Talk about your dramatic contrasts.

When Penn State and Boston University meet Thursday night in the Frozen Four’s second semifinal in St. Louis, it will be a clash of a college hockey neophyte against a blueblood.

While the Nittany Lions (22-13-4) are in their first national semifinal, the Terriers (23-13-2) are there for the 25th time. The teams’ first-ever meeting couldn’t have been any less likely when Penn State lost its first nine Big Ten Conference matches.

“There was a time in our season when people left us for dead,” said Nittany Lions coach Guy Gadowsky, the only coach the program has had in its Division I iteration. “Everybody talks a good game, but for them to actually do it and then come out right now, going to the Frozen Four is really remarkable.”

Penn State won the Allentown Regional with a 3-2 overtime decision over UConn, getting 42 saves from Arsenii Sergeev and the game-winning goal from Matt DiMarsico at 17:56. Its top player is Aiden Fink, a Hobey Baker Award candidate who has potted 23 goals and added 30 assists.

Meanwhile, BU’s season has followed a similar arc as its opponent. After needing a couple of months to find their best version, the Terriers have dropped just six games since the calendar flipped to 2025, relying on a deadly power play that’s clicking at 28.4 percent.

The Hutson brothers pace the BU attack. Quinn, a forward, has 23 goals and 27 helpers, while Cole has added 14 and 32, ranking him second among Division I defensemen. Quinn’s 23rd goal came at 6:25 of overtime in the finals of the Toledo Regional, helping the Terriers beat Cornell 3-2 to earn their latest Frozen Four trip.

Some felt Hockey East could have all four teams in St. Louis, but BU was the only one from that league to survive the regionals.

“You never really know what’s going to happen in these one-game situations,” said forward Devin Kaplan.

The winner will play either Denver or Western Michigan on Saturday night for the national championship.

–Field Level Media