Eric Hartzell – McKeen's Hockey

Eric Hartzell and Quinnipac Devoured by Bulldogs

McKeen's Hockey — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 14:41:21 +0000

No matter who I asked or when I asked it, every scout told me the same thing; Quinnipiac senior goaltender Eric Hartzell was the best puck-stopper in the NCAA this season.

Heading into Saturday night's Championship game against the Yale Bulldogs, Eric had a 30-6-5 record with a 1.53 goals-against average, .934 save percentage, and six shutouts.

But after a lazy finish to the second period, which led to the game's first goal with just 3.5 seconds remaining, Hartzell allowed an even weaker goal early in the third period, and that's all Jeff Malcolm and Yale would need to complete the storybook championship victory. They devoured Quinnipiac by a score of 4-0, winning their first-ever NCAA Men's Ice Hockey title.

Malcolm stopped all 36 shots he faced and completed the rare shutout on his 24th birthday.

*Although this scouting report focuses solely on Hartzell, please don't consider it as a slight against Malcolm. What he accomplished in the tournament was sensational, admirable, rare, and clearly worthy of a pro contract. But my scouting assignment was to evaluate Hartzell, so I stayed focused on that task despite the fact he was clearly outplayed by Malcolm.

And even though it won't show up on scouting reports, and you won't hear it being discussed in the NCAA hockey media circles, the emotional aspect of this game for both senior goalies had to be taken into consideration. As a senior, to know this is your last game, it's not hard to put it all on the table. But one goalie had to deal with the lofty expectations of bringing home an NCAA title as the #1 seed in their region, while the other -- in a happy state of mind on his 24th birthday -- was able to stay relaxed, enjoy his daily routine, and embrace the role of being the underdog.

As one NHL goalie coach once told me, as goalies, we play some of our best games when we're happy.

Hartzell didn't go to sleep happy on Saturday night, but something tells me he'll be smiling by Monday. He's expected to sign a pro contract quickly, and if so, I'll update this post with a few paragraphs projecting his path within the depth chart of whatever team he joins. It's not a matter of if he signs, but a matter of when.

GAME NOTES

Eric made an early routine blocker save in a free-flowing and smooth manner, directing the rebound to the right half-boards. He then showed off some stick skills by making an excellent two-line lead pass up the ice while Quinnipiac worked their early power-play chance. He made an excellent reaction glove save on a wrist shot by through traffic by Ryan Obuchowski with 14:25 in the first period, a sign he was "dialed in" early. He also looked very solid down low with seconds remaining in Yale's first PP, sealing the ice inside his left post and making a terrific paddle-down save.

Kenny Agostino created some space short side high after executing a wraparound with 6:50 left in the first period, but Hartzell took away a sure goal with a glove reaction save. His upper body was off his left post, and the rebound was left out in front, but he had ample defensive support and didn't have to make a secondary save.

Following Agostino's chance, Hartzell appeared a little unsettled and imbalanced for the remainder of the first period. On one instance, he almost got caught cheating off his right post on a potential centering pass, but he got lucky as the shot went off the outside of the right post, popped up into the slot, and was quickly cleared.

Yale earned their second PP with 4:30 left in the first period, but they didn't challenge Hartzell. Still, he didn't look the most comfortable in his down movements, and had some trouble tracking a few pucks through traffic. No worse for wear, Hartzell escaped a late push by Yale and stopped all nine shots he faced in the first period.

Hartzell was not tested early in the second, as Quinnipiac carried the play for the first seven minutes. But he made a real nice stop when Agostino placed a great re-direction from the high slot right on goal in the opening seconds of Yale's third PP chance. The puck was tipped perfectly and just glanced off the toe of Hartzell's left pad, so he was in perfect position through traffic. That was a timely save considering he had been watching Malcolm shut the door on the other end for nearly the entire first half of the second period.

With 11:41 left in the second period, Eric once again showcased his dominance down low, snuffing out a shot along the left goal line with the paddle, then covering up the puck with his big body. A few timely saves allowed Quinnipiac to escape unscathed from Yale's third PP chance, keeping the game scoreless.

With only 5:30 remaining in the second, Yale had 20 shots on goal, 12 of them coming on their three PP chances. Quinnipiac had also blocked 17 shots at that time as well, all while killing off five power plays and one 5-on-3 disadvantage.

The breaking point for Hartzell transpired with only 3.5 seconds left in the second. On a routine dump-in, Hartzell met the puck behind the goal, but instead of holding it and draining the clock, he continued to relay the puck around the boards with a backhand push. With his back turned to the play, Hartzell was unaware of a pinching Gus Young, so he wasn't able to return to his crease with a sense of urgency. Young one-timed the puck on goal from the right half-boards, and that's when Clinton Bourbonais tipped the shot just enough to beat Eric five-hole.

It was a rough turnover on somewhat of a lazy play by Quinnipiac's entire six-man unit. It was also a momentum-crusher, as the Bulldogs entered the third period with a 1-0 lead.

Just 3:35 into the third period, Hartzell made a back-breaking mental mistake that led to Charles Orzetti's memorable goal. After making an initial save on a shot from the left boards, he elected to recover back to skates instead of staying in the down position and keeping a seal with the ice. Because he got back to his skates and was forced to drop down again to seal the right post, Orzetti had the time and space he needed to slip a rebound shot under the right pad.

At this point, Hartzell was clearly rattled and frustrated. While the ice crew was fixing the pane of glass that Orzetti detached during his celebration, Eric was looking up at the replay on the jumbotron, trying to see how that puck snuck past him. When this sort of thing happens, every scout knows the mistake got in the goalie's head, and they're having trouble focusing on task at hand -- making the next save.

Andrew Miller's goal to extend Yale's lead to 3-0 with 10:54 remaining was considered as weak as Orzetti's, as Hartzell was sniped five-hole on a clear-cut breakaway. At this point, stick discipline and reading plays became the most prevalent issue for Hartzell. The first goal was a bad read, the second goal was a mental error and a lack of sealing the ice on a bad-angle shot, and the third goal was an inability to keep the stick centered.

Hartzell was boldly pulled with 7:30 left in the game, but Yale extended their lead to 4-0 with 6:58 on an empty-net goal by Jesse Root. He finished the game with 27 saves on 30 shots, but it was Malcolm that earned all the glory.

SCOUTING NOTES

Aside from the obvious traits -- athleticism, size, and good mobility -- Hartzell really impressed me with his strength down low. He is very powerful when pushing laterally or recovering out of the butterfly to regain his edges, and he's like an anchor in the crease when he's in the paddle-down position. His net coverage was excellent and he moved well for the size he carries. He has decent depth control in the crease, being aggressive on some instances, and staying inside the blue paint when killing penalties, or when facing far-side or cross-crease threats.

Another positive trait in Hartzell's game was his active stick. Whether it was lateral passes below the goal line, up-ice passes trying to catch Yale on a line change, backhand chips along the boards, or retrieving and setting up pucks for his defensemen, he was not afraid to get out of the net. It certainly cost him on the game's first goal, and he wasn't the most balanced or precise on every passing occasion, but it was easy to see he was comfortable doing it.

As I mentioned above, I did notice a fair amount of imbalance in the game, but this is where an NHL scout will consider him to have excellent pro upside. To be so dominant all season long and still not be technically polished with some of his footwork and butterfly mechanics is proof he has a lot of room to grow and "tighten up" some loose aspects of his game.

I don't use NHL comparables for NCAA goalies very often, but in Hartzell's case, I saw a mixture of Antti Niemi and Corey Crawford. He isn't the smoothest skater when asked to cover long distances in the crease, he's slightly hunched over, his size is his biggest advantage, he has good hands that are held slightly lower and tighter to his body than most progressive butterfly goalies, and he battles hard to make the tough saves down low.

Niemi loves to use the paddle down technique to absorb a lot of those low shots in tight around the net, which is what I saw from Hartzell. Crawford is slightly hunched over and not the best skater, yet exhibits excellent hard and soft focus when tracking pucks and reading plays, another similarity I saw in Hartzell. So in terms of form and function, if you're looking for a simple way to explain his game, take a look at Niemi and Crawford.

Overall, Hartzell is going to appeal to a lot of NHL teams due to the fact he has the optimal frame and he's very strong down low. His skating can improve, his footwork and lateral mobility is slightly rough around the edges, he'll need to get quicker and sharper on his edges, and being able to maintain body control and rebound control against the faster pro-level speeds will also be an obstacle. Once he gets some more coaching and experience, I believe his posture and save selections will improve, which will help him look and play even bigger in the crease.

With that in mind, I have no doubt that Hartzell has appealed to numerous NHL teams, and I won't be surprised when he inks a pro contract in the near future.

NCAA Tourney Goalie Preview

McKeen's Hockey — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 15:45:16 +0000

The 2013 NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament begins today, and that means 16 goaltenders will begin to battle their way to Pittsburgh, where the Frozen Four will be held on the weekend of April 11.

To prep you for what will certainly be another explosive and exciting tournament, I've dropped some notes on every starting goalie from all 16 teams. I'll be evaluating a bunch of the games on-the-fly thanks to ESPNU, so feel free to follow me on Twitter @TheGoalieGuild and check back here over the course of the next few weeks for more NCAA goaltending insight and analysis.

Before I get started, I wanted to mention a few NCAA goalies that have signed pro contracts, something I've written about earlier in the season right here.

Aside from Andrew Hammond (Bowling Green) signing with the Senators, Northeastern's Chris Rawlings has signed an ATO with the Idaho Steelheads. Although it's not an entry-level contract with an NHL team, the Dallas Stars will certainly have their eyes on Rawlings' performance(s).

The Stars took a similar route last summer with Michigan Tech's Josh Robinson. He signed a two-way AHL/ECHL deal last season, and while he's not Dallas' official property, they are certainly grooming him for the future. Robinson worked with Stars goalie coach Mike Valley over the summer at his Elite Goalies mentorship camp, and Rawlings has worked with Valley before as well.

Beyond Hammond and Rawlings, it appears as if Jared Coreau (Northern Michigan) is spending some time in Detroit, which may mean he is discussing a possible contract with the Red Wings. If something official drops during the NCAA tournament, I'll post it here.

But with that on the back-burner for now, here's a look at each goalie in the tournament, sorted by region.

WEST REGIONAL

YALE - Jeff Malcolm: Entering the tournament with a 16-6-2 record, a 2.42 GAA, and a .914 SV%, the senior from Lethbridge, Alabama played a major role in Yale earning an "at large" bid. He put together two separate five-game winning streaks during the second half of the season, including one shutout in each streak.

Malcolm missed most of February due to injury, but his return sparked a five-game winning streak, and Yale has been playing much better with him back in goal.

He has given up eight goals on 62 shots in his last two games (both losses by way of shutout), so for a team that isn't as offensively gifted or as deep as in years past, he'll have to surprise everyone to get past the powerhouse known as the Golden Gophers. Furthermore, I have never seen Malcolm play before, so he's a virtual unknown for me heading into the tournament.

But as I have learned over the years, sometimes the guys that fly far under the radar end up having the biggest impact. If you're a fan of the underdog, you're a fan of Malcolm and the Yale Bulldogs.

MINNESOTA - Adam Wilcox: Because of my location here in the Twin Cities, I've had the pleasure of closely evaluating Wilcox's game this season. Not only is he statistically one of the top freshman goalies in the NCAA, but he's one of the most exciting raw-skilled prospects I've scouted in the past five years. He enters today's game against Yale with a 25-7-5 record, a 1.85 GAA, a .922 SV%, and three shutouts.

Despite playing behind one of the most talented lineups in the NCAA, Wilcox didn't coast at any point this season. Sure, there were nights where he was able to rely on Minnesota's NCAA-leading 3.51 goals-per-game to get him through some inconsistent efforts, but for the most part, he came up with the timely saves to preserve leads, sustain momentum, or kill off penalties.

No matter which way you slice it (Minnesota was 3rd in team defense with a 1.91 goals-per-game average), his reliability instilled the confidence needed to play him in 38 games, which landed him third in overall minutes played (2270:51). For a freshman, especially in a talented conference like the WCHA, that is almost unheard of.

Drafted by the Lightning 178th overall in 2011, Wilcox brings electric foot speed and a visible energy to the crease. He's aggressive, dynamic, and very flexible. His glove hand is one of the best in the NCAA, he's highly athletic, and he's one of the better puck-movers you'll find at his age. He's sheer eye-candy in the crease, fun to watch, and capable of stealing a game if his teammates fail to show up.

It certainly helps that I've seen close to 80-percent of his games this season, but if you're watching him for the first time, you'll quickly realize why he was drafted by the Lightning. The kid has skills, and he thrives under pressure.

NORTH DAKOTA - Zane Gothberg: I had originally profiled Clarke Saunders here, so apologies for a late update on Gothberg.

UND enters the tournament scoring 3.30 goals-per-game, but the combination of Saunders and freshman Zane Gothberg only posted a 2.45 GAA collectively, which was only 17th-best in the NCAA. So in terms of facing different types of pressure, knowing that Zane will have to stare down a Hobey Baker Finalist (Carsen Chubak) in today's game against Niagara is not going to be easy.

Zane played more as the season went along, entering the tournament with an 8-4-3 record, a 2.55 GAA, and a .918 SV%. He earned three straight wins in impressive fashion over Wisconsin and Nebraska-Omaha back in early-February, and has become more comfortable in his rising role with UND.

I had a chance to evaluate Zane last summer while he trained with goalie coach Dave Rogalski. During that session, I really liked how Gothberg moved. He has a lot of structure to his low game, and he reminded me a little bit of Nikolai Khabibulin in terms of utilizing his broad and large upper body, but still having quick feet and good levels of overall athleticism.

NIAGARA - Carsen Chubak: Like Hartzell in Quinnipiac, Chubak was one of the NCAA's best goaltenders this season. A Hobey Baker Finalist in his own right, the AHA Player of the Year enters the tournament with a 23-6-5 record, a 1.91 GAA and a .939 SV%. Combine that with six shutouts, and you have one of the most impressive goalies in all four regionals.

Chubak does benefit from the defensive support of blueliners Kevin Ryan and Dan Weiss, and his team does average 3.11 goals-per-game, but there's no denying the Prince Albert native's value to the Purple Eagles. But even more impressive than the NCAA-best six shutouts or the solid team in front is the fact that Chubak didn't have a single losing streak this season.

That "bounce-back" ability will be put to the test against North Dakota today; Niagara dropped a disappointing game to rival Canisius in the Atlantic Hockey semifinals, one where Chubak stopped just 24 of 29 shots.

It was the only time this season he allowed more than four goals.

NORTHEAST REGIONAL

UMASS-LOWELL - Connor Hellebuyck: It's rare to see an NAHL goaltender get inserted directly into the lineup of an NCAA D1 program, but both Anthony Stolarz (now in the OHL) and Hellebuyck completed that feat this season. A draft pick of the Winnipeg Jets, Hellebuyck was named the Tournament MVP after leading the River Hawks to a Hockey East title.

Hellebuyck enters the tournament with an 18-2-0 record, plus an NCAA-leading .949 SV%. He was second in GAA (1.38) only to Ryan McKay. At 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, Connor brings an intimidating frame to the crease, and his confidence level reinforces that intimidation factor.

Like Wilcox in Minnesota, Connor settled into the starter's role after just a few games and never looked back. Connor lost his NCAA debut to DU by allowing five goals on 28 shots, and after more than a month between starts, went on a rampage and pitched shutouts in two of his next three starts.

If there's one area of Connor's game that has vastly improved since his final games with the Odessa Jackalopes, it would be his skating. Less than a year ago, he relied too much on his size to take away time and space from a shooter, but rebound control and staying upright to make secondary saves was an area of concern. It was mentioned on ESPNU that he had been working with former Lightning goaltender Dwayne Roloson on a lot of technical aspects, which has also played a role in his improved play.

But over the course of this season, scouts have pointed to his improved footwork as a big reason why he's now looking at a chance to lead the River Hawks to an NCAA title.

WISCONSIN - Joel Rumpel: Although the Badgers struggled early in the season, the team is firing on all cylinders after earning huge wins over Minnesota State, St. Cloud, and Colorado College to clinch the WCHA Championship. Rumpel, who earned a spot in the All-WCHA Tournament team, enters the tournament with a 1.84 GAA and .923 SV% this season.

Rumpel has just one loss in his last 11 games, but is not considered to be one of the most talented goalies in the tournament. Nevertheless, he's known for having a relaxed, even-keeled demeanor in the crease and positionally sound game. He instills a lot of confidence in his teammates for a sophomore, and he utilizes his 6-foot-3 frame very well. He plays a simple and technically sound game, and even when he's forced to scramble, he stays calm and displays good body control.

In my opinion, Rumpel is one of the more under-appreciated goalies in the tournament. But after coming up huge in the grueling WCHA Final Five tournament, he's in prime pouncing mode to potentially steal a game from #1 seed UMASS-Lowell.

DENVER - Juho Olkinuora: When I was living in Denver from 2004 to 2012, I had the fortunate opportunity to track, evaluate, and even work alongside some of DU's legendary goaltenders. From Adam Berkhoel to Peter Mannino and Marc Cheverie, the Pioneers could almost always rely on solid goaltending in the post-season.

The recurring theme with all of their past netminders was the high goalie IQ to go along with solid fundamentals and a strong work ethic. That theme holds true with Helsinki native and former "walk-on" goalie Olkinuora.

Juho didn't begin the season as the expected starter, but he certainly finished it as one. He stole the job from Florida Panthers prospect Sam Brittain in November and entered the tournament with a 13-5-5 record, a 2.28 GAA, and a .929 SV%. Of the handful of games I watched him play this season, I was most impressed with his 33-save shutout performance over Minnesota on March 1, which may go down as one of his best outings in a Pioneers uniform.

What I like about Olkinuora is that he's not your typical Finnish prospect. Because he developed in the USHL, he is much more of a positionally-oriented goalie, as opposed to the more outlandish, acrobatic, and ultra-athletic Finnish prospects at his age. By focusing more on staying centered in the crease and relying on square shoulders and quiet footwork to stop the puck, he conserves energy and controls his rebounds better than most sophomore goalies.

Olkinuora's latest game ended on a low note in the first-round WCHA series the CC Tigers, but the Pioneers were able to earn an at-large bid to join the field of 16.

NEW HAMPSHIRE - Casey DeSmith: The Wildcats entered the tournament in the Top-10 in terms of goals-against average (2.32), and DeSmith was a major factor in their defensive success. He not only set a school scoreless record (203:32) with three straight shutouts and four in five games, but he was named a Hockey East Honorable Mention All-Star, and was the Hockey East Goaltender of the Month in both October and November.

In November, DeSmith went 5-1-1 with a 1.65 GAA and a .951 SV% en route to the three straight shutouts. He won the Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week twice in November and stopped 30-plus shots on four occasions, including a pair of 40-plus save performances to boot.

A goalie that faced some serious adversity due to a lack of playing time in high school, Casey was tossed into the NCAA fire last season when a struggling Matt DiGirolamo lost the starting job. This year, he went 18-9-7 with a 2.24 GAA and .924 SV% and carried the starting role for the entire season.

What makes tonight's game against DU so exciting for DeSmith is the opportunity for revenge. In his only game against DU this season, he was pulled just 9:05 into the first period after allowing three goals on eight shots.

EAST REGIONAL

QUINNIPIAC - Eric Hartzell: The Bobcats won the ECAC this season behind stellar, steadying play from their senior goaltender. A Hobey Baker Award finalist, Hartzell has a great buffer zone in front of him on the blueline, a d-core that includes the ECAC's top defenseman, Zach Davies. Hartzell helped lead the Bobcats to an 18-0-3 streak this season, which included three shutouts and eight other games where he allowed just one goal against.

Hartzell enters today's regional matchup against Canisius with a 27-6-5 record, a 1.52 GAA, and a .934 SV%. Hartzell (White Bear Lake, MN) is known for his great net coverage due to his 6-foot-4 frame and solid athleticism. He reads plays well and brings a poised, confident demeanor to the crease regardless of the situation.

That being said, I'll be watching to see how he handles the additional pressure in uncharted territory for Quinnipiac, especially since he's targeted to sign a pro contract at the end of his NCAA career. Let's just hope that career doesn't end tonight.

CANISIUS - Tony Capobianco: The little engine that could, Canisius enters the tournament on a franchise-best eight-game winning streak, which happens to currently be the longest in the nation. The Golden Griffins are backed by junior goaltender Capobianco, who I had the luxury to see live at Mariucci Arena back on October 28. He allowed a goal on the first shot faced, then went on to stop the next 40 shots in a 1-0 loss. It was one of the best individual performances I scouted all season long.

Capobianco is comfortable playing behind a team that may not score often, but plays to their strengths as a "defense-first" system. They allow a lot of shots, but push players to the perimeter. Tony had four shutouts this season, with shot totals of 23, 35, 35, and 36. He faced 1,312 total shots in 40 games, an average of 32.8 per game. He was first in the NCAA in minutes played (2344:13), which was a few games ahead of his opponent today, Hartzell (2282:59).

When I evaluated Capobianco in his game against the Golden Gophers, his style reminded me a lot of Jaroslav Halak's. He moves in a small triangle and makes the most of his 6-foot-2 frame by playing inside the blue paint. His movements are quiet and he is very positionally sound. He'll out-wait shooters and make tough saves look easy. Everything seemed to hit him in the chest and get swallowed up, but obviously that performance was one of his better games all season long.

If he expects to get past Quinnipiac, today's performance will have to be even better.

UNION - Troy Grosenick: Despite missing some games due to injury this season, the former Cedar Rapids Rough Riders goalie has allowed just five goals in his last five games, stopping 142 of his last 147 shots. That includes a 34-save shutout over Yale en route to the ECAC Championship. Grosenick and his teammates had their fair share of mid-season struggles, as he went just 1-5-3 in a nine-game stretch from late-November to mid-January.

But Grosenick has proved in the past he can get hot at the right time, so he'll need to rely on the late-season momentum if his Dutchmen have any chance of pushing past Boston College.

Grosenick enters the tournament with a 16-9-5 record, a 2.06 GAA, and .925 SV%. That's a far cry from his 1.65 GAA and .936 SV% in 32 games as a sophomore, but there's no denying he has the skill and experience to win a big game under the bright lights of the NCAA tournament.

BOSTON COLLEGE - Parker Milner: The Eagles will have a chance to win their fourth NCAA title in six years, but this tournament presents some different obstacles for Milner.

First of all, as a senior, he'll face a different type of pressure heading into today's game against Union; Milner struggled in last Friday’s 6-3 loss to Boston University in the Hockey East semifinals, allowing five goals on 26 shots. If he isn't sharp when the puck drops, or gives up a few early juicy rebounds, Union knows they'll have a decent chance of getting under his skin.

Prior to that unsettling loss, Parker went 3-0-1 in four straight games against a much weaker opponent in Vermont. Yet he was fairly leaky in March, allowing 21 goals in seven games (4-2-1). He enters the tournament with a 22-10-4 record, a 2.59 GAA, and .912 SV%.

Small in stature, Milner is known for his quickness, athleticism, and high level of compete around the crease. He does an excellent job of challenging shooters and sealing the ice with his leg pads, he thrives when forced to make strong second-effort saves, and as a senior, he is rarely fazed by a tight game, or while playing with a one-goal lead.

But it's never easy to shake off a sloppy performance when you know your college career is on the cusp of ending, so the biggest obstacle Milner may face today is his own mind.

MIDWEST REGIONAL

MIAMI (OHIO) - Ryan McKay: The RedHawks split their playing time this season between McKay and Jay Williams (also a freshman), and it's unclear which goalie will start on Saturday against the Minnesota State Mavericks. As this game preview shows, head coach Enrico Blasi hadn't named a starter, which called for a great week of competitive practices for both goalies.

Ryan has started the last seven games, and his NCAA-leading 1.37 GAA was the result of a 12-6-2 record, and the second-best team defense with a 1.73 goals-per-game allowed.

McKay struggled against Michigan in the CCHA tournament, as he was pulled after allowing four goals on 16 shots in just 31 minutes of play. The 6-2 loss was the first time all season that McKay and the RedHawks allowed more than four goals.

MINNESOTA STATE - Stephon Williams: The WCHA Rookie of the Year suffered a head/neck injury after taking a skate to the back of the mask while giving up a goal during the second period of a tough loss to Wisconsin in the WCHA Final Five. Fortunately for the Mavericks, he was cleared to play and will start against the Red Hawks on Saturday.

Williams went 21-11-2 with a 1.96 GAA, a .925 SV%, and four shutouts this season. Especially for a 1993-born freshman, he put together an impressive seven-game winning streak early in the season, beating Wisconsin, Bemidji State, and Alaska-Anchorage twice each.

Not only did Williams impress the entire WCHA with his play as a freshman, but he also helped turn the Mavericks into one of the best stories in the WCHA. Behind a more sound defense and a much better power play system, they were able to learn an at-large bid after going 16-11-1 in the WCHA and 24-13-3 overall.

NOTRE DAME: Steve Summerhays: Known for his quickness and pure puck-stopping instincts, Steve experienced a fair share of highs and lows this season, but since late-February, has sparked the Fighting Irish to a nine-game unbeaten streak (7-0-2). The Anchorage, Alaska native enters the tournament with a 21-11-2 record, a 1.94 GAA, a .922 SV%, and four shutouts.

Like Wilcox, Summerhays is aggressive and plays the position with a visible intensity. I have in my notes from previous games that he really thrives in low-scoring games, he's very fluid when executing knee shuffles and slides, and his glove hand is very strong. Summerhays is listed at just 6-foot-0 and 188 pounds, but he makes the most of his smaller frame due to quick feet and an ability to challenge shooters with poise and confidence.

If you're a fan of smaller, more athletic goalies like Wilcox in Minnesota or even guys like Jonathan Quick, you'll love Summerhays.

ST. CLOUD - Ryan Faragher: Still a raw-skilled prospect, the sophomore from Fort Frances, Ontario is known for his flexibility, compete level, and strong hand positioning and reflexes. Those elements led him to a 22-13-1 record with a 2.29 GAA and .914 SV% with three shutouts, while finishing ninth in minutes played (2120:05) and 24th in the nation in GAA.

A member of the WCHA All-Academic team, Faragher spent two years in the NAHL with the Bismark Bobcats before committing to St. Cloud State. He posted a 2.17 GAA and .921 SV% in 38 games en route to an NAHL Robertson Cup championship in 2010, then posted a 2.44 GAA and .918 SV% in 52 games in the 2010-11 season. Both years in the NAHL, Faragher was part of the All-Central Division Team.

Compared to the other three starting goalies in this region, Faragher doesn't enter the tournament with a flashy resume or a ton of regular-season success. That makes him the perfect underdog against the Fighting Irish, which gives him an edge in terms of fighting off the pressure that comes in a do-or-die game.