ESPN

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:01 PM)

Hello and welcome to Inside College Hockey's weekly chat here at ESPN.com. We'll be taking your questions for the next 30 minutes.

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:02 PM)

Of course the biggest news is that Michigan, Boston College, Notre Dame, and North Dakota have advanced to the Frozen Four next week in Denver. And the Hobey Hat Trick finalists have been announced -- Kevin Porter (Michigan), Nathan Gerbe (Boston College), and Ryan Jones (Miami).

Lou (Providence, RI)

Do you think Lamoureux's not making the Hobey 3 list will have a rallying effect for the Sioux team, or do you think it'll have no impact at all?

Jess Myers

  (2:04 PM)

Honestly, I think it will have no impact whatsoever. In a perfect world for Sioux fans, J-P would hit the ice in Denver with a chip on his shoulder and record a pair of shutouts to get the NCAA title, but if you know Lamoureux, he doesn't have that personality. For example, against Princeton last weekend he was less than a minute away from a shutout in his team's 5-1 win. But if you asked him about the near-blanking afterwards, he could care less. It truly seems to be all about team, and not individual stats, for J-P. On the other hand, I could see T.J. Oshie getting a hat trick versus Boston College and send a message about his Hobey worthiness.

Teddy (Tampa, FL)

I can understand the Friday and Saturday reginal games, but what are they thinking about on Sunday. Only two games, historically good chance of going into OT (in fact both Sunday's did), and they schedule them so close back-to-back that the BC/Miami game cuts into Wisconsin/NoDak? Can't they throw a 1/2 hour or so buffer? What's the deal here?

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:06 PM)

It's no different than every other sport. NFL games are scheduled at 1 and 4 on the East coast. Stanley Cup Playoffs, etc. The scheduling is great for as much TV exposure as possible.

Eagle in Brighton

To what extent is Gerbe a flight risk for BC after his solid Junior season?

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:08 PM)

Great question, as Gerbe is a Buffalo draft pick and they could use some help up front. Without having talked to Gerbe or to Buffalo, it would be unfair to speculate on that. Buffalo also has Michigan State's Tim Kennedy's draft rights.

Sarge (Lee's Summit, MO)

Why the two week layoff between the regionals and the Frozen Four? If they don't want to compete with the Final Four of basketball, why not move the tournament start back a week. The long layoff seems to kill the momentum from this past weekend.

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:10 PM)

Keep in mind that the Frozen Four semifinals are on Thursday, not on Saturday like basketball. For the teams that played on Sunday night, it would be a very quick turnaround to get packed, prepared, and out to Denver in two days (because they have to be there on Wednesday for practice and publicity).

Ben (Grand Forks, ND)

What was your favorite Regional moments?

Jeff Howe

  (2:12 PM)

Watching the battle between Ryan Jones and Nathan Gerbe. While they weren't necessarily going one on one with each other, it was a real treat to watch them each create countless scoring chances for their teams.

Ryan (Grand Forks, ND)

Did J.P.L. get snubbed by not being included in the Hobey Hat Trick? I thought last weekend locked up a solid second place behind Porter.

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:15 PM)

I don't think it was a snub, more just a reflection on how strong the other three candidates were. The question that I had all along about Lamoureux's worthiness was that he wasn't even the First Team goalie in the WCHA. He became much more popular, it seems, when Bachman wasn't among the Hobey finalists.

Jake, Madison WI

How about those Badgers now?

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:16 PM)

They are the best sub.-500 team to ever play in the NCAA Tournament. The Badgers had a good season and it was good for them to get a win over Denver in the tournament. Does that win validate their selection for the NCAAs? I don't think so.

Spencer:(NJ)

Is it a coin flip to win between North Dakota and BC with both of these teams playing eachother so much and knowing the other?

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:18 PM)

That's going to be a great matchup and the familiarity between the programs should make for great hockey. So much changes from year-to-year in terms of graduation and other roster changes so you can't look back to really determine what's in store for the next meeting, but a rivalry has developed, and that makes for better emotional buzz.

stjerno (GF)

Ryan Jones. Why? JPL 1.64 GAA .936 SP6 SO SOS=first ryan jones plays on yet another overated team in an overrated league.

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:22 PM)

Ryan Jones was one of the best players on the best teams in the nation. That "overrated" league won six games last weekend in the NCAA Regionals, including two head-to-head matchups against WCHA schools. Jones is the nation's leading goal scorer, a fantastic leader, and was consistent all year long.

John, Chestnut Hill

With the local teams out of the tourny, what kind of crowd do you anticipate for the Frozen Four?

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:24 PM)

No matter what the venue has been, the Frozen Four has always been well-attended and has an extensive sellout streak. North Dakota fans will travel very well, and college hockey fans from across the nation have made the Frozen Four a must-attend event on their calendars. Attendance will be strong.

Larry (Toronto)

ccha OVERRATED? stjerno is off base. the WCHA had 6 teams in the field. they went 3-5, and if you take away games they polayed against each other, were 1-3, with that win against Princeton. The CCHA was one goal from have 3 teams in the frozen four!

JN, Minneapolis

As a UND fan, I can't understand the frustration over JPL no being in the Hobey Three. Doesn't this speak more to the talent of the three that made it? Say what you want about Ryan Jones, but on and OFF the ice the kid is great.

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:27 PM)

Thanks for the questions today, and enjoy Inside College Hockey's coverage leading up to the Frozen Four. There are QandAs posted with J-P Lamoureux of North Dakota and John Muse of Boston College. Also, we've started to announce our end-of-year awards from across college hockey.