NY Islanders prospects will face off in the NCAA Frozen Four

The stage has been set for the NCAA Frozen Four in Las Vegas. Upsets galore have shifted the term March Madness from the hardwood to the ice, with an underdog-laden slate of games to determine who will be named National Champion.

One thing is for sure - we will see a NY Islanders prospect in the finals for the second straight season. Last year, Cole Eiserman and BU fell to Western Michigan 2-1 in OT. This year, Quinn Finley and Wisconsin will face off against San Laurila and North Dakota in the semi-finals.

Finley and Laurila to playin Frozen Four

After taking down Dartmouth in the first round, Finley recorded a goal and an assist in the 5-0 victory, followed by the Badgers upsetting a Michigan State squad loaded with NHL prospects. Finley opened up the scoring 18 seconds into the second period, with Wisconsin later scoring the OT winner to secure a place in the Frozen Four. 

Laurila and North Dakota have yet to give up a goal in the tournament, defeating Merrimack in the first round, 3-0, and then taking down Quinnipiac, 5-0, to reach the Frozen Four. Laurila has played sparingly, skating as the seventh defenseman in both contests, registering a single shot on goal.

Finley and Laurila will skate head-to-head on Thursday, April 9, at 5:00 pm for the right to face either top-ranked Michigan or Denver in the Finals.

Wisconsin is competing in its 13th Frozen Four, in search of its seventh National Championship and first since 2006, while North Dakota is appearing in their 23rd Frozen Four, looking for their eighth title, and first since 2016.