Team Tampa Bay's Take with Joey Johnston: College Hockey Shines in Tampa Bay

College Hockey's Finest Are Ready to Show Off on the Amalie Arena Ice

Team Tampa Bay's Take with Joey Johnston: College Hockey Shines in Tampa Bay
April 6, 2023

By Joey Johnston

Tampa Bay area fans are accustomed to witnessing high-level hockey with the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning. But what about college hockey? The Frozen Four, which commences Thursday at Amalie Arena with the Minnesota-Boston University and Quinnipiac-Michigan semifinals, has brought one of its most balanced and powerful fields to downtown Tampa.

According to the Frozen Four regulars, it’s a show you won’t want to miss.

“It’s a cool mix of dreamers out there, some guys who already look ready for the NHL and a bunch who are playing like mad and hoping for that opportunity,’’ said ESPN anchor John Buccigross, a college hockey aficionado who’s working the telecasts. “The speed and action are very similar (to the NHL). It’s hockey — with all the elements of the game that are loved by hockey fans.

“But it’s college hockey. It’s your alma mater out there playing. Fans don’t get traded from their alma mater. It’s always their school. It creates this loyalty and commonality between an 80-year-old guy, a 50-year-old guy and a 30-year old guy who all went to the same school. There are bands and fight songs and all the things we love about college sports. It’s connection. It’s tradition.’’

And it’s getting bigger with each season. There are just 61 men’s hockey-playing schools in NCAA Division I, but the exposure is rising with more games carried on television and streaming platforms. Specialty publications and websites also feed the ravenous appetite for information.

“It’s a great product and the teams will put on a great show,’’ Quinnipiac coach Rand Pecknold said. “Our pace is maybe a little bit more frenetic. A little more ‘shot out of a cannon and let’s go.’ Pro hockey is more cerebral and guys pick apart what they want to do offensively and defensively.’’

“Many of our schools are in places where there aren’t any pro sports, so those fans love their programs,’’ BU coach Jay Pandolfo said. “You’re going to see a lot of guys who will get drafted into the NHL. You’re going to see a lot of excitement.’’

Marvin’s Silver Anniversary

Marvin the Martian — a stuffed doll replica of the Looney Toons cartoon character — is making its 25th consecutive appearance at the NCAA Men’s Frozen Four. Marvin was placed on the news conference dais and, as usual, oversaw the interviews.

Dave Fischer, a USA Hockey official who moderates the interviews, said Marvin is the “official media mascot’’ of the Frozen Four. Who’s to argue? Fischer said he received a note this week from retired Boston College coach Jerry York, who told him to “have fun in Tampa’’ and also to “say hello to Marvin.’’

The backstory: Fischer said he was part of a group working the 1999 Frozen Four in Anaheim, California. The group reposed to a Dave and Buster’s restaurant and earned a substantial amount of redeemable tickets from playing the games of chance. Fischer decided to claim a Marvin doll and he declared it the “official media mascot.’’ It’s actually Marvin 2 because the original Marvin was “kidnapped,’’ according to Fischer, but a replacement was quickly obtained.

By now, Frozen Four savvy coaches and players know to rub the head of Marvin for good luck or at least to say hello to the media-room mascot before their interviews commence. Marvin, which wears 25 years worth of media credentials around its neck, has an unmistakable presence.

“Hey, you’ve got to have a little fun, right?’’ Fischer said.

More Praise For Tampa Bay

The coaches and players for all four programs reiterated how excited they were to be in Tampa Bay. But the Minnesota Golden Gophers might be the most excited of all.

Minnesota coach Bob Motzko said his state has endured a rugged winter. In a few weeks at the American Hockey Coaches Association meetings, Motzko said he will “make a plea to have it here at least every third year … we’ll let a couple of other people have it.

“This is a destination that people want to go this time of year. They do such a fantastic job with this event. And this is a pretty special place to be. The sun’s not going to bother any of us. Let it come.’’

Florida Focus

Two players from the Michigan Wolverines are from Florida — forward Gavin Brindley (Estero) and defenseman Seamus Casey (Fort Myers).

“Growing up, I pretty much played every sport, but hockey was always my No. 1,’’ Brindley said. “I’d walk in the rink every day in flip-flops and shorts every single day. It was so much fun to come to the rink. I didn’t have to deal with snow or bad weather or anything like that.

“I was probably in the water every day. I was always doing something fun. Never a dull moment where you weren’t having fun. So all of that made coming to the rink even more fun.’’

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