Alright, y’all, welcome back to IceZone Reports! I’m Darius Hunt, and I got Chris Martin and Emily Clarke with me. Today, we’re diving into the GSHL playoff showdowns, and first up—Minnesota versus Michigan. Now, Minnesota, they’re coming in as the Big West champs, right? But, you know, they’ve had their hiccups in the past. Coach William’s been working overtime, really focusing on skill development this year. I mean, you look at their lineup—William Simpson, that’s your MVP candidate right there, just racking up points. And he’s got Xo Quag, last year’s national champ, and Kjell Kosporodov backing him up. That’s a dangerous trio on the ice.Yeah, Darius, and you can’t forget how Coach William’s really tightened up their play. But Michigan, man, they’re not the same team we saw last season. Coach Dash came in, and suddenly, it’s like a whole new squad. Gunter Smoot in goal—he’s been a game changer. They actually knocked out Notre Dame to get to the Great Lakes Conference finals against Wisconsin. That’s not nothing! I mean, Michigan’s got this grit now, this edge. I wouldn’t count them out, not for a second.It’s such a classic matchup, isn’t it? You’ve got Minnesota’s skill and finesse, and then Michigan’s sort of, well, scrappy determination. I think the real question is, can Michigan’s newfound grit actually upset the Big West champs? Or is Minnesota just too polished?You know, Emily, that reminds me—back in high school, I was all about this one team, right? Everyone said they didn’t stand a chance, but they pulled off the wildest upset. I remember running down the block, just yelling, ‘Did you see that?!’ Sometimes, it’s not about the stats, it’s about who wants it more on the day. Michigan’s got that underdog energy, and I’m here for it.That’s the beauty of playoff hockey, man. Anything can happen. I’m just saying, don’t blink or you’ll miss something wild in this one.Alright, let’s talk Denver versus Maine. Denver’s been the juggernaut all season—Coach Salva’s got them firing on all cylinders. Riqui Salva and Chab Patenaude, those two are just lighting up the scoreboard. And then you got Aki Salva and Jacob Maccabees holding it down on defense. They’ve set records, their goal differential is off the charts. But—here’s the twist—Maine is the only team to blank Denver. Not once, but twice! Left ‘em scoreless. That’s wild.It’s all about Kevilo Alexander, isn’t it? He’s just, well, absolutely brilliant in goal. I mean, he’s a contender for best goalie in the league, and he’s got this unpredictable style. And then there’s Scott Justice, who’s been making some really clever plays. Maine’s defense is just so disciplined, and they’ve forced Denver to rethink their whole approach.Yeah, and Coach Salva, he’s not just sitting back. He’s been cooking up some new tactics, stuff nobody’s seen before, just to get past Maine’s wall. It’s like chess out there, not just hockey. Chris, you ever see a goalie just take over a whole series like that?Oh, absolutely. I remember this one playoff run—guy stood on his head, just stole the series. It’s demoralizing for the other team, you know? Denver’s got the firepower, but if Kevilo’s in the zone, it could all go sideways for them. That’s what makes this matchup so fascinating. Does Denver’s innovation finally break through, or does Maine’s defensive mastery hold up?It’s a real test of styles, isn’t it? I can’t wait to see which one wins out.Now, let’s get into the other matchups—Notre Dame versus Boston College, and Penn State versus Wisconsin. Boston’s offense has been electric all season. The Big Stepper and Rig Barret, they’re just piling up points, and Bjorn Ironside is a real showstopper. Tom Shangahy’s been solid in net, too. But Notre Dame, they’re a bit of a puzzle. Their offense isn’t flashy, but their defense—Wi Wiwi and Jasper Seabrook—those two are just relentless. And then you’ve got Hugh Heffner in goal, who’s been quietly excellent. Coach Quag’s got a real challenge figuring out how to break through Boston’s firepower.Yeah, and then you got Wisconsin, the team nobody expected. Coach C Demp’s got them playing this balanced, no-nonsense hockey. Patwai BreaksGPT—what a name, right?—he’s been proving everyone wrong. They’re just solid, front to back. But Penn State, they’ve had their bumps, but now Coach Abric is putting Zhang Sanyang back in goal. That’s Penn’s ace, their best defense. His return could flip the script, honestly.It’s got that classic underdog vibe, doesn’t it? I mean, can Penn State or Notre Dame pull off the upset? I love these kinds of stories. Emily, you ever see anything like that back in the UK?Oh, absolutely! There was this famous cup tie—total underdog story, everyone thought it was impossible, but they pulled it off. That’s what makes these games so exciting. You just never know. I think both Penn and Notre Dame have a real shot if things break their way.That’s what keeps us coming back, right? The surprises, the stories. Alright, y’all, that’s gonna do it for this episode of IceZone Reports. We’ll be back soon with more playoff action and maybe a few more wild upsets to talk about. Chris, Emily, always a pleasure.Always great, Darius. Can’t wait for the next one. See ya, Emily, see ya, Darius.Thanks, both! Looking forward to it. Bye everyone!

Episodes

GSHL Playoff Showdowns