As college hockey crowns a men’s national champion at this weekend’s Frozen Four in St. Louis, the event will have a significant Western Pa. influence.

Nine skaters from the region will be on rosters from the four teams participating. Wexford’s Brian Kramer will be on defense for the Western Michigan Broncos. They face defending NCAA champion Denver at 5 p.m. Thursday in Game 1 at the Enterprise Center.

Boston University faces Penn State in the nightcap (8:30). The Terriers have Penn-Trafford alum Brandon Svoboda on their roster, while PSU boasts seven players from the area: Carter Schade (Mars), Casey Aman (Johnstown), Alex Servagno (Gibsonia), Matt DiMarsico (Wexford), Dane Dowiak (Wexford), Braedon Ford (Pittsburgh) and John Seifarth (Pittsburgh, Avonworth H.S.).

Dowiak is looking forward to the high-stakes reunion of Pittsburgh-area talent on the ice.

“I’m a few years younger than Brian Kramer and a few years older than Svoboda. But we all skate together in the summer, and we all know each other,” Dowiak said. “We are all friends off the ice. But when it is on the ice, there are no friends out there. It is game time.”

Penn State coach Guy Gadowsky insists that cultivating the Pittsburgh area as a recruiting base has been crucial for the growth of the program. He says it was part of a goal set forth by the program’s primary financial benefactor, Terry Pegula, in advance of the team’s jump to Division I in 2012.

“His vision wasn’t just to provide great facilities for Division I hockey at Penn State. It was to enhance hockey in the state — specifically Centre County, (and) this entire footprint,” Gadowsky said. “His dream was very forthcoming, immediately saying, ‘My dream would be to have hockey players grow up in Pennsylvania, play for Penn State, and then go on and play in the NHL.’ That was his vision.”

Penn State and Western Michigan may not be at the Frozen Four if not for the contributions of their Western Pa. products. Kramer assisted on the Broncos’ game-winning goal in the regional final to beat UMass 2-1 on March 29. Dowiak scored the team’s first goal during the 3-2 regional final win over UConn on March 30, and DiMarsico (a 2024 Penguins development camp participant) had the game-winner in overtime.

“It’s just unbelievable to see the effort and support that the whole Penn State community shows us,” DiMarsico said after the regional victory in Allentown. “It’s such a tight-knit community. People are so close. To win a game like this, to send them to the first Frozen Four, it just means everything.”

For Kramer, there is a level of pride in seeing the area well represented at college hockey’s premier event. Seven of the players listed above spent time with the Penguins Elite clubs.

“It’s great to see so many players from Pens Elite having success at the Division I level. Many of them can go on to have great pro careers as well. It’s awesome to see,” Kramer said.

The rise in youth hockey participation throughout Western Pa. is often traced back to the Penguins’ drafting of Mario Lemieux in 1984. But, as Dowiak points out, that foundation was built upon during his generation after Sidney Crosby came to town in 2005.

“Crosby coming into Pittsburgh and just always being a good role model and a guy to look up to was huge,” Dowiak said. “But there are other (NHL) guys too who are from Pittsburgh, such as Brandon Saad, Vincent Trocheck and John Gibson — guys that we all definitely look up to. They set a great example (for) the standard of what it takes to make it to the next level.”

Another regional tie to the Frozen Four is Robert Morris head coach Derek Schooley. He’s a St. Louis native and Western Michigan alum and isn’t surprised to see the local imprint on the tournament.

“We’ve always had a lot of Western Pennsylvania kids. Our first team (2004-05) had a whole bunch. The South brothers (Colin and Furman). On our current team, you’ve got Michael Felsing. The Lynch brothers — Zac and Luke — Zac is in our Hall of Fame,” Schooley said. “You’ve got a good group of guys that have been here and developed in the Pens Elite program and Esmark. Those programs have developed these kids and made them outstanding hockey players. And we’re just a benefactor of it — and really proud to be able to see Western Pennsylvania on a national stage.”

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Schooley will be in attendance in his hometown to see all the skaters from the Pittsburgh area on display. Kramer, who began his college career at RMU before the program paused for two years, is expecting a large contingent of fans from this neck of the woods to be on hand with him.

“I’m sure (the families) will all get together,” Kramer said. “It’ll be like a Pittsburgh party in St. Louis.”