Notre Dame savors rapid rise

0 Comments | USA TODAY, April, 2008 | by Andy Gardiner

DENVER -- At first blush, this year's NCAA Frozen Four looks like a reunion of the royal family of college men's hockey. Michigan, Boston College and North Dakota rank first, second and fifth in semifinal appearances with a combined 62. Those programs have won 18 of the 60 championships.

And then there is Notre Dame, which was struggling to stay afloat in February but has reached the Frozen Four for the first time in the program's 40-year modern history.

"This is a great time for our program," Irish coach Jeff Jackson says. "When we started putting all this together three years ago, I thought it would take five years to reach this level. These kids accelerated the process."

Three weeks ago, Notre Dame (26-15-4) looked nothing like a championship...