The University of Wisconsin-Superior men's hockey team was a regular at NCAA Division III Frozen Four throughout the 1990s and into the early 2000s. Since winning it all in 2002, the Yellowjackets haven't been back to the final four, and in fact, have played in only one NCAA tournament since, 2006.

That year UWS won the Peters Cup championship at St. Norbert, but then had to return to Cornerstone Community Center two weeks later and was soundly defeated. The 'Jackets are looking to return to the NCAA Division III Frozen Four when they host Gustavus Adolphus at 7:05 p.m. Saturday at Wessman Arena. The winner of the quarterfinal game will face the winner of UW-Stout and St. Scholastica in one semifinal game Saturday March 21 at the Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid, N.Y.

The other quarterfinal matchups are Hobart at Amherst and Neuman at Plattsburgh. In play-in action Wednesday night, Hobart defeated Nichols 3-0, Neuman downed Elmira 2-1 and Amherst beat Babson 4-1. UWS advanced to the NCAA tournament despite losing to UW-Stout 4-3 in the Peters Cup championship last Saturday at Wessman Arena. Superior's 22-3-3 record was still good enough to get it the No. 1 seed in the West and the right to host the Gusties, who are 17-10 and advanced after winning the MIAC playoff championship. Gustavus scored five consecutive goals to defeat Hamline 5-2 in the MIAC playoff championship game. Rory Dynan and Ross Ring-Jarvi registered two goals each, while goaltender Matt Lopes had 17 saves and was named the MIAC Player of the Week. With the win, the Gusties earned their first trip to the NCAA tournament since 1993.

UWS defeated GA 5-4 in overtime on Jan. 9 in St. Peters, Minn. Chris Wilson, Talon Berlando and Logan Isley had big games for the 'Jackets. Wilson had two goals and two assists, Berlando had two goals and an assist and Isley had a goal and two assists. Braden Demset leads UWS in scoring on the season with 15 goals and 20 assists for 35 points. Wilson (16-17-33) is next followed by Kevin Huck (8-24-32) and Isley (13-16-29) and Berlando (11-18-29). Desmet also leads the NCHA in scoring in the playoffs with five goals and four assists for nine points. Huck is fourth in playoff scoring with five assists, and Seth Reda (1-3-4) and Rob Turville (2-2-4) are tied for sixth with four points apiece.

A quick start is key for the Yellowjackets, who are 13-1-1 when scoring first and 17-0 when leading after two periods. The lone loss was to Stout last weekend. 'JACKET JOTTINGS: UWS has won national championships in 1976 (NAIA) and 2002 (NCAA). The Yellowjackets have appeared in nine NCAA Division III Frozen Fours (1992, 1994-97, 1999-2002). ... The 'Jackets are 6-3 when playing for the Peters Cup, including 3-1 at home. ... Prior to allowing Stout's Matt Morin goal which tied the game at 1-1, senior goaltender Chad Beiswenger had a shutout streak of 161 minutes, 48 seconds. ... Saturday marks the first time that the 'Jackets will enter the NCAA tournament and play Gustavus, but it isn't the first time they have played a MIAC opponent. They have played St. Thomas (1994, 1999, 2002), St. John's (1996, 2001), Concordia (2000) and St. Olaf (2006). ... St. Scholastica won NAIA national championships in 1975 and 1977 and was a runner-up in 1976, however, this will be the first time the Saints will play in the NCAA Tournament. ... Saturday's game may be heard locally on KUWS 91.3 FM.