.)
  • You can say “I went to school in Oxford” and not totally be lying. Just make sure to say “Oxford” a lot louder than “Ohio.”
  • Last year was their first appearance in the Frozen Four. They lost in the championship game to Boston University.
  • Dan Boyle leads the list of Redhawks (Redhawks? Really?) who went on to have NHL careers.
  • If you root based on emotional factors, it’s hard to top “Win it for Burkie.” (Brendan Burke, son of Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke, died in a car accident shortly after telling the world that he was gay. Just a heartbreaking story.)

vs. Boston College

  • BC’s hockey history goes way back. They’re definitely a “hockey factory” as their squads tend to be loaded with draft picks.
  • Former BC Eagles that are current NHL players include Bill Guerin, Brian Gionta and Rob Scuderi.
  • Doug Flutie threw that awesome Hail Mary TD pass playing for BC. In other news, he is short.

***

Wisconsin

  • They’ve won six national championships.
  • Ron Dayne played for their football team and then drew my ire during his brief and horrible career as a New York Giant. Seriously, he stunk.
  • I am obligated by the Board of Lazy Joking to mention something about cheese here.

vs. RIT

  • Apparently RIT stands for “Rochester Institute of Technology.” I can’t lie to you, I was really pulling for “Rhode Island Tech.” I guess we can’t always get what we want.
  • You know, there just aren’t enough teams with tigers as their mascots. It always seems to be some ultra-specific regional wildcat but tigers are super cool. (This concludes the scientific and objective part of the post.)
  • Cameron Burt is supposed to be really good. If his teammates refuse to call him Cameron Burt Reynolds, then I will immediately be forced to root for Wisconsin. I am a man of twisted and nonsensical principles.
  • I genuinely have nothing else to say about RIT. I apologize for my ignorance.

So, there’s a few fun facts for each game. Miami of Ohio vs. Boston College will take place at 8 PM ET while Wisconsin vs. RIT will take place at 5 PM ET on Thursday, April 8. If you’ve never had the chance to watch college hockey, you should definitely give it a chance. Besides, you might see the next Martin St. Louis or Paul Kariya or Marty Turco.