Two from Minnesota and one from Michigan are the trio remaining in contention for college hockey's top individual honor, which will be handed out April 7 in Tampa.
Denver played the defensive game it needed to play in the NCAA Frozen Four semifinals, limiting powerful Michigan's offense and holding off the Wolverines long enough to win in overtime and advance to the national title game.
Michigan wants to run-and-gun, Minnesota State Mankato wants to do its own thing, and Denver's Bobby Brink wants to advance and maybe play his boyhood heroes for the NCAA title as the NCAA Frozen Four semifinals get underway.
