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A behind-the-scenes look at the NCAA men's hockey tournament in Bridgeport

Connecticut Public Radio | By David Wurtzel,
Mark Mirko
Published March 25, 2023 at 7:22 PM EDT
Updated March 27, 2023 at 5:09 AM EDT
Second seeded Quinnipiac players prepare for their game against Merrimack in the regional NCAA men’s hockey tournament March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn.
Dave Wurtzel
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Connecticut Public
Players for second-seeded Quinnipiac prepare in the locker room ahead of their game against Merrimack in the NCAA men’s hockey tournament regional March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Conn. Quinnipiac shut out Merrimack 5-0.

The road to the the NCAA men's ice hockey championship — the Frozen Four in Tampa, Florida — begins with 16 teams across the country battling in regional tournaments. This weekend, those regional tournaments happened in Connecticut, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and North Dakota.

Quinnipiac University was among the teams that made it to the regionals in Bridgeport.

College hockey fans and families from Connecticut and out of state showed up in Bridgeport, along with NHL scouts and general managers. Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour was even in the house cheering on his son, Skyler Brind'Amour, a senior forward on the Quinnipiac team.

With campus only a 30-minute drive away, the Quinnipiac student section came out in force and added to the overall tournament excitement.

On Friday, Connecticut Public's photographers traversed Total Mortgage Arena to capture the NCAA hockey pride from all angles. Ohio State defeated Harvard 8-1. Quinnipiac shut out Merrimack 5-0. On Sunday, Quinnipiac defeated Ohio State 4-1 and advanced to the Frozen Four.
Quinnipiac defenseman Iivari Räsänen prepares in the team’s locker room before for Quinnipiac’s match against Merrimack in their regional NCAA men’s hockey tournament game March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn.
Dave Wurtzel
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Connecticut Public
Quinnipiac defenseman Iivari Räsänen prepares in the locker room before the team’s game against Merrimack in the NCAA men’s hockey tournament regional on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Conn.
Jim Tortorella, Assistant Coach of Harvard, goes over game plans with players before the regional NCAA men’s hockey tournament on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn.
Dave Wurtzel
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Connecticut Public
Harvard assistant coach Jim Tortorella goes over game plans with players before the NCAA men’s hockey tournament regional on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Conn.
Jay Fruzia, Lead Ice Technician, works on the ice before the regional NCAA men’s hockey tournament game between Harvard and Ohio State on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn.
Dave Wurtzel
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Connecticut Public
Jay Fruzia, lead ice technician, works on the ice before the NCAA men’s hockey tournament regional matchup between Harvard and Ohio State on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Conn.
Harvard equipment manager of 18 seasons, Odie O’Donnell, puts the finishing touches on a puck pyramid before the NCAA Regional Tournament bracket game between Harvard and Ohio State on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn.
Mark Mirko
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Connecticut Public
Odie O’Donnell, who’s been Harvard’s equipment manager for 18 seasons, puts the finishing touches on a puck pyramid before the NCAA men’s hockey tournament regional matchup between Harvard and Ohio State on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Conn.
during the regional NCAA men’s hockey tournament game between Harvard and Ohio State on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn. (Dave Wurtzel/Connecticut Public)
Dave Wurtzel
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Connecticut Public
Ohio State’s Jaedon Leslie warms up in the locker room before heading to the ice for the NCAA men’s hockey tournament regional game against Ohio State on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Conn.
A Harvard University player's skate is sharpened before the regional NCAA men’s hockey tournament game against Ohio State.
Dave Wurtzel
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Connecticut Public
A Harvard player’s skate is sharpened before the NCAA men’s hockey tournament regional game against Ohio State.
In the hours before the game NCAA regional tournament game between Harvard and Ohio State, Harvard goaltender Aku Koskenvuo (left) warms up in a corridor of Total Mortgage Arena on March 24, 2023.
Mark Mirko
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Connecticut Public
Harvard goaltender Aku Koskenvuo (left) warms up in a corridor of Total Mortgage Arena hours before Harvard’s game against Ohio State during the NCAA men’s hockey tournament regional on March 24, 2023.
Defenseman Iivari Räsänen warms up with Quinnipiac strength and conditioning coach Brijesh Patel before the regional NCAA men’s hockey tournament game between Quinnipiac and Merrimack on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn.
Dave Wurtzel
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Connecticut Public
Defenseman Iivari Räsänen warms up with Quinnipiac strength and conditioning coach Brijesh Patel before the NCAA men’s hockey tournament regional game against Merrimack on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Conn.
Harvard goalie Mitchell Gibson collects the puck after Ohio State brought the score to 5-0 in the second period on a goal by Mason Lohrei during the NCAA Regional Tournament bracket game between Harvard and Ohio State on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn.
Mark Mirko
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Connecticut Public
Harvard goalie Mitchell Gibson collects the puck after Ohio State brought the score to 5-0 in the second period on a goal by Mason Lohrei during their NCAA tournament regional game on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Conn.
“My son is a huge Ohio State hockey fan,” said father David Rhodes of 7-year-old Jaxson (left), who cheered the team after their 8-1 victory over Harvard. The Massachusetts family with roots in Ohio said they came to Bridgeport for the tournament and the Jaxson will attend an Ohio State Hockey camp this summer. (Mark Mirko/Connecticut Public)
Mark Mirko
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Connecticut Public
“My son is a huge Ohio State hockey fan,” David Rhodes said of his 7-year-old Jaxson (left), who cheered the team after the 8-1 victory over Harvard. The Massachusetts family with roots in Ohio said that they came to Bridgeport for the tournament and that Jaxson will attend an Ohio State hockey camp this summer.
Kyle Dubas, General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs attends the regional NCAA men’s hockey tournament game along with other NHL scouts on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn.
Dave Wurtzel
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Connecticut Public
Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas attends the NCAA men’s hockey tournament regional along with NHL scouts on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Conn.
Odie O’Donnell, Equipment Manager at Harvard carries sticks after regional NCAA men’s hockey tournament game between Harvard and Ohio State on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn.
Dave Wurtzel
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Connecticut Public
Odie O’Donnell, Harvard’s equipment manager, carries sticks after the NCAA men’s hockey tournament regional game against Ohio State on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Conn.
Mom Paige Brickey hugs her son Scooter, who has played hockey “since he was two” as he prepares to board the Ohio State team bus after Ohio defeated Harvard 8-1 in their regional NCAA men’s hockey tournament game. Paige and her husband drove nine hours from Michigan to see the game on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn.
Mark Mirko
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Connecticut Public
Mom Paige Brickey hugs her son Scooter, who has played hockey “since he was 2” as he prepares to board the Ohio State team bus after the team defeated Harvard 8-1 in the NCAA men’s hockey tournament regional. Brickey and her husband drove nine hours from Michigan to see the game.
Members of the ice crew lace up under the bleachers before the start of the regional NCAA men’s hockey tournament game between Quinnipiac and Merrimack on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn.
Mark Mirko
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Connecticut Public
Members of the ice crew lace up under the bleachers before the start of the NCAA men’s hockey tournament game between Quinnipiac and Merrimack on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Conn.
The hands of young fans reach for Merrimack goalie Steven Bacovsky as he comes off the ice after warming up before the hands reach for goals during the regional NCAA men’s hockey tournament game against Quinnipiac on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn.
Mark Mirko
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Connecticut Public
The hands of young fans reach for Merrimack goalie Steven Bacovsky as he comes off the ice after warming up before taking on Quinnipiac in the NCAA men’s hockey tournament on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Conn.
Sam Lipkin of Quinnipiac braces himself against the glass during the regional NCAA men’s hockey tournament on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn.
Dave Wurtzel
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Connecticut Public
Sam Lipkin of Quinnipiac braces himself against the glass during the NCAA men’s hockey tournament on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Conn.
Quinnipiac amps its student section and bench after scoring a goal in their 5-0 win over Merrimack in the regional NCAA men’s hockey tournament game March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn.
Dave Wurtzel
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Connecticut Public
Quinnipiac amps up its student section and bench after scoring a goal in a 5-0 win over Merrimack during the NCAA men’s hockey tournament regional on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Conn.
Sam Lipkin of Quinnipiac watches the puck during the regional NCAA men’s hockey tournament game on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn.
Dave Wurtzel
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Connecticut Public
Quinnipiac’s Sam Lipkin watches the puck during the NCAA men’s hockey tournament on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Conn.
Quinnipiac and Merrimack battle for the puck during Quinnipiac's 5-0 win in the regional NCAA men’s hockey tournament game on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn.
Dave Wurtzel
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Connecticut Public
Quinnipiac and Merrimack battle for the puck during Quinnipiac's 5-0 win in the NCAA men’s hockey tournament regional on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Conn.
Olivia Zevzavadjian, Junior at Quinnipiac, cheers on the Bobcats during the regional NCAA men’s hockey tournament game between Quinnipiac and Merrimack on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn.
Dave Wurtzel
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Connecticut Public
Olivia Zevzavadjian, a junior at Quinnipiac, cheers on the Bobcats during the NCAA men’s hockey tournament game against Merrimack on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Conn.
Joey Cipollone of Quinnipiac in the handshake line after defeating Merrimack in the regional NCAA men’s hockey tournament on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn.
Dave Wurtzel
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Connecticut Public
Joey Cipollone of Quinnipiac takes part in the handshake line after the team defeated Merrimack in the NCAA men’s hockey tournament regional on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Conn.
Quinnipiac celebrates on the ice after defeating Merrimack 5-0 on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn.
Dave Wurtzel
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Connecticut Public
Quinnipiac celebrates on the ice after defeating Merrimack 5-0 on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Conn.
TJ Friedmann meets with fans on his way off the ice after the regional NCAA men’s hockey tournament game on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn.
Dave Wurtzel
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Connecticut Public
Quinnipiac’s TJ Friedmann meets with fans on his way off the ice after an NCAA men’s hockey tournament game on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Conn.
Equipment Manager Rob Kennedy and his son Quinn Kennedy who is a student at Quinnipiac - organize the teams jerseys on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn.
Dave Wurtzel
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Connecticut Public
Quinnipiac equipment manager Rob Kennedy and his son Quinn Kennedy, who attends Quinnipiac — organize the team's jerseys on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Conn.
Working in the hours after games have ended Saul Espinosa cleans up after the first night of the regional NCAA men’s hockey tournament March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn.
Mark Mirko
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Connecticut Public
Saul Espinosa cleans up after the first night of the NCAA men’s hockey tournament regional on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Conn.
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David Wurtzel
Dave Wurtzel is an award winning Visuals Journalist at Connecticut Public.
See stories by David Wurtzel
Mark Mirko
Mark Mirko is Deputy Director of Visuals at Connecticut Public and his photography has been a fixture of Connecticut’s photojournalism landscape for the past two decades. Mark led the photography department at Prognosis, an English language newspaper in Prague, Czech Republic, and was a staff-photographer at two internationally-awarded newspaper photography departments, The Palm Beach Post and The Hartford Courant. Mark holds a Masters degree in Visual Communication from Ohio University, where he served as a Knight Fellow, and he has taught at Trinity College and Southern Connecticut State University. A California native, Mark now lives in Connecticut’s quiet-corner with his family, three dogs and a not-so-quiet flock of chickens.
See stories by Mark Mirko

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