Frozen Four: UMD's blonds are funny

Four members of the Bulldogs were at the UMD press conference on Wednesday: coach Scott Sandelin, senior right wing Justin Fontaine, senior defenseman and team captain Mike Montgomery and junior goalie Kenny Reiter.

UMD is the home team at the X; the last time a home state team won the Frozen Four was Wisconsin in 2006 when it was held at Milwaukee and in 2002 when the Gophers won it at the X.

On being in the Frozen Four in St. Paul: Montgomery said, "We are honored and priveleged to be here. All of our family will be here. Hopefully, the whole state is behind us.

Montgomery, whose hair is dyed blond like most of his teammates, also was asked about the pressure on UMD representing the state of hockey. "Really the pressure is on the Gophers -- ," he said, then stopped as the media laughed. "Don't print that."

Too late. Someone tweeted it almost instantly.

On problems getting tickets: Sandelin said, "I could [get them]. I was fine. ... This is four time we have been here [in a Frozen Four]. I am extremely happy for these two seniors [Fontaine and Montgomery] who came back."

On intensity picking up in NCAA tournament:

Reiter said, "We paid a lot of attention to special teams."

On preparing for Frozen Four:

Sandelin said, "Last week we didn't have to worry about their focus. They are excited to be here and they should be. It was kind of nice not having to get too mad [in practice]"

On goaltending being a question before season started:

Reiter said, "Hopefully, I tried to silence a few of those critics."

Sandelin said, "This team nas a lot that they can still give."

On Justin Fontaine maybe being overshadowed by the Connollys: