Venue, competition keep top college hockey teams coming back to Three Rivers Classic
PITTSBURGH — Some cities have a lot of college hockey history. Places like Boston, Minneapolis, Fargo and Detroit have are steeped in the game’s traditions going back decades. Pittsburgh is not one of those cities, but that’s slowly changing, partly in thanks to the Three Rivers Classic tournament, being held for the fifth consecutive season at PPG Paints Arena.
The holiday tournament has featured some of college hockey’s biggest and best programs over the years, featuring schools such as Boston College, Miami (Ohio), Ohio State and UMass-Lowell, along with host Robert Morris and frequent guest Penn State.
The Nittany Lions chose not to participate in the tournament this year, but Boston College is back, along with 2016 NCAA runner-up Quinnipiac and Ferris State. Boston College came into the game ranked No. 6 in the country, and the Bobcats are No. 14.
No other holiday tournament has amassed that level of talent, and the Three Rivers Classic has been able to do it year in and year out, making it one of the premier destinations at this time of year.
Boston College has the national reputation to play pretty much anywhere they’d like, but longtime coach Jerry York said that his team so enjoyed winning the tournament in 2013 that they quickly scheduled a return visit.
“There’s a number of Christmas tournaments around the United States that you can pick from,” York said. “I think the way the Pittsburgh Penguins organization and the way the rink treats us is outstanding. … They went out of their way to make it a really special day for the teams.”
Quinnipiac doesn’t traditionally play in tournaments over the holiday break, but the combination of the promise of a challenging field and the top-flight amenities and hospitality the Bobcats received when they visited Pittsburgh for the Frozen Four in 2013 convinced coach Rand Pecknold to put it on the schedule.
“I’m a big fan of the city of Pittsburgh. I thought it was a great experience for our players,” Pecknold said. “We wanted to come back and play in this building. The teams — Boston College, Ferris and Robert Morris — are outstanding. That’s probably the biggest reason we came here. It’s great competition and it helps your PairWise at the end of the year. You want to play a tough schedule.”
PairWise rankings determine placement for teams in the NCAA Tournament at the end of the season. The conference champions get automatic bids, but all other schools must hope their PairWise score is good enough to qualify. The best way for a team to improve its standing the mathematical formula is to beat quality opponents, so to get the opportunity to play ranked teams in non-conference games is a big deal.
The man in charge of of getting those quality teams on board is tournament director Scott Zimmerman, and he’s already started gathering teams for the 2017 tournament. The Colonials, meanwhile, are the biggest beneficiary of his hard work. The young program is in its 13th season, but has had the pleasure of playing — and beating — many of college hockey’s blue bloods in the tournament over the years.
It’s not a totally one-sided affair for the underdogs, though. The format of the tournament means that no team knows its second-day opponent ahead of time, giving coaching staffs and players just a few hours to make game plans and preparations. That’s the same format as several conference tournaments and the NCAA regionals, giving teams a crucial dry run for a successful postseason.
“It feels like an NCAA regional,” Pecknold said. “It’s good for our players to adapt to that. It’s good for us as a coaching staff. … It will help us later on when we get into the ECAC playoffs and hopefully, the NCAA Tournament.”