2012 Frozen Four: Hockey East Has Dominated Frozen Four Over Last 15 Years

Hockey East has put up some eye-popping stats in terms of reaching the Frozen Four over the last 15 years.

Over that span, Hockey East has boasted 22 of the 60 Frozen Four qualifiers, the most of any conference. That's four better than the WCHA (18), seven better than the CCHA (15) and 19 better than the ECAC (3). Incredibly, Boston College has accounted for nearly half of those 22 Frozen Four appearances over the last 15 seasons, including finishing in the final four in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 and this season.

Even better, at least two Hockey East programs have reached the Frozen Four in 13 of the Association's 27 seasons, the most of any conference over that span. The WCHA and CCHA have each achieved that feat six times over that span, while the ECAC last achieved the feat in 1983 (when BC, BU, Providence & co. were still a member of the conference). HEA last achieved this feat in 2009, when both Boston University and Vermont squared off in the National Semifinals in Washington D.C.

When it comes to the National Championship Game, Hockey East has placed a program in the title game in 13 of the last 15 years, including eight straight from 1997 to 2004. Only in 2005 (the all WCHA Frozen Four) and last season (Minnesota-Duluth vs. Michigan) did a Hockey East program fail to reach the title game. Of course, HEA has BC to thank for over half of those trips to the title game. In 1998, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010, specifically.

York and the boys have appeared in four of the last six National Championship games. In a word, dominant.

1997 -- Boston University (lost 6-4 to Michigan)
1998 -- Boston College (lost 3-2 OT to Michigan)
1999 -- Maine (defeated New Hampshire 3-2 OT)
2000 -- Boston College (lost 4-2 to North Dakota)
2001 -- Boston College (defeated North Dakota 3-2 OT)
2002 -- Maine (lost 4-3 OT to Minnesota)
2003 -- New Hampshire (lost 5-1 to Minnesota)
2004 -- Maine (lost 1-0 to Denver)
2006 -- Boston College (lost 2-1 to Wisconsin)
2007 -- Boston College (lost 3-1 to Michigan State)
2008 -- Boston College (defeated Notre Dame 4-1)
2009 -- Boston University (defeated Miami 4-3 OT)
2010 -- Boston College (defeated Wisconsin 5-0)

It's been an remarkable run for Hockey East in the NCAAs over the last 15 years. Hopefully BC can carry the flag for the conference once more this week.