Nationally, the Gophers vs. Boston College hockey game last Thursday in the Frozen Four had a 0.3 rating, meaning 422,000 viewers watched the game, according to an ESPN source.
But the national semifinal, which was on ESPN2, did much better in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. It had a 5.1 metered market rating, the second highest rating ever recorded in any market for a Frozen Four game on the ESPN network.
That means that 5.1 percent of the 1.7 million households in the metro area watched the game, or about 88,000 households.
Since 2004, when ESPN's records begin, only Milwaukee had a higher metered market rating for a Frozen Four game. Its rating was 6.0 on April 6, 2008 for the championship game. Boston College beat Notre Dame 4-1 for the NCAA title that year in Denver.
ETC.
* A date for the Gophers' awards banquet has not been set. One date being considered is May 4. There will be a lot to celebrate this year.
* Minnesota State Mankato officials say they would name a new hockey coach within a few days, according to a story in the Mankato Free Press. Click here.
The Mavericks also have signed another recruit, 6-3, 205-pound defenseman Nick Buchanon of Victoria, B.C. He plays for Penticton, the BCHL team loaded with Minnesotans.