Youth Clinics Highlight Frozen Four Countdown

From: Rocky Mountain News
by Pat Rooney

The final Frozen Four countdown has begun.

Mayor John Hickenlooper was joined by the Front Range's three college hockey coaches - George Gwozdecky of the University of Denver, Frank Serratore of Air Force and Scott Owens of Colorado College - on Wednesday at the Pepsi Center to help unveil the final schedule of events for the Frozen Four.

The Pepsi Center will be the site of college hockey's annual extravaganza. And while the action begins on the ice with the national semifinal games April 10, the event will feature weeklong festivities as college hockey fans descend upon Denver from across the country.

In addition to the games, fans will be treated to the Frozen Four Skills Challenge as well as the presentation of the Hobey Baker Award on April 11.

That day also will feature the "Celebration of College Hockey" at Skyline Park, an event beginning at 1 p.m.

Festivities at that event will include a pep rally for the teams squaring off in the national title game as well as an autograph session with the "Hobey Hat Trick" finalists for college hockey's top individual award.

"The impact I believe this Frozen Four will have on hockey in the Rocky Mountain region will be tremendous," Gwozdecky said. "All three programs have been the direct beneficiaries of what the Avalanche have done since they came to town.

"Youth hockey has grown explosively. In our program . . . eight of our 25 players are from the state of Colorado, and that continues to grow every year.

"I know this event is going to have a tremendous, tremendous impact on youth hockey throughout the state."

Schedule

* April 8: Youth Skills Challenge Finals, Pepsi Center, 5 p.m.

*April 9: Team practices, Pepsi Center, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (open to public).

* April 10: National semifinals, Pepsi Center, 4 p.m.

* April 11: Team practices, Pepsi Center, 11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (open to public); Celebration of College Hockey (includes pep rally for national finalists, autograph session with Hobey Baker Award finalist and concert performance by Opie Gone Bad), Skyline Park, 1-4 p.m.; Friday Night at the Frozen Four (includes autograph session, presentation of Hockey Humanitarian Award and Hobey Baker Award, and Frozen Four Skills Challenge), Pepsi Center, 4:30 p.m.

* April 12: Frozen Four Youth Clinic, University of Denver Ritchie Center, 8 a.m.; National championship game, Pepsi Center, 5 p.m.

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