On Location: 2023 NCHC Frozen Faceoff championship

This is the latest installment in our On Location series where we live tweet a college game (or games) that we attend in person and then later post an article here on the site. This is a special instance in that it’s in essence a combination of our On Location and Relevant Rewind series because the game took place March 18, 2023, and we’re just pulling it out of the vault and posting it now.

Teams (seed): Denver Pioneers (1), St. Cloud State Huskies (4), North Dakota Fighting Hawks (6), Colorado College Tigers (7)

Where: Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota

When: March 18, 2023

The opening round of the 2023 NCHC tournament saw two lower seeds win on the road. North Dakota defeated Omaha in three games to make it to Saint Paul while Colorado College shocked the second seed Western Michigan Broncos in a two-game sweep in Kalamazoo. It was the first road playoff sweep in Colorado College program history. It also meant it was the first time a seven seed made it to the Frozen Faceoff.

For the second season in a row, Denver was shut out in the early semifinal game in the Frozen Faceoff. This time it was to its in-state rival, Colorado College, by a score of 1-0. The evening game on Friday was between North Dakota and St. Cloud State. The higher seeded Huskies won an overtime thriller to advance to the title game.

The two NCHC trophies were on display. The Penrose Cup on the left is awarded to the top team during the regular season. Denver won it for the second season in a row after the team shared it with North Dakota the previous season. The NCHC Tournament Trophy is on the right and was on hand to be presented to the winner on the ice after the championship game.

The Penrose and NCHC Tournament Trophies on display.

There’s a wing of the Xcel Energy Center that is dedicated to the Patty Kazmaier and Hobey Baker Memorial Awards that was updated since the last Frozen Faceoff. This time it included a tribute to the 2022 award winners, Minnesota’s Taylor Heise and Minnesota State’s Dryden McKay.

Display case at the Xcel Energy Center dedicated to the Patty Kazmaier Award that showcased Taylor Heise.

Sweaters from past Hobey Baker Award winners from Minnesota at the Xcel Energy Center. — Sweaters from Minnesota-born Hobey Baker Award winners on display at the Xcel Energy Center.

Display case at the Xcel Energy Center dedicated to the Hobey Baker Award that showcased Dryden McKay.

The banners on the wall were also updated to reflect Denver’s 2022 NCAA national championship win the season beforehand. Denver defeated Minnesota State in the NCAA title game the previous season and claimed its ninth hockey title.

Five national champions from the NCHC in seven years.

The 2023 NCHC championship game took place the evening of Saturday, March 18, 2023. The Colorado College Tigers were looking for the program’s first NCHC tournament title and were facing the St. Cloud State Huskies – winners of the 2016 tournament back when it was played at the Target Center in Minneapolis.

St. Cloud State and Colorado College in action during the 2023 NCHC Frozen Faceoff championship game.

St. Cloud State’s defense and goaltending controlled the game. The Huskies jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the opening frame. After a scoreless second period, St. Cloud State notched two more goals in the third period to put the Tigers away. Jaxon Castor earned the championship game shutout with 17 saves as well as a spot on the All-Tournament Team. Jami Krannila was presented with the Most Outstanding Player award for the tournament. The Huskies won its second NCHC Tournament Trophy and first at the Xcel Energy Center.