Blackhawks defenseman prospect Ian Mitchell and Denver will play upstart Massachusetts in the second semifinal in the Frozen Four on Thursday at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.
Denver will play UMass at 7:30 p.m. after Minnesota Duluth faces off against Providence at 4 p.m. Both games will be televised on ESPN2. The winner of each semifinal game will meet in the national title game at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Mitchell, who was drafted in the second round in 2017 by the Blackhawks, hasn’t recorded a point in two tournament games, but he’s played a large role on the Pioneers’ blue line. The right-handed defenseman has six goals and 21 assists in 37 games during his sophomore season.
It’ll be Mitchell’s first Frozen Four appearance after the Pioneers were bounced by Ohio State in a regional final last year. Denver has won eight NCAA titles, with the last won coming in 2017. It’s the first time UMass has made the Frozen Four.
For UMD, it’s the third straight trip to the Frozen Four as the Bulldogs will look to claim their second straight national championship. The Friars are returning to the Frozen Four for the first time since winning the national championship in 2015.
Chicago connections
The first semifinal features two Illinois natives on each side for Minnesota Duluth and Providence. The second semifinal will have seven former Chicago Steel players.
Providence
F, Jack Dugan (2017 fifth-rounder by Golden Knights)
F, Brandon Duhaime (2016 fourth-rounder by Wild)
F, Greg Printz
F, Jason O’Neill
D, Ben Mirageas (2017 third-rounder by Islanders)
Minnesota Duluth
F, Koby Bender
Assistant coach Adam Krause
Denver
D, Erich Fear (Winnetka)
G, Michael Corson (Darien)
UMass
F, Brett Boeing (Barrington)
D, Jake McLaughlin (Hinsdale)
How to watch
All games are streaming live on the WatchESPN app.
Thursday, April 11
Semifinal 1: Minnesota-Duluth vs. Providence, 4 p.m., ESPN2
Semifinal 2: Denver vs. UMass, 7:30 p.m., ESPN2
Saturday, April 13
Championship: Semifinal winner 1 vs. Semifinal winner 2, 7 p.m. ESPN2