The top-ranked UWSP men’s hockey team celebrates a berth in the Frozen Four following its 3-0 win over fourth-ranked and defending National Champion St. Norbert in a NCAA Division III National Quarterfinal at K.B. Willett Arena Saturday, March 16. (John Kemmeter photo)

Portage County Gazette

By John Kemmeter

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) will host the NCAA Division III Men’s Hockey Frozen Four next weekend, after the top-ranked UWSP men’s hockey team advanced to the Frozen Four with a win over fourth-ranked and defending National Champion St. Norbert Saturday, March 16.

The Pointers (27-0-2) scored one goal in the first period and two in the second to win 3-0 over St. Norbert (23-5-3) Saturday night in a NCAA Division III Tournament Quarterfinal at K.B. Willett Arena, to advance to the Frozen Four for the fifth time in six years.

About an hour after the game, UWSP learned that it would host the Frozen Four next weekend, as the NCAA selected one of the four remaining teams to serve as the host.

The Pointers will take on eighth-ranked Hobart (21-7-2) in a National Semifinal at 7 p.m. Friday at K.B. Willett Arena, while second-ranked SUNY-Geneseo (25-1-2) will face third-ranked Norwich (23-4-3) in the other National Semifinal at 3 p.m. Friday.

The winners will play in the Division III National Championship Game at K.B. Willett at 7 p.m. Saturday.

It will be the second time UWSP will host the Frozen Four at K.B. Willett Arena, after it was also held there in 1990, when the National Semifinals and National Championship Game were played with a two-game series and a 20-minute mini-game if necessary.

In 1990, the Pointers won 5-4 over Minnesota State-Mankato and tied 3-3 in the second game of the National Semifinals to advance to the National Championship, where UWSP won 10-1 over Plattsburgh State then lost 6-3 to Plattsburgh State, before the Pointers won 1-0 in the mini-game to claim the National Title.

Complete coverage will appear in this week’s issue of The Portage County Gazette.