By Joey Johnston

We have our Frozen Four and you only need one word to describe the field headed to downtown Tampa’s Amalie Arena on April 6 and 8 for the NCAA’s championship of men’s college hockey.

Elite.

Three seeded teams and another that very well could have achieved that distinction.

Brand-name schools. Hockey blue bloods. Two programs that were part of Tampa’s previous two Frozen Fours (2012, 2016) and two newcomers to Hockey Bay.

On Thursday, April 6, here are the semifinals:

It’s the No. 1-seeded Minnesota Golden Gophers (28-9-1), the Fargo Region champion, against unseeded Boston University Terriers (29-10-0), the Manchester Region champion.

It’s the No. 2-seeded Quinnipiac Bobcats (32-4-3), the Bridgeport Region champion, against the No. 3-seeded Michigan Wolverines (26-11-3), the Allentown Region champion.

The Minnesota-BU winner meets the Quinnipiac-Michigan winner on Saturday, April 8 for the national championship.

Here’s a closer look:

The Frozen Four Field

No. 1 Minnesota (28-9-1)
Fargo Region Champion
Conference: Big Ten
Star Watch: The Gophers have gotten an amazing 1-2 scoring punch from freshmen Logan Cooley and Jimmy Snuggerud.
Road to Tampa Bay: Defeated Canisius 9-2; defeated St. Cloud State 4-1.
Previous Frozen Four Appearances: 22 (five national titles, last in 2003).

Boston University Terriers (29-10-0)
Manchester Region Champion
Conference: Hockey East
Star Watch: Freshman Lane Hutson, a Montreal Canadiens draft pick, is the highest-scoring U19 defenseman since Brian Leetch in 1986-87.
Road to Tampa Bay: Defeated Western Michigan 5-1; defeated Cornell 2-1.
Previous Frozen Four Appearances: 22 (five national titles, last in 2009).

No. 2 Quinnipiac Bobcats (32-4-3)
Bridgeport Region Champion
Conference: ECAC
Star Watch: Goalie Yaniv Perets is among the nation’s best and the leader of an accomplished defensive unit.
Road to Tampa Bay: Defeated Merrimack 5-0; defeated Ohio State 4-1.
Previous Frozen Four Appearances: 2.

No. 3 Michigan Wolverines (26-11-3)
Allentown Region Champion
Conference: Big Ten
Star Watch: Freshman Adam Fantilli is expected to go No. 2 in the NHL Draft.
Road to Tampa Bay: Defeated Colgate 11-1; defeated Penn State 2-1 (OT).
Previous Frozen Four Appearances: 26 (nine national titles, last in 1998).

Somebody will stage a big celebration in Tampa Bay.

Quinnipiac is seeking its first national title. Boston University last won 14 years ago. Minnesota last won 20 years ago. Michigan last won 25 years ago.

It could be an All-Big Ten final. It could be an All-New England final. One thing is certain: After Denver’s stunning opening-round defeat, NCAA men’s hockey will crown a new national champion.

The teams are scheduled to arrive in Tampa on Tuesday, April 4 with public workouts the following day at Amalie. Then it’s a weekend of four top-shelf teams, four passionate fan bases and all the Frozen Four regulars descending upon Tampa Bay for the best in college hockey, along with the best hospitality that our area has to offer.

What was that word again?

Elite.