Local hockey player heading to United Center for The Frozen Four

Michael Floodstrand, a 20 year old sophomore, will be playing right wing for The Harvard Crimson next Thursday April 6 right here in his own backyard. The No. 2/2 Harvard men's hockey team will head west to Chicago for the 2017 Frozen Four at the United Center, after winning the NCAA East Regional in Providence March 25.

Floodstrand left Fenwick High School after being invited to the USA National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, MI. from 2013-2015, where his team won U-17 and U-18 World Championships. He graduated from Pioneer High School with the rest of the NTDP team. Prior to that he played for The Chicago Mission Team in Woodridge, winning the 2013 National Championship. He hopes to add a NCAA Championship to his collection this weekend.

The Crimson will face No. 3/3 Minnesota-Duluth Thursday evening April 6 at 5 p.m. in the first semifinal game of the night. The winner will advance to the finals Saturday evening at 7 p.m. facing the winner of the No. 1/1 Denver vs. No. 12/4 Notre Dame matchup. Both semifinal games will be broadcast live on ESPN2 at 5:00 pm and the championship will be shown on ESPN.

Harvard advanced to the Frozen Four for the first time since 1994 after defeating Providence, 3-0, and Air Force, 3-2, at the Dunkin' Donuts Center March 24-25.

Thursday's Frozen Four game against the Bulldogs will mark the 13th appearance in the national semifinals for the Crimson and first since 1994. Harvard has advanced to the championship game on three occasions (1983, 1986, 1989) and won the 1989 national title, the first NCAA team championship by any varsity team at Harvard.

Harvard is participating in its 24th NCAA Tournament and fifth under current head coach Ted Donato '91.