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

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

黑料吃瓜网 Radio | By David Wurtzel,

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鈥檚 hockey tournament March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn. — Players for second-seeded Quinnipiac prepare in the locker room ahead of their game against Merrimack in the NCAA men鈥檚 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 鈥� in Tampa, Florida 鈥� begins with 16 teams across the country battling in regional tournaments. This weekend, those regional tournaments happened in 黑料吃瓜网, 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 黑料吃瓜网 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, 黑料吃瓜网'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 R盲s盲nen prepares in the team鈥檚 locker room before for Quinnipiac鈥檚 match against Merrimack in their regional NCAA men鈥檚 hockey tournament game March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn. — Quinnipiac defenseman Iivari R盲s盲nen prepares in the locker room before the team鈥檚 game against Merrimack in the NCAA men鈥檚 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鈥檚 hockey tournament on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn. — Harvard assistant coach Jim Tortorella goes over game plans with players before the NCAA men鈥檚 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鈥檚 hockey tournament game between Harvard and Ohio State on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn. — Jay Fruzia, lead ice technician, works on the ice before the NCAA men鈥檚 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鈥橠onnell, 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. — Odie O鈥橠onnell, who鈥檚 been Harvard鈥檚 equipment manager for 18 seasons, puts the finishing touches on a puck pyramid before the NCAA men鈥檚 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鈥檚 hockey tournament game between Harvard and Ohio State on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn. (Dave Wurtzel/黑料吃瓜网) — Ohio State鈥檚 Jaedon Leslie warms up in the locker room before heading to the ice for the NCAA men鈥檚 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鈥檚 hockey tournament game against Ohio State. — A Harvard player鈥檚 skate is sharpened before the NCAA men鈥檚 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. — Harvard goaltender Aku Koskenvuo (left) warms up in a corridor of Total Mortgage Arena hours before Harvard鈥檚 game against Ohio State during the NCAA men鈥檚 hockey tournament regional on March 24, 2023.

Defenseman Iivari R盲s盲nen warms up with Quinnipiac strength and conditioning coach Brijesh Patel before the regional NCAA men鈥檚 hockey tournament game between Quinnipiac and Merrimack on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn. — Defenseman Iivari R盲s盲nen warms up with Quinnipiac strength and conditioning coach Brijesh Patel before the NCAA men鈥檚 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. — 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.

鈥淢y son is a huge Ohio State hockey fan,鈥� 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/黑料吃瓜网) — 鈥淢y son is a huge Ohio State hockey fan,鈥� 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鈥檚 hockey tournament game along with other NHL scouts on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn. — Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas attends the NCAA men鈥檚 hockey tournament regional along with NHL scouts on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Conn.

Odie O鈥橠onnell, Equipment Manager at Harvard carries sticks after regional NCAA men鈥檚 hockey tournament game between Harvard and Ohio State on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn. — Odie O鈥橠onnell, Harvard鈥檚 equipment manager, carries sticks after the NCAA men鈥檚 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 鈥渟ince he was two鈥� as he prepares to board the Ohio State team bus after Ohio defeated Harvard 8-1 in their regional NCAA men鈥檚 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. — Mom Paige Brickey hugs her son Scooter, who has played hockey 鈥渟ince he was 2鈥� as he prepares to board the Ohio State team bus after the team defeated Harvard 8-1 in the NCAA men鈥檚 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鈥檚 hockey tournament game between Quinnipiac and Merrimack on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn. — Members of the ice crew lace up under the bleachers before the start of the NCAA men鈥檚 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鈥檚 hockey tournament game against Quinnipiac on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn. — 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 hockey tournament on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn. — Sam Lipkin of Quinnipiac braces himself against the glass during the NCAA men鈥檚 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鈥檚 hockey tournament game March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn. — Quinnipiac amps up its student section and bench after scoring a goal in a 5-0 win over Merrimack during the NCAA men鈥檚 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鈥檚 hockey tournament game on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn. — Quinnipiac鈥檚 Sam Lipkin watches the puck during the NCAA men鈥檚 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鈥檚 hockey tournament game on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn. — Quinnipiac and Merrimack battle for the puck during Quinnipiac's 5-0 win in the NCAA men鈥檚 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鈥檚 hockey tournament game between Quinnipiac and Merrimack on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn. — Olivia Zevzavadjian, a junior at Quinnipiac, cheers on the Bobcats during the NCAA men鈥檚 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鈥檚 hockey tournament on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn. — Joey Cipollone of Quinnipiac takes part in the handshake line after the team defeated Merrimack in the NCAA men鈥檚 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. — 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鈥檚 hockey tournament game on March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn. — Quinnipiac鈥檚 TJ Friedmann meets with fans on his way off the ice after an NCAA men鈥檚 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. — Quinnipiac equipment manager Rob Kennedy and his son Quinn Kennedy, who attends Quinnipiac 鈥� 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鈥檚 hockey tournament March 24, 2023, at Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Conn. — Saul Espinosa cleans up after the first night of the NCAA men鈥檚 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 黑料吃瓜网.

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Mark Mirko

Mark Mirko is Deputy Director of Visuals at 黑料吃瓜网 and his photography has been a fixture of 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 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 黑料吃瓜网 State University. A California native, Mark now lives in 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 quiet-corner with his family, three dogs and a not-so-quiet flock of chickens.

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