2008 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament

The 2008 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament involved 16 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college ice hockey. The tournament began on March 28, 2008, and ended with the championship game on April 12.^[1]

Boston College, coached by Jerry York, won its third national title with a 4–1 victory in the championship game over Notre Dame, coached by Jeff Jackson.^[2]

Nathan Gerbe, junior forward for Boston College, scored five goals in the final two games and was named the Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player.^[3]

This was the first tournament in 47 years to have two teams from the same conference play in the opening round. This occurred due to the glut of WCHA teams that received 2nd- and 3rd-seeds in the regional divisions.

Tournament procedure

The NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey Championship is a single-elimination tournament featuring 16 teams representing all six Division I conferences in the nation. The Championship Committee seeds the entire field from 1 to 16 within four regionals of 4 teams. The winners of the six Division I conference championships receive automatic bids to participate in the NCAA Championship.

In setting up the tournament, the Championship Committee seeks to ensure "competitive equity, financial success and likelihood of playoff-type atmosphere at each regional site." A team serving as the host of a regional is placed within that regional. The top four teams are assigned overall seeds and placed within the bracket such that the national semifinals will feature the No. 1 seed versus the No. 4 seed and the No. 2 seed versus the No. 3 seed should the top four teams win their respective regional finals. Number 1 seeds are also placed as close to their home site as possible, with the No. 1 seed receiving first preference. Conference matchups are avoided in the first round; should five or more teams from one conference make the tournament, this guideline may be disregarded in favor of preserving the bracket's integrity.^[4]

The four regionals are officially named after their geographic areas. The following were the sites for the 2008 regionals:^[1]

March 28 and 29

East Regional, Times Union Center - Albany, New York (Hosts: ECAC Hockey and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute)

West Regional, Broadmoor World Arena - Colorado Springs, Colorado (Hosts: Colorado College and the Colorado Springs Sports Commission)

March 29 and 30

Midwest Regional, Kohl Center - Madison, Wisconsin (Host: University of Wisconsin–Madison)

Northeast Regional, DCU Center - Worcester, Massachusetts (Host: College of the Holy Cross)

Each regional winner advanced to the Frozen Four:^[1]

April 10 and 12

Pepsi Center - Denver, Colorado (Hosts: University of Denver and the Metro Denver Sports Commission)

Qualifying teams

The at-large bids, along with the seeding for each team in the tournament, were announced on Sunday, March 23.^[5] Six teams from the WCHA qualified for the tournament, a record for the number of teams from one conference.^[6]

East Regional – Albany					Northeast Regional – Worcester
Seed	School	Conference	Record	Berth Type	Seed	School	Conference	Record	Berth Type
1	Michigan (1)	CCHA	31–5–4	Tournament champion	1	Miami (2)	CCHA	32–7–1	At-Large Bid
2	St. Cloud State	WCHA	19–15–5	At-Large Bid	2	Boston College	Hockey East	21–11–8	Tournament Champion
3	Clarkson	ECAC	21–12–4	At-Large Bid	3	Minnesota	WCHA	19–16–9	At-Large Bid
4	Niagara	CHA	22–10–4	Tournament champion	4	Air Force	Atlantic Hockey	21–11–6	Tournament Champion
West Regional – Colorado Springs					Midwest Regional – Madison
Seed	School	Conference	Record	Berth Type	Seed	School	Conference	Record	Berth Type
1	New Hampshire (4)	Hockey East	25–9–3	At-Large Bid	1	North Dakota (3)	WCHA	26–10–4	At-Large Bid
2	Colorado College	WCHA	28–11–1	At-Large Bid	2	Denver	WCHA	26–13–1	Tournament champion
3	Michigan State	CCHA	24–11–5	At-Large Bid	3	Wisconsin	WCHA	15–16–7	At-Large Bid
4	Notre Dame	CCHA	24–15–4	At-Large Bid	4	Princeton	ECAC	21–13–0	Tournament champion

Brackets

The number in parentheses denotes overall seed in the tournament.

Frozen Four – Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado

	National semifinals[19][20] April 10					National Championship[21] April 12
	E1	Michigan (1)	4
	W4	Notre Dame	5*
						W4	Notre Dame	1
						NE2	Boston College	4
	NE2	Boston College	6
	MW1	North Dakota (3)	1

(*) denotes overtime period(s).

Results

East Region – Albany, New York

Regional semifinal

March 28, 2008 7:30 pm

(1) Michigan

5 – 1 (0–0, 2–0, 3–1)

(4) Niagara

Times Union Center – Albany, New York Attendance: 4,175

Game reference
	Billy Sauer	Goalies	Juliano Pagliero	Referee: Chip McDonald Linesmen: Rich Patry Dave Brown
	Max Pacioretty (15) (Kolarik, Palushaj) – PP – 20:55 1–0 Kevin Porter (29) (Kolarik, Pacioretty) – GW – 29:35 2–0 Kevin Porter (30) (Kolarik, Llewellyn) – 48:55 3–0 Kevin Porter (31) (Kolarik, Palushaj) – PP – 51:02 4–0 4–1 55:50 – Matt Caruana (17) (Rocco) Kevin Porter (32) (Pacioretty, Kolarik) – EN – 58:32 5–1
	6 min	Penalties	10 min
	39	Shots	17

March 28, 2008 4:00 pm

(2) St. Cloud State

1 – 2 (0–0, 1–1, 0–1)

(3) Clarkson

Times Union Center – Albany, New York Attendance: 4,175

Game reference
	Jase Weslosky	Goalies	David Leggio	Referee: Tim Benedetto Linesmen: Chris Frederico Chris Aughe
	Garrett Raboin (3) (Roe, Hartman) – 24:08 1–0 1–1 34:15 – David Cayer (10) (Rufenach, Mason) 1–2 44:58 – Shea Guthrie (9) (Clitsome)
	10 min	Penalties	14 min
	25	Shots	40

Regional Final

March 29, 2008 7:00 pm

(1) Michigan

2 – 0 (1–0, 0–0, 1–0)

(3) Clarkson

Times Union Center – Albany, New York Attendance: 4,301

Game reference
	Billy Sauer	Goalies	David Leggio	Referee: Tim Benedetto Linesmen: Chris Frederico Chris Aughe
	Aaron Palushaj (10) (Porter, Mitera) – GW PP – 14:23 1–0 Kevin Porter (33) (Kolarik, Pacioretty) – 40:26 2–0
	20 min	Penalties	18 min
	32	Shots	27

Northeast Region – Worcester, Massachusetts

Regional semifinal

March 29, 2008 4:00 pm

(1) Miami

3 – 2 (OT) (1–0, 0–2, 1–0, 1–0)

(4) Air Force

DCU Center – Worcester, Massachusetts Attendance: 7,357

Game reference
	Jeff Zatkoff	Goalies	Andrew Volkening	Referee: Derek Shepherd Linesmen: Brad Shepherd CJ Beaurline
	Tommy Wingels (15) (Camper, Jones) – 00:19 1–0 1–1 23:21 – Derrick Burnett (7) (Hajner, Fairchild) 1–2 28:34 – Josh Print (1) (Page, Kozlak) Carter Camper (15) (Martinez, Cannone) – 53:44 2–2 Justin Mercier (25) (unassisted) – 75:21 3–2
	2 min	Penalties	10 min
	33	Shots	25

March 29, 2008 7:51 pm

(2) Boston College

5 – 2 (1–0, 1–1, 3–1)

(3) Minnesota

DCU Center – Worcester, Massachusetts Attendance: 7,357

Game reference
	John Muse	Goalies	Alex Kangas	Referee: Brian Aaron Linesmen: Paul Tunison Brent Gawlik
	Ben Smith (22) (Gerbe, Ferriero) – 06:33 1–0 1–1 23:01 – Mike Howe (7) (Fischer, Peltier) Benn Ferriero (17) (Whitney, Filangieri) – 27:58 2–1 Pat Gannon (6) (Greene, Price) – GW – 44:25 3–1 Joe Whitney (9) (Ferriero) – 48:46 4–1 4–2 56:33 – PP EA – Ben Gordon (7) (Wheeler, Howe) Nathan Gerbe (29) (Gibbons) – EN – 59:43 5–2
	12 min	Penalties	12 min
	32	Shots	33

Regional Final

March 30, 2008 4:30 pm

(1) Miami

3 – 4 (OT) (1–0, 1–3, 1–0, 0–1)

(2) Boston College

DCU Center – Worcester, Massachusetts Attendance: 5,911

Game reference
	Jeff Zatkoff	Goalies	John Muse	Referee: Derek Shepherd Linesmen: Brad Shepherd CJ Beaurline
	Jarod Palmer (10) (Martinez, Roeder) – 01:30 1–0 Nino Musitelli (9) (Kaufman) – 28:32 2–0 2–1 36:48 – Nick Petrecki (15) (Gannon, Price) 2–2 37:02 – Nathan Gerbe (12) (Gibbons) 2–3 38:46 – Ben Smith (23) (Bertram) Ryan Jones (31) (Camper) – 49:02 3–3 3–4 72:12 – GW – Joe Whitney (10) (Bertram, Gannon)
	10 min	Penalties	12 min
	37	Shots	42

Midwest Region – Madison, Wisconsin

Regional semifinal

March 29, 2008 2:00 pm

(1) North Dakota

5 – 1 (1–0, 1–0, 3–1)

(4) Princeton

Kohl Center - Madison, Wisconsin Attendance: 9,968

Game reference
	Jean-Philippe Lamoureux	Goalies	Zane Kalemba	Referee: Jeff Bunyon Linesmen: Tim Low Chris Low
	Andrew Kozek (17) (Genoway, Marto) – PP – 13:39 1–0 Ryan Duncan (15) (Oshie, Watkins) – GW – 36:18 2–0 Ryan Duncan (16) (Martens, Genoway) – PP – 48:13 3–0 Ryan Duncan (17) (Oshie) – 54:48 4–0 Chay Genoway (8) (unassisted) – SH EN – 56:28 5–0 5–1 59:27 – Cam MacIntyre (13) (Jubinville)
	6 min	Penalties	10 min
	18	Shots	39

March 29, 2008 5:30 pm

(2) Denver

2 – 6 (0–1, 1–1, 1–4)

(3) Wisconsin

Kohl Center - Madison, Wisconsin Attendance: 9,968

Game reference
	Peter Mannino	Goalies	Shane Connelly	Referee: Matt Shegos Linesmen: Tony Molina Bruce Vida, Jr.
	0–1 08:59 – Michael Davies (12) (McBain, Geoffrion) 0–2 28:15 – PP – Jamie McBain (4) (Engel, Turris) Dustin Jackson (12) (Martin, Ruegsegger) – PP – 36:40 1–2 1–3 49:19 – GW – Cody Goloubef (3) (Street) 1–4 50:19 – John Mitchell (8) (Grotting) Tom May (14) (Martin, Maiani) – 51:47 2–4 2–5 54:38 – Michael Davies (13) (Drewiske) 2–6 57:14 – EN – Davis Drewiske (5) (Davies)
	16 min	Penalties	18 min
	32	Shots	26

Regional Final

March 30, 2008 6:00 pm

(1) North Dakota

3 – 2 (OT) (0–0, 0–2, 2–0, 1–0)

(3) Wisconsin

Kohl Center - Madison, Wisconsin Attendance: 9,816

Game reference
	Jean-Philippe Lamoureux	Goalies	Shane Connelly	Referee: Matt Shegos Linesmen: Tony Molina Bruce Vida, Jr.
	0–1 25:38 – Jamie McBain (5) (Turris, Drewiske) 0–2 39:21 – PP – Cody Goloubef (4) (Johnson, Klubertanz) Rylan Kaip (8) (Frattin, Watkins) – 43:33 1–2 Ryan Duncan (18) (Oshie) – 44:20 2–2 Andrew Kozek (18) (Bina, Oshie) – GW – 61:47 3–2
	10 min	Penalties	8 min
	31	Shots	43

West Region – Colorado Springs, Colorado

Regional semifinal

March 28, 2008 4:30 pm

(1) New Hampshire

3 – 7 (2–2, 1–2, 0–3)

(4) Notre Dame

Broadmoor World Arena - Colorado Springs, Colorado Attendance: 6,634

Game reference
	Kevin Regan	Goalies	Jordan Pearce	Referee: Todd Anderson Linesmen: Butch Mousseaux Tim Swiader
	Jerry Pollastrone (14) (van Riemsdyk) – 01:04 1–0 1–1 02:23 – PP – Ian Cole (6) (Ryan, Van Guilder) Jerry Pollastrone (15) (Flaishans, van Riemsdyk) – 05:41 2–1 2–2 17:25 – PP – Kyle Lawson (5) (Van Guilder, Thang) 2–3 22:39 – Christian Hanson (11) (Carlin, Sheahan) 2–4 29:53 – Dan Kissel (9) (unassisted) Phil DeSimone (3) (Flaishans, van Riemsdyk) – EA – 33:09 3–4 3–5 40:23 – Ryan Thang (17) (Van Guilder) 3–6 56:54 – EN – Kevin Deeth (17) (Thang) 3–7 57:54 – EN – Christian Hanson (12) (Regan, Blatchford)
	27 min	Penalties	10 min
	35	Shots	34

March 28, 2008 8:00 pm

(2) Colorado College

1 – 3 (0–0, 0–3, 1–0)

(3) Michigan State

Broadmoor World Arena - Colorado Springs, Colorado Attendance: 6,287

Game reference
	Richard Bachman	Goalies	Jeff Lerg	Referee: John Gravallese Linesmen: Kevin Shea Jack Millea
	0–1 29:27 – PP – Tim Kennedy (20) (Petry, Abdelkader) 0–2 38:03 – GW PP – Jeff Dunne (ice hockey)Jeff Dunne (3) (B. Lerg, Crowder) 0–3 39:53 – Chris Mueller (13) (Kennedy, Abdelkader) Derek Patrosso (5) (Vlassopoulos) – 52:07 1–3
	16 min	Penalties	14 min
	42	Shots	23

Regional Final

March 29, 2008 8:00 pm

(3) Michigan State

1 – 3 (0–0, 1–1, 0–2)

(4) Notre Dame

Broadmoor World Arena - Colorado Springs, Colorado Attendance: 5,836

Game reference
	Jeff Lerg	Goalies	Jordan Pearce	Referee: Peter Feola Linesmen: Bill Bredin Scott Whittemore
	0–1 22:43 – Christian Hanson (13) (Regan) Justin Abdelkader (20) (Kennedy, Crowder) – 29:05 1–1 1–2 54:06 – GW – Mark Van Guilder (12) (Ryan) 1–3 55:20 – Teddy Ruth (2) (White, Hanson)
	10 min	Penalties	8 min
	21	Shots	26

Frozen Four – Denver, Colorado

Semifinal

April 10, 2008 7:30 pm

(E1) Michigan

4 – 5 (OT) (0–3, 2–0, 2–1, 0–1)

(W4) Notre Dame

Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado Attendance: 18,544

Game reference
	Billy Sauer (out 20:00) Bryan Hogan (in 20:00)	Goalies	Jordan Pearce	Referee: Todd Anderson Linesmen: Butch Mousseaux Tim Swiader
	0–1 05:00 – Calle Ridderwall (4) (White) 0–2 05:42 – Mark Van Guilder (24) (Thang, Sheahan) 0–3 19:25 – SH – Ryan Thang (18) (unassisted) Chad Kolarik (29) (Porter, Hogan) – 28:48 1–3 Matt Rust (12) (Palushaj, Hagelin) – 29:03 2–3 Chad Kolarik (30) (Pacioretty, Palushaj) – PP – 42:16 3–3 3–4 51:30 – Kevin Deeth (10) (Kissel, Cole) Carl Hagelin (11) (Rust, Palushaj) – 54:39 4–4 4–5 65:44 – GW – Calle Ridderwall (24) (VeNard, White)
	6 min	Penalties	10 min
	33	Shots	29

April 10, 2008 4:00 pm

(MW1) North Dakota

1 – 6 (0–4, 0–2, 1–0)

(NE2) Boston College

Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado Attendance: 18,543

Game reference
	Jean-Philippe Lamoureux	Goalies	John Muse	Referee: Matt Sheegos Linesmen: Brent Gaulik Bruce Vida
	0–1 07:08 – Andrew Orpik (7) (Kucharski) 0–2 13:14 – Nathan Gerbe (31) (unassisted) 0–3 15:13 – Nathan Gerbe (32) (Gibbons, Sneep) 0–4 19:45 – Dan Bertram (10) (Gannon) 0–5 26:37 – Nathan Gerbe (33) (Smith, Bertram) 0–6 31:58 – Ben Smith (24) (Gerbe, Gibbons) Jake Marto (2) (Watkins) – 58:44 1–6
	18 min	Penalties	24 min
	30	Shots	27

National Championship – Denver, Colorado

April 12, 2008 8:00 pm

(NE2) Boston College

4 – 1 (0–0, 3–1, 1–0)

(W4) Notre Dame

Pepsi Center – Denver, Colorado Attendance: 18,632

Game reference
				Referee: Todd Anderson Linesmen: Tim Swiader Butch Mousseaux

Scoring summary
Period	Team	Goal	Assist(s)	Time	Score
1st	None
2nd	BC	Nathan Gerbe (34)	Gibbons and Smith	22:23	1–0 BC
	BC	Nathan Gerbe (35) – GW PP	Smith and Bertram	25:37	2–0 BC
	BC	Joe Whitney (11) – PP	Gerbe and Ferriero	28:11	3–0 BC
	ND	Kevin Deeth (11)	Lawson and Cole	29:07	3–1 BC
3rd	BC	Ben Smith (25)	Gerbe and Gibbons	45:31	4–1 BC
Penalty summary
Period	Team	Player	Penalty	Time	PIM
1st	BC	Kyle Kucharski	Holding the Stick	08:41	2:00
	BC	Matt Greene	Cross-Checking	14:33	2:00
	ND	Brock Sheahan	Roughing	17:02	2:00
	BC	Anthony Aiello	Tripping	18:24	2:00
2nd	BC	Andrew Orpik	Slashing	22:51	2:00
	ND	Ryan Thang	Interference	24:58	2:00
	ND	Dan VeNard	Cross-Checking	26:29	2:00
	ND	Dan Kissel	Hooking	27:27	2:00
	BC	Kyle Kucharski	Holding	27:32	2:00
	ND	Dan VeNard	High-Sticking	36:49	2:00
3rd	BC	Nick Petrecki	Elbowing	40:08	2:00
	BC	Matt Price	Obstruction Tripping	48:05	2:00
	BC	Matt Greene	Hooking	49:54	2:00

Record by conference

Conference	# of Bids	Record	Win %	Regional Finals	Frozen Four	Championship Game	Champions
WCHA	6	3–6	.333	2	1	-	-
CCHA	4	7–4	.636	4	2	1	-
ECAC Hockey	2	1–2	.333	1	-	-	-
Hockey East	2	4–1	.800	1	1	1	1
Atlantic Hockey	1	0–1	.000	-	-	-	-
CHA	1	0–1	.000	-	-	-	-

All-Tournament team

^[22]

Frozen Four

• G: John Muse (Boston College)
• D: Michael Brennan (Boston College)
• D: Kyle Lawson (Notre Dame)
• F: Kevin Deeth (Notre Dame)
• F: Nathan Gerbe* (Boston College)
• F: Ben Smith (Boston College)

* Most Outstanding Player(s)^[23]

References

General

• "2008–09 Men's Ice Hockey Records" (PDF). NCAA. 2008. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved March 8, 2009.

Specific