NCAA Frozen Four has plenty of NAHL alumni flavor

Fourteen former North American Hockey League (NAHL) players will compete in the upcoming NCAA Division I Men's Frozen Four. Play begins Thursday, April 5th at Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, with Ferris State opposing Union and Boston College facing Minnesota.  The National Championship game is slated for Saturday, April 7th.

Here is a look at the 14 NAHL alumni who will be competing:

Chad Billins, Ferris State (Alpena Ice Diggers)
Kyle Bonis, Ferris State (Traverse City North Stars)
Tommy Cross, Boston College (USNTDP)
Justin DeMartino, Ferris State (Springfield Jr. Blues/Alpena Ice Diggers)
Derek Graham, Ferris State (Mahoning Valley Phantoms)
Tommy Hill, Ferris State (Topeka Roadrunners)
Andy Huff, Ferris State (Traverse City North Stars)
Jake Kremer, Minnesota (Bismarck Bobcats)
Nate Milam, Ferris State (Topeka Roadrunners)
C.J. Motte, Ferris State (Traverse City North Stars)
Dominic Panetta, Ferris State (Bismarck Bobcats)
Jake Parenteau, Minnesota (Alaska Avalanche)
Michael Shibrowski, Minnesota (Owatonna Express)
Garrett Thompson, Ferris State (Traverse City North Stars)

Travis White, Ferris State (Traverse City North Stars/St. Louis Bandits)

Once again, the NCAA Men's Frozen Four will feature an American flair, as 83 of the 108 players on the rosters of Boston College, Ferris State University, University of Minnesota and Union College have developmental roots in the United States.

Among the Frozen Four participants, 73 players have ties to junior hockey in America prior to their collegiate days, including 14 from the North American Hockey League.

In addition, four NCAA Men's Frozen Four participants have skated for the U.S. National Junior Team at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, while three have competed at the IIHF World Men's U18 Championship as members of the U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team.

A total of 15 states will be represented by players in the Frozen Four, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

In addition, 23 American players competing in the Frozen Four have been drafted by National Hockey League teams.