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April 12, 2025 12 mins
It's national championship day in St. Louis as Boston University and Western Michigan are set to square for the national title beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET. The USCHO Weekend Review Crew - Ed Trefzger, Jim Connelly and Derek Schooley - are joined by Arizona State coach Greg Powers to break down the final and try to figure out what each team needs to do to have an edge in this game.
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Episode Transcript

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Speaker 1 (00:01):
It's Championship Saturday at the twenty twenty five Frozen Four.
It all starts out in the offseason practices, off vice captains, practices, exhibitions,
the regular season, the league championships, and the NCAA tournament,
and it all culminates in a day like today, Boston

(00:23):
University Western Michigan for the National Championship. I'm met trefs girl,
alongside my usccho dot com colleague Jim Connolly, also Robert
Morris University head coach Derek Scooley and Arizona State University
head coach Greg Powers.

Speaker 2 (00:41):
Well, let's set the stage in the National Championship game.
What's at stake here? Obviously we know for Western Michigan,
first National championship and to get in their first Frozen
four appearance, that would be really impressive. For Boston University,
they're going for number six. But for me, it's spent
a long time in two thousand and nine the last
time they won the championship. So, if you're one of
the players, you're in one of these locker rooms right now,

(01:03):
are you even worried about what's at stake for you
and your school? You're just thinking more about a game schools.

Speaker 3 (01:09):
I think, right now, you got to keep it as
as you did all year. It's just about a game
with large circumstances and a large celebration. So I really
believe that. You know, they're just they're gonna be a
little nervous, but it's they got to treat it like
another game.

Speaker 2 (01:23):
Greg as a coach, does the message changes anything change here?

Speaker 4 (01:27):
No, it can't. It can't. I mean these teams, teams
are they're here for a reason, right they're they're they're
they're one game away from being a national champion. And
what they do clearly has worked and it is working well.
And No, I think they just have to focus on
on themselves and and play to their identities, and that's
got to be the message.

Speaker 2 (01:44):
I want to talk about experience, and you hear the
discussion of experience all the time in these tournaments. And yes,
I get it, Western Michigan hasn't been here. They don't
want up experience. But can anybody say Boston University has experience? Yes,
they've been there in this game towenty fifteen, the last
time they've been to a few frozen fours because second three.
But nobody's played in this game on that roster. Does

(02:07):
that really matter?

Speaker 4 (02:09):
Frag No, I don't think it matters. No. I mean
these kids on bus, they played on big stage, you know,
whether it's the bean Pot, you know, Hockey East Tournament,
obviously throughout the NCAA tournament.

Speaker 3 (02:18):
They're a game away, you.

Speaker 4 (02:19):
Know, and the stage was big on on Thursday against
Penn State and they performed really well. So I don't
think that matters schools.

Speaker 2 (02:27):
Does Pat first Wilder have some background in his coaching
career that he can draw on tonight.

Speaker 3 (02:31):
Oh, He's been in a lot of different places at
high levels. He coached in the National Hockey League. So
I mean these are games that if you watch them
behind the bench, I thought it was really calm the
other night, especially when there was a lot of chants
for things to go sideways. He was very calm. He
was very talkative on the bench. I don't think that
there's really anything that he's got to draw from other

(02:52):
than just coaching the way he's coached. The one thing
I will say is I don't think I'll be able
to play nine forwards like he did the other time.

Speaker 2 (02:57):
To go a little deeper, Yeah, take a break here.
After the break we're gonna talk about the perfect game.
We asked both teams yesterday what it takes to play
the perfect game to win a championship. Tonight, kind out
what they said after this US Echo live at the
pros Or four.

Speaker 5 (03:17):
I'm Cold Kawfield and I played college hockey.

Speaker 6 (03:20):
I'm Adam Fox and I played college hockey.

Speaker 5 (03:24):
I'm Jake Denzel and I played college hockey. I'm cal
mccarr and I played college hockey.

Speaker 4 (03:42):
Whether you're a fan or a player, nothing compares to
college hockey.

Speaker 6 (03:48):
I would say there's no such thing as a perfect game,
but us playing to the best of our ability would
be us just playing north. So we preach that. But
what that is is that's getting the puck going to
the other opponents end as quick as possible, not spending
a ton of time in our own zone, defending quickly,
you know, being hard on their top players and they

(04:10):
have a big goalie, So getting pucks and bodies and
traffic to the net. You know, in these in these
type playoff games, sometimes the the goals aren't the prettiest.
I know we had some nice shots last night, but
you know, just uh getting pucks net when possible and
finishing our our chances.

Speaker 7 (04:28):
I think we definitely need to use our speed in
our skating. We're a really skilled team, a lot of
fast players. So I think when we're able to you know,
be good in transition and you know, we're making plays
in the offensive zone, I think that's you know, tough
to contain. And I think that's when we're at our best.
And obviously, you know, Westerns a heavier team, a more
structured team. So I think if we can blend that,

(04:50):
you know, that skill and speed game and with a
structured and physical game as well, similar to Cornell, you know,
I think we'll get a good result.

Speaker 1 (04:59):
That's Grant Slakinski and also Ryan Green talking about what
would be a perfect game. I guess we really don't
see a perfect game, but we may see an ideal
game for a team.

Speaker 3 (05:09):
Yeah, everybody's got goals. Everybody has a list of goals
that they want to accomplish in each game, and usually
if you hit a lot of them, you're gonna have success.
That's as close as you can get to perfect games,
because a perfect game, you're not gonna win every faceof
You're gonna lose a face off total for a period.
You might get out attempted, you might get out blocked.
There's never such thing as a perfect game. I think

(05:29):
it means more to getting to your identity, playing the
way you want to play, and playing how you feel
comfortable in playing that.

Speaker 2 (05:36):
Slukinsky said, defend quickly, Greg, What does defending quickly mean?

Speaker 4 (05:41):
Well, it's really you know, for the most part, you
know here pat firstwhile say their identity is defending with
the puck. Right, So Western wants the puck. They're a
possession team. They like to score. That's how he gets
his guys to defend quickly because they defend with the puck.
So to me, the team that obviously is going to
win the possession game tonight is probably gonna be a

(06:01):
team that comes out of top.

Speaker 2 (06:03):
It was interesting schools. You heard Green say we have
to blend skill and a physical game. He feels that
there's a need to match something that Western Michigan brings
in the physical game.

Speaker 3 (06:14):
And that's one thing I would say might have been
a lot of their weaknesses is they're not a real
hard physical team. Western's big, they're strong, they were good
at the lines. They're going to have to be really
good at the lines. Tonight. No turnovers because we talked
about the transition. But I think it's gonna be a
little bit of a banging game. It was a little
tight checking. I think you're gonna see some nerves, but
I think the best way to get through nerves right

(06:35):
off the bat get ahead or give ahead.

Speaker 2 (06:37):
Gray, you played this Western Michigan team. Take with your
Arizona's state club. How physical are they? How heavy can
they play? They're just playing street lines.

Speaker 4 (06:46):
They're very direct and very deliberate in everything that they do.
They go back for pucks, they like the rimpucks out
the weak side. They're very connected, and they play fast.
So you know, they're just a hell of a team.
And they have a really good freshman goaltender. Both teams
do tonight, so that's what to me. It's gonna be
really interesting which freshman goalie is gonna gonna show up

(07:08):
and I'll play the other one?

Speaker 6 (07:09):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (07:10):
How much can nerves come in for these goaltenders?

Speaker 1 (07:13):
A lot?

Speaker 3 (07:14):
Quite a bit.

Speaker 4 (07:15):
I mean, you have one kid that was in Omaha
and the USHL two and a half months ago, right
and now he's playing in the National Championship game. So
i'd imagine there's probably gonna be some nerves there with
with Hampton Silkinski, you know, he's been at the World
Junior and and and it has a little bit more
experience at this level starting the season. So, but two
freshman goalies, you know, in the same game in the

(07:35):
National Championship.

Speaker 2 (07:36):
It's rare. We're gonna step aside again, We're gonna hear
from the coaches and what each coach says. The other
team does well when us eh olive. But the pros
and four continues next.

Speaker 5 (07:53):
I'm Cold Kawfield and I played college hockey.

Speaker 6 (07:57):
I'm Adam Fox and I played college hockey.

Speaker 5 (08:00):
I'm Jake Denzel and I played college hockey. I'm Kel
mccarr and I played college doc.

Speaker 4 (08:18):
Whether you're a fan or a player, nothing compared to
college hockey.

Speaker 8 (08:25):
Well, I pre scouted the bu for years. They were
called the Boston Bruins in their style of play is
exactly what Boston did right and and certainly coach Pan
Dolph has brought that style down and somewhat unique to college.
It's pretty popular in the NHL, but there's a lot
of similarities there, and so we certainly have a good
idea what they're trying to accomplish. We're gonna try to

(08:47):
be you know what, points offiss on what we try
to do every day without changing our style of play
at all.

Speaker 9 (08:55):
I mean, I obviously watched that whole game last night.
We had a lot of time sitting there waiting our
game to start. Yeah, they've had a terrific season that
they're a really good team. They're a heavy team. They
play with structure, they want to get pucks behind you,
play below the goal line. They have some bigger bodies,
they'll get to your net. Hockey East is a you know,

(09:17):
obviously had a great year as a league. Some really
good teams. A lot of different styles of teams. I
don't know if there's one. U mass Amherst maybe is
a little bit similar where they're heavy on pucks, they
get to your net. They do a good job of
keeping you away from their net. So I think they're

(09:38):
they're a team that reminds me a little bit of Western,
but you know, Western plays a pro style game. They're
above the puck, they put pucks behind you. They do
a really good job.

Speaker 2 (09:50):
That's Pat Firsweiler and Japannedoff giving their thoughts and you
listen to both coaches, they're really picturing the other team
as an NHL opponent. They talk about the pro style
that each team plays. Is that what you see out there, schools.

Speaker 3 (10:06):
I think that you've obviously really scouted these teams over
the last twenty four hours. They're going to pick apart
their strengths and weaknesses, and obviously big, heavy, strong puck protection.
That's the one thing I thought Western didn't did a
great job of is puck protecting and wearing them down.
You need to wear their defense down and get up
blow the goal lines. And that's like you said, Greg

(10:27):
said earlier, straight lines, and that's how these teams play.

Speaker 2 (10:30):
Pet First, Wiley talked about the NCCHC said that there's
plenty of offensive talent. He knows that BU has some guns,
but he sees guns in that league every night. This
is not going to be a matchup that over over matches.

Speaker 4 (10:43):
No, No, not at all, not at all. I think
it's going to be like I said, at a lot
of girth in meat and straight lines by Western. But
but the thing is BU has a lot of high
end skill, but they have some big boys. It's a
big d They can defend well with great sticks. Kids
like the chance up front. They can match Western's physicality,
so it's gonna be a great matchup, all.

Speaker 2 (11:04):
Right, Ed, it's that time take us through the picks.
You you you run us through. I think we already
know one, but you.

Speaker 8 (11:10):
Yeah, yeah, boy.

Speaker 1 (11:12):
You can make arguments both ways so easily. But we
might as well get this out of the way. Let's
start with Derek. What's your quick for today? Four?

Speaker 3 (11:20):
One? Uh horse the team in white and brown. Yeah
for one. That that means a national championship.

Speaker 1 (11:33):
Let's go to Greg on this.

Speaker 4 (11:34):
I'm gonna take Western Michigan six to one.

Speaker 2 (11:36):
Wow, six one, that's pretty DMin. I Actually I've been
sticking with BU since this tournament started, probably no surprise
the hockey's homer. I'll stick with Boston University. I think
it's gonna be close. I feel like this one might
even go to overtime.

Speaker 5 (11:49):
Three to two.

Speaker 1 (11:51):
I'm gonna I've gotta go with Western Michigan. And for me,
the intended intangible in that old thing for Western is
their grit. They just seem to have that little extra
edge that we've seen in the playoffs. So I like them,
but I think maybe something like four to two.

Speaker 3 (12:09):
Well, I will tell you this. I saw a Boston
University fan on the street. He said, oh my god,
we are being out numbered two to three to four
to one. Well, Kalamazoo. All of Kalamazoo's in Saint Louis
right now.

Speaker 1 (12:20):
As we all know, it's a very easy drive from
kalama Zoo to Saint Louis.

Speaker 3 (12:24):
Chat.

Speaker 1 (12:24):
Well, with that, we're going to wrap things up for
USCCHO live at the Frozen four. Coming up this evening,
we'll recap the championship game. It's going to be the
National Championship Game Western Michigan and Boston University seven thirty
pm Eastern Time, six thirty locally. We hope you enjoy
it on ESPN two for Jim Connolly, for Derek Schooley,

(12:48):
for Greg Powers, I'm Ed Trebsker. Follow our coverage at
usccho dot com.
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