It was a memorable day last Saturday when Adrian College and Concordia University met at Michigan Stadium for the "Frozen Faceoff", the first-ever NCAA D-III hockey game to be played outdoors. The following are photos and blogs from players on each team on that memorable day.

Brad Fogal, Adrian College

Forty-eight hours after the Frozen Faceoff, I am finally able to sit down and reflect on this past weekend’s events. For me, it was one of those events that snuck up fast and seemed to be over even faster. In the week leading up to the game I was frequently being asked to comment on the thoughts and feelings I was experiencing for the upcoming weekend. It came as a shock to most people when I would reply that I had never been nervous, or overly excited. That I, in fact, hadn’t given too much thought to the game. I explained that I was trying to not over think it, nor let this historic event overwhelm me. As hard as it was, I was trying to take this game the same as any other I have ever played. I still had a job to do and needed to stay focussed on the task at hand, which was stopping pucks and helping my team win. I wanted to let everything happen and come to me naturally, no perceived images, nothing to look forward to, just let everything happen and take it in as it did.

To tell you the truth, I didn’t get that butterfly feeling until Saturday morning. Loading the bus and getting ready to head out, it finally hit me. I couldn’t help but feel the excitement and anticipation. Words can’t describe the sight and feelings that hit you as you pull up to the tunnel of Michigan Stadium. I can only imagine what it would be like walking up to the Roman Coliseum in the midst of its glory. The size, history and the shear respect you feel for it when you step off the bus is extremely intimidating. Dressing in the Wolverines locker room was a humbling experience. Sitting and preparing to compete in the same room as so many great athletes was an honor.

It was a long walk down the tunnel from the dressing room to the field, but once you came to the opening of that tunnel and were able to look out at one of the most historic football fields in the world converted to an ice rink. I would have walked miles to see and experience that. If the chill in the air hadn’t already given you goose bumps, that surely did.

The game itself was almost a blur. I found myself looking up into the stands and my surrounding every chance I had. I knew that the game itself would fly by, so I wanted to take as many mental pictures as I could. There is a big difference, I think, between experiencing an event like this as a player compared to a fan or any other observer. As athletes we don’t get to sit back and take it all in like everyone else can. We do get caught up in the game and sometimes forget where we are when focused on the play. However, what we get to take from this that no one else can, is the recollection of the game and event through our eyes. No one person’s experiences an event like this the same way. Every player looked up and drifted off in the surrounding at a different time, reminisced about playing with their childhood friends out on the pond or backyard rink and had a different memory.

It is the individual memories; the ones no one else gets to experience that makes this type of event so special for us athletes. I think you always wish you took some more time to soak everything up and walk away with more memories, but sometimes that is just not realistic. You take away what you can and hold onto those memories for the rest of your life. History was made and I had the privilege of being a part of it. I can’t thank everyone enough who made this event possible. From a player’s perspective, it was relaxing to know that all we had to worry about was playing hockey and enjoying this once in a life time experience. I’d like to thank all the fans and supporters who came out and bared the cold. I hope it was as memorable for you as it was for us.

Jari Sanders, Concordia

The second that word started to spread that our hockey team was going to have a chance to play at the University of Michigan's "The Big House", we were ecstatic. The team went about our normal business all week long, we had a good week of practice and we all were looking forward to the weekend ahead.

After a six-hour bus ride, we arrived at the hotel in Adrian. Before we could start getting excited for the game on Saturday at Michigan, we had to be ready for our first contest on Friday night. We played hard, but fell short, 4-1, on Friday night. The guys worked hard and the good news was that we would have another game just ten hours later, at The Big House. Players were in bed early but many of them told me that they were having trouble sleeping with all the excitement about playing in the first D-III outdoor game ever.

Usually around 7 a.m. we are a quiet group, but that day, we were ready to get on the bus and head to the rink/field. Pulling into the stadium, you could hear a buzz starting to stir on the bus. Then you had 30 guys with smiles across their faces when we looked at center ice sitting on the 50 yard line, surrounded by a 100,000 seat stadium.

The rink looked amazing, and every aspect of the pre-game was handled with such professionalism. The walk from the locker room to the ice sheet was a surreal moment. Some of the greatest college football players of all time have made that same walk. The weather was perfect and the ice was in great condition. You could see heads turning left and right trying to take in all of the surroundings. After all the pre-game festivities, now we had a game to play.

We played hard but lost the game, 3-0, the experience was something that my teammates or I will never forget. It is also great for the MCHA, along with  Division III hockey  to be the first to hold such an event, with 2,000 people in attendance.This was hands down the greatest hockey experience of my life, and our team gives thanks Adrian College for letting us be apart of such a memorable event.

OPENING FACEOFF