Even without the Golden Gophers, Minnesota is well represented in the 2011 Frozen Four Tournament because of the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs, who knocked out the #1 seed – Yale – in the first round.
But there’s another reason that the State of Hockey is making a big contribution in the Frozen Four this year, and it’s due to the total number of Minnesotans playing in the Frozen Four Tournament.
We’ve compiled a listing of the hometowns of all the players in the 2011 Frozen Four Tournament. What we’ve found is that the largest number of players for all four teams (Duluth, Michigan, Notre Dame and North Dakota) have come from Minnesota. In fact just over 25% of all players are Minnesotans. Here’s a ranking of where all of the players in the Frozen Four come from:
| Location | Players | Country | % of Total |
| Minnesota | 27 | USA | 25.96% |
| Michigan | 15 | USA | 14.42% |
| Illinois | 5 | USA | 4.81% |
| Wisconsin | 4 | USA | 3.85% |
| Connecticut | 3 | USA | 2.88% |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | USA | 2.88% |
| Alaska | 2 | USA | 1.92% |
| California | 2 | USA | 1.92% |
| Colorado | 2 | USA | 1.92% |
| North Dakota | 2 | USA | 1.92% |
| Rhode Island | 2 | USA | 1.92% |
| Arizona | 1 | USA | 0.96% |
| Indiana | 1 | USA | 0.96% |
| Iowa | 1 | USA | 0.96% |
| Massachusetts | 1 | USA | 0.96% |
| Nebraska | 1 | USA | 0.96% |
| New York | 1 | USA | 0.96% |
| Texas | 1 | USA | 0.96% |
| Washington | 1 | USA | 0.96% |
| Alberta | 12 | CAN | 11.54% |
| Ontario | 7 | CAN | 6.73% |
| Manitoba | 4 | CAN | 3.85% |
| British Columbia | 2 | CAN | 1.92% |
| New Brunswick | 1 | CAN | 0.96% |
| Saskatchewan | 1 | CAN | 0.96% |
| Sweden | 2 | SWE | 1.92% |
| Total Players | 104 | 100.00% |
These percentages would be similar to what we found in our 2010 article Minnesota Produces the Most NHL Players Born in the U.S. with one small surprise as to how few players come from Massachusetts or New York. This is most likely due to the absence of any East Coast teams in this years Frozen Four.
The other interesting item we noticed is that the Duluth Bulldogs have the largest percentage of home grown players, with 65% of the team made up of players from Minnesota. Michigan came in second with 46% of their players from Michigan. North Dakota has two players from North Dakota, and Notre Dame has just one player from Indiana.
Another interesting detail is that the top line of the Notre Dame team is made up of two Minnesotans: Anders Lee (LW – Edina, MN); and Ryan Guentzel (RW – Woodbury, MN). There are no Minnesotans on the Michigan team.
The following is a complete listing of all players in the 2011 Frozen Four, sorted by Team and Home State/Prov:
| Team | # | Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. | Hometown | State/Prov. | Country |
| Duluth | 17 | Seidel, Mike | W | 5-10 | 185 | So. | Darien, Ill. | Illinois | US |
| Duluth | 5 | Palm, Trent | D | 6-1 | 195 | Sr. | Edina, Minn. | Minnesota | US |
| Duluth | 6 | Kishel, Scott | D | 6-0 | 190 | Jr. | Virginia, Minn. | Minnesota | US |
| Duluth | 7 | Schmidt, Kyle | W | 5-10 | 175 | Sr. | Hermantown, Minn. | Minnesota | US |
| Duluth | 8 | Olson, Drew | D | 6-0 | 200 | So. | Brainerd, Minn. | Minnesota | US |
| Duluth | 10 | DeLisle, Dan | W | 6-5 | 230 | So. | Arden Hills, Minn. | Minnesota | US |
| Duluth | 12 | Connolly, Jack | C | 5-8 | 175 | Jr. | Duluth, Minn. | Minnesota | US |
| Duluth | 14 | Flaherty, Keegan | C | 6-0 | 190 | So. | Duluth, Minn. | Minnesota | US |
| Duluth | 15 | Hendrickson, Jake | C | 5-10 | 180 | So. | Savage, Minn. | Minnesota | US |
| Duluth | 19 | Tardy, Max | W | 6-0 | 185 | Fr. | Duluth, Minn. | Minnesota | US |
| Duluth | 21 | McManus, Luke | D | 6-1 | 190 | Fr. | Apple Valley, Minn. | Minnesota | US |
| Duluth | 23 | Brown, J.T. | W | 5-10 | 170 | Fr. | Burnsville, Minn. | Minnesota | US |
| Duluth | 24 | Montgomery, Mike | D | 6-3 | 215 | Sr. | Lino Lakes, Minn. | Minnesota | US |
| Duluth | 25 | Faulk, Justin | D | 5-11 | 200 | Fr. | South St. Paul, Minn. | Minnesota | US |
| Duluth | 26 | Huttel, Chad | D | 5-9 | 195 | Sr. | Hermantown, Minn. | Minnesota | US |
| Duluth | 27 | Grun, David | W | 6-1 | 200 | Jr. | White Bear Lake, Minn. | Minnesota | US |
| Duluth | 30 | Gaffy, Christian | G | 6-0 | 170 | Fr. | Scandia, Minn. | Minnesota | US |
| Duluth | 31 | Crandall, Aaron | G | 6-1 | 190 | Fr. | Lakeville, Minn. | Minnesota | US |
| Duluth | 35 | Reiter, Kenny | G | 5-11 | 170 | Jr. | Pittsburgh, Pa. | Pennsylvania | US |
| Duluth | 2 | Lamb, Brady | D | 6-1 | 215 | Jr. | Calgary, Alberta | Alberta | Canada |
| Duluth | 22 | Connolly, Mike | W | 5-9 | 180 | Jr. | Calgary, Alberta | Alberta | Canada |
| Duluth | 28 | Bergman, Wade | D | 5-9 | 170 | So. | Calgary, Alberta | Alberta | Canada |
| Duluth | 37 | Fontaine, Justin | W | 5-10 | 175 | Sr. | Bonnyville, Alberta | Alberta | Canada |
| Duluth | 11 | Oleksuk, Travis | C | 6-0 | 200 | Jr. | Thunder Bay, Ontario | Ontario | Canada |
| Duluth | 18 | Basaraba, Joe | W | 6-2 | 195 | Fr. | Fort Frances, Ontario | Ontario | Canada |
| Duluth | 20 | Danberg, Cody | W | 6-0 | 190 | Sr. | Canwood, Saskatchewan | Saskatchewan | Canada |
| Michigan | 9 | Moffatt, Luke | F | 6-0 | 194 | Fr. | Paradise Valley, Ariz. | Arizona | US |
| Michigan | 3 | Vaughan, Scooter | F | 6-1 | 196 | Sr. | Placentia, Calif. | California | US |
| Michigan | 13 | Moffie, Lee | D | 6-1 | 200 | So. | Wallingford, Conn. | Connecticut | US |
| Michigan | 2 | Pateryn, Greg | D | 6-3 | 214 | Jr. | Sterling Heights, Mich. | Michigan | US |
| Michigan | 11 | Lynch, Kevin | F | 6-1 | 198 | So. | Grosse Pointe, Mich. | Michigan | US |
| Michigan | 19 | Rust, Matt | F | 5-10 | 194 | Sr. | Bloomfield Hills, Mich. | Michigan | US |
| Michigan | 21 | Treais, A.J. | F | 5-8 | 163 | So. | Bloomfield Hills, Mich. | Michigan | US |
| Michigan | 22 | Rohrkemper, Jeff | F | 6-0 | 176 | So. | Grosse Pointe, Mich. | Michigan | US |
| Michigan | 23 | Glendening, Luke | F | 5-11 | 194 | Jr. | Grand Rapids, Mich. | Michigan | US |
| Michigan | 24 | Merrill, Jon | D | 6-3 | 209 | Fr. | Brighton, Mich. | Michigan | US |
| Michigan | 25 | Wohlberg, David | F | 6-1 | 195 | Jr. | South Lyon, Mich. | Michigan | US |
| Michigan | 30 | Janecyk, Adam | G | 6-0 | 185 | Fr. | Ada, Mich. | Michigan | US |
| Michigan | 31 | Hunwick, Shawn | G | 5-7 | 166 | Sr. | Sterling Heights, Mich. | Michigan | US |
| Michigan | 35 | Hogan, Bryan | G | 6-1 | 193 | Sr. | Highland, Mich. | Michigan | US |
| Michigan | 4 | Clare, Kevin | D | 6-1 | 210 | Fr. | New Rochelle, N.Y. | New York | US |
| Michigan | 18 | DeBlois, Derek | F | 5-10 | 179 | Fr. | Narragansett, R.I. | Rhode Island | US |
| Michigan | 37 | Bennett, Mac | D | 5-11 | 180 | Fr. | Narragansett, R.I. | Rhode Island | US |
| Michigan | 10 | Brown, Chris | F | 6-2 | 194 | So. | Flower Mound, Texas | Texas | US |
| Michigan | 7 | Langlais, Chad | D | 5-9 | 171 | Sr. | Spokane, Wash. | Washington | US |
| Michigan | 12 | Hagelin, Carl | F | 6-0 | 187 | Sr. | Sodertalje, Sweden | n/a | Sweden |
| Michigan | 16 | Winnett, Ben | F | 6-1 | 179 | Sr. | New Westminster, B.C. | British Columbia | Canada |
| Michigan | 6 | Burlon, Brandon | D | 6-0 | 188 | Jr. | Nobleton, Ontario | Ontario | Canada |
| Michigan | 29 | Caporusso, Louie | F | 5-10 | 190 | Sr. | Woodbridge, Ontario | Ontario | Canada |
| Michigan | 39 | Sparks, Lindsay | F | 5-9 | 169 | So. | Oakville, Ontario | Ontario | Canada |
| North Dakota | 19 | Trupp, Evan | F | 5-9 | 174 | Sr. | Anchorage, Alaska | Alaska | US |
| North Dakota | 26 | Hextall, Brett | F | 5-11 | 195 | Jr. | Manhattan Beach, Calif. | California | US |
| North Dakota | 35 | Maris, Tate | G | 5-10 | 181 | So. | Denver, Colo. | Colorado | US |
| North Dakota | 8 | Cichy, Mike | F | 5-11 | 190 | So. | New Hartford, Conn. | Connecticut | US |
| North Dakota | 4 | Forbort, Derek | D | 6-5 | 200 | Fr. | Duluth, Minn. | Minnesota | US |
| North Dakota | 7 | Kristo, Danny | F | 5-11 | 188 | So. | Eden Prairie, Minn. | Minnesota | US |
| North Dakota | 20 | Gleason, Joe | F/D | 5-9 | 175 | So. | Edina, Minn. | Minnesota | US |
| North Dakota | 24 | Blood, Ben | D | 6-4 | 235 | Jr. | Plymouth, Minn. | Minnesota | US |
| North Dakota | 28 | Hill, Ryan | F/D | 6-3 | 202 | So. | Hermantown, Minn. | Minnesota | US |
| North Dakota | 29 | Nelson, Brock | F | 6-3 | 185 | Fr. | Warroad, Minn. | Minnesota | US |
| North Dakota | 13 | Bruneteau, Brett | F | 5-11 | 195 | So. | Omaha, Neb. | Nebraska | US |
| North Dakota | 9 | Lamoureux, Mario | F | 5-9 | 185 | Jr. | Grand Forks, N.D. | North Dakota | US |
| North Dakota | 25 | Marto, Jake | D | 6-0 | 173 | Sr. | Grand Forks, N.D. | North Dakota | US |
| North Dakota | 3 | LaPoint, Derrick | D | 6-3 | 205 | Sr. | Eau Claire, Wis. | Wisconsin | US |
| North Dakota | 2 | MacWilliam, Andrew | D | 6-2 | 220 | So. | Calgary, Alberta | Alberta | Canada |
| North Dakota | 10 | Knight, Corban | F | 6-2 | 195 | So. | High River, Alberta | Alberta | Canada |
| North Dakota | 11 | Rodwell, Derek | F | 6-2 | 200 | Fr. | Taber, Alberta | Alberta | Canada |
| North Dakota | 18 | Simpson, Dillon | D | 6-2 | 205 | Fr. | Edmonton, Alberta | Alberta | Canada |
| North Dakota | 21 | Frattin, Matt | F | 6-0 | 206 | Sr. | Edmonton, Alberta | Alberta | Canada |
| North Dakota | 27 | Rowney, Carter | F | 6-2 | 202 | So. | Sexsmith, Alberta | Alberta | Canada |
| North Dakota | 31 | Eidsness, Brad | G | 6-0 | 177 | Jr. | Chestermere, Alberta | Alberta | Canada |
| North Dakota | 32 | Dell, Aaron | G | 6-0 | 191 | So. | Airdrie, Alberta | Alberta | Canada |
| North Dakota | 5 | Genoway, Chay | D | 5-9 | 177 | Sr. | Morden, Manitoba | Manitoba | Canada |
| North Dakota | 14 | Dickin, Taylor | F | 6-2 | 190 | Fr. | Winnipeg, Manitoba | Manitoba | Canada |
| North Dakota | 15 | Davidson, Brent | F | 6-4 | 218 | Sr. | Morden, Manitoba | Manitoba | Canada |
| North Dakota | 17 | Gregoire, Jason | F | 5-11 | 196 | Jr. | Winnipeg, Manitoba | Manitoba | Canada |
| North Dakota | 22 | Malone, Brad | F | 6-2 | 212 | Sr. | Miramichi, New Brunswick | New Brunswick | Canada |
| Notre Dame | 1 | Summerhays, Steven | G | 6-0 | 193 | Fr. | Anchorage, AK | Alaska | US |
| Notre Dame | 24 | Lorenz, Sean | D | 6-1 | 201 | Jr. | Littleton, CO | Colorado | US |
| Notre Dame | 20 | Nugent, Kevin | W | 6-3 | 197 | So. | New Canaan, CT | Connecticut | US |
| Notre Dame | 8 | Calabrese, Sam | D | 5-11 | 183 | So. | Park Ridge, IL | Illinois | US |
| Notre Dame | 17 | Maday, Billy | W | 5-11 | 184 | Jr. | Burr Ridge, IL | Illinois | US |
| Notre Dame | 18 | Tynan, T.J. | C | 5-8 | 156 | Fr. | Orland Park, IL | Illinois | US |
| Notre Dame | 25 | Lind, Kevin | D | 6-3 | 218 | Fr. | Homer Glen, IL | Illinois | US |
| Notre Dame | 29 | Beers, Jared | D | 5-11 | 190 | Fr. | Mishawaka, IN | Indiana | US |
| Notre Dame | 10 | Gerths, David | W | 6-0 | 208 | Fr. | Ankeny, IA | Iowa | US |
| Notre Dame | 33 | Lavin, Joe | D | 6-2 | 198 | Sr. | Shrewsbury, MA | Massachusetts | US |
| Notre Dame | 16 | Voran, Mike | W | 5-11 | 197 | Fr. | Livonia, MI | Michigan | US |
| Notre Dame | 19 | Ryan, Ben | C | 5-11 | 197 | Sr. | Brighton, MI | Michigan | US |
| Notre Dame | 21 | Rust, Bryan | C | 5-11 | 196 | Fr. | Novi, MI | Michigan | US |
| Notre Dame | 31 | Rogers, Joe | G | 5-11 | 189 | Fr. | Marysville, MI | Michigan | US |
| Notre Dame | 9 | Lee, Anders | C | 6-3 | 218 | Fr. | Edina, MN | Minnesota | US |
| Notre Dame | 26 | Larson, Nick | W | 6-2 | 197 | So. | Apple Valley, MN | Minnesota | US |
| Notre Dame | 27 | Guentzel, Ryan | W | 184 | Sr. | Woodbury, MN | Minnesota | US | |
| Notre Dame | 35 | Brooke, Brian | G | 188 | Sr. | Eden Prairie, MN | Minnesota | US | |
| Notre Dame | 6 | Gaul, Patrick | C | 5-8 | 180 | Jr. | Pittsburgh, PA | Pennsylvania | US |
| Notre Dame | 28 | Johns, Stephen | D | 6-4 | 221 | Fr. | Wampum, PA | Pennsylvania | US |
| Notre Dame | 11 | Costello, Jeff | W | 6-0 | 210 | Fr. | Milwaukee, WI | Wisconsin | US |
| Notre Dame | 14 | Condon, Nick | D | 5-9 | 165 | Jr. | Wausau, WI | Wisconsin | US |
| Notre Dame | 32 | Johnson, Mike | G | 5-10 | 194 | So. | Verona, WI | Wisconsin | US |
| Notre Dame | 22 | Ridderwall, Calle | W | 193 | Sr. | Stockholm, Sweden | n/a | Sweden | |
| Notre Dame | 3 | Taker, Shayne | D | 6-4 | 184 | Fr. | Surrey, BC | British Columbia | Canada |
| Notre Dame | 4 | Sheahan, Riley | C | 6-2 | 205 | So. | St. Catharine’s, ONT | Ontario | Canada |
| Notre Dame | 12 | Ryan, Richard | W | 5-10 | 185 | Jr. | Toronto, ONT | Ontario | Canada |
Things seem to bode well for the State of Hockey regardless of how many teams from Minnesota are playing in the Frozen Four. The fact that the Golden Gophers haven’t made it to the Frozen Four since 2005 upsets a lot of Twin Citians, but Minnesota can be quite proud of their Duluth Bulldogs, as well as all of the Minnesotans on the other teams that have made it to the 2011 Frozen Four.
Source: umdbulldogs.com, fightingsioux.com, mgoblue.com, und.com