Philly a finalist to host NCAA's Frozen Four

Philadelphia is among the finalists to play host to the 2013 and 2014 Frozen Four, according to College Hockey News. The Wachovia Center would be the host venue.

A Comcast-Spectator spokesman confirmed that it had submitted a bid for the Frozen Four and that, "We would love to host it."

The ECAC would be the host conference.

The Frozen Four is the NCAA hockey tournament's national semifinals and championship game. Traditionally, the semifinals are held in two sessions on the Thursday after basketball's Final Four, and the title game is played Saturday night. On the Friday night between the semis and final, a skills challenge is held, and the Hobey Baker Award is presented to the season's best player.

This year, Boston College won the title by defeating Wisconsin at Ford Field in Detroit.

Other finalists, as reported by College Hockey News, are Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Boston, and there could be other candidates.

St. Louis hosted the Frozen Four in 2007 and Boston hosted it in 2004. Pittsburgh, home of the reigning Stanley Cup champion Penguins, has a new building opening next season.

In Philly's favor is the popularity of the Wachovia Center for NCAA events. The building has hosted the 2000 Women's Final Four, 2001 NCAA men's East Regionals, and 2006 and 2009 NCAA men's first and second rounds. The Wachovia Center will host the 2011 NCAA wrestling championships and 2013 NCAA men's basketball first and second rounds.

Philadelphia and Boston were finalists for the Frozen Four in 2009 (Washington was the host), 2010 (Detroit) and 2011 (St. Paul, Minn.). Tampa Bay will host the 2012 Frozen Four. *