DETROIT – No team has ever played a hockey game on Ford Field. But that doesn’t mean Boston College doesn’t have a bit of a home ice advantage heading into Thursday’s national semifinal game at the Frozen Four in Detroit.
The Eagles may not have played on Ford Field, but that have played on the ice that is now sitting on the field.
Boston College faced Boston University at Fenway Park in January on a special game played after the National Hockey League hosted the annual Winter Classic at the historic ballpark.
The exact same ice system that was used in that game is being used at Ford Field this weekend, according to Dan Craig, the ice guru for the NHL who engineered the temporary ice rink.
Boston College lost the Fenway game, 3-2, but hopes to maybe take the little bit of experience on the temporary ice into Thursday’s game.
“We’ve been following the construction throughout the week,” said BC alternate captain Ben Smith. “There was a lot of anticipation getting out there today. It’s pretty cool out there. A unique experience.”
“It feels a little bit different,” said BC captain Matt Price, when asked to compare the ice to Fenway’s. “The stars aren’t there when you look up.”
But is there any sort of advantage to having played on the actual ice before?
“We’ve got a sense for the board a little bit,” said Price.
Maybe that’s enough.
