When they meet on Thursday in the first of two semifinal matchups in the Frozen Four, the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs will look to use their size and physical play to their advantage, while the Harvard Crimson will look to rely on the strength of their back end to keep the Bulldogs at bay.

The Bulldogs possess a physical blue line corps that keeps freshman goaltender Hunter Miska from getting into too much trouble. The youngster struggled a bit in the early portion of the season but turned a corner in early December in a series on the road at Denver. After giving up four goals during the Friday night game, he surrendered only one the next night. Since then, he has given up four goals only twice more.

“I think they have done a real good job of bringing [Miska] along,” said an opposing coach who saw the Bulldogs early in the season. “I thought he played excellent in the regional. He seems to have found his groove and has given them good, solid goaltending back there.”

For more on the UMD-Harvard Frozen Four matchup, visit uscho.com.

For a closer look at the Bulldogs, including stats and story angles, check out umdbulldogs.com.