The ice will soon be set, the stands packed, and the spotlight shining brightly on St. Louis as the city gears up to host the 2025 NCAA Men’s Hockey Frozen Four. For many, this might seem like just another major sports event, but for those with connections to ̽̽, it’s a momentous occasion that transcends the game itself. At the heart of this celebration are two ̽̽ alumni—Jeff Schulman ’89 and Chris Zimmerman ‘81 —whose longstanding friendship and professional collaboration have brought this prestigious event to life. Their journey, both personal and professional, offers a compelling narrative of how shared passions and mutual respect can turn dreams into reality.
Forging a Friendship Through Hockey
The story of Schulman and Zimmerman begins on the ice, where their paths crossed in the competitive world of college hockey. Zimmerman, who graduated from ̽̽ in 1981, and Schulman, who arrived in the fall of 1985, were part of different ̽̽ hockey generations. Despite their differing timelines as players, their bond would later be strengthened through a shared dedication to the sport and their alma mater.
Their connection grew over the years through various alumni events and their continued involvement in the hockey community. Zimmerman, now the President and CEO of the National Hockey League St. Louis Blues, reminisces about their early encounters. “I met Jeff playing in the Thursday night alumni skates that they’ve had for 30 years. It was more than natural for me to reach back to Jeff, who we had had professional interactions when I was at [hockey equipment company] Bauer.”
For Schulman, Athletic Director at ̽̽ since 2016 and a former member and chair of the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Committee, the friendship was not just a personal connection but a professional asset. “Well, first of all, I think one of the things that's truly unique about ̽̽ hockey is the relationships that exist among alums from different generations, and Chris is part of that. He's in the early 80s and I arrived at ̽̽ in the fall of 1985, so we didn't cross over at all as players. But we met playing in some alumni skates and at events over the years and, of course, the fact that he works in the sports industry allowed us to develop a really nice professional and personal relationship, and that's part of what obviously blossomed into the partnership to host the Frozen Four in St Louis.”
The Frozen Four Opportunity
The Frozen Four is the culminating event of the NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament, bringing together the top four teams from across the nation for a final showdown. Traditionally held in major cities and NHL arenas, the Frozen Four is not only a significant event for college hockey but also a major opportunity for cities and institutions to showcase their commitment to the sport.
St. Louis last hosted the Frozen Four in 2007, an event that played proved to be a major success. When it was time for St. Louis’s bid to host the 2025 Frozen Four, there were no local universities with a Division 1 program. Zimmerman saw a unique opportunity. “As we were putting together our bid, I reached out to the school I hold closest to my heart in college hockey, ̽̽,” Zimmerman recalls. “For me, obviously, there's no other school, certainly the chance to partner with Jeff on this project, there's no one out there that I'd rather be doing that with.”
That’s where Schulman and ̽̽ came into the picture. “I started talking with Chris about this in maybe 2017 or 2018 when the Blues were in the midst of a major renovation of the Enterprise Center. The Frozen Four bid process is highly competitive with many major cities and NHL franchises vying to host the event, so St. Louis really wasn’t a viable option until it made this really massive capital investment in their facility. Chris reached out to me as they were doing that, and just said, hey, this is something we'd really like. Would ̽̽ be interested in partnering with us?” Not long after, collaboration and preparations efforts were in full stride, as the two programs began the groundworks for what was yet to come.
The Collaborative Effort
The process to become a host institution for the Frozen Four is complex and highly competitive. It involves a detailed bid process where cities and institutions must demonstrate their capability to handle the scale of the event. As an experienced college athletics administrator with a strong hockey background, Schulman was well-versed in the requirements. He was able to guide the Blues and the St. Louis Sports Commission with their bid submission and in the fall of 2020 it was announced that the Frozen Four would be coming back to St. Louis with ̽̽ serving as the “host” institution.
Zimmerman and Schulman’s collaboration was pivotal in crafting a successful bid. “One of the things that Z has made very clear is how much the Blues, the St. Louis Sports Commission, and the City of St. Louis value this event and how committed they are to its success,” Schulman says. “Led by the professional team at the sports commission, they've attended every Frozen Four since first contemplating a bid for the event and Z's been to almost everyone one of them,” Schulman explained. “As a member of the hockey committee, one of my responsibilities was to meet with all of the future hosts at every Frozen Four. These past four years I’ve had to introduce myself twice… once as a member of the committee and then again as a future host with the team from St. Louis.”
Impact on ̽̽ and the Broader Hockey Community
For ̽̽, being chosen as the host institution for the Frozen Four represents a significant opportunity to enhance the university’s visibility and strengthen its hockey program. Schulman highlights the broader implications. “I think anytime ̽̽’s name is part of such a highly visible event, it’s a good thing for the university,” he says.
Schulman also underscores the potential for long-term benefits. “We have several alumni out there and obviously a large group of prospective students in the St. Louis area. The Frozen Four has a national and even international reach, so the exposure from hosting the event will benefit ̽̽ in a variety of different ways,” he says.
Zimmerman agrees, noting that the event also serves as a celebration of the partnership between ̽̽ and St. Louis. “I'll go back to St Louis is a great hockey market. And obviously hockey plays a big role in ̽̽, certainly ̽̽ athletics. So, you know, I think the exposure of St. Louis players to ̽̽, to understand what those initials even mean, I think there’ll be a pretty good chance to build awareness around Vermont and Vermont hockey.”
A Celebration of Friendship and Legacy
As the event approaches, both Zimmerman and Schulman are looking forward to the celebrations and the chance to bring their vision to life. “I think we’re going to build an amazing event,” Zimmerman says. “This is the NCAA championship game. We want the players, we want the people who come to St Louis, from the minute they step off a plane to feel the energy and excitement. Our goal is set. We have a great hockey city here. We have great hockey fans.”
Zimmerman adds, “You do that by, shining a spotlight on college hockey, shining a spotlight on the teams, the alumni, the fans, the parents, all those groups. This is a big moment in their lives. They've been hockey families forever. We want to make sure that we do everything we can to make it a world class experience.”
Schulman concludes, “It's a really exciting event for the University to be part of, and to be sharing the hosting responsibilities with Chris who is such a proud and successful Catamount, is particularly special. We're committed to helping St. Louis put on a fantastic event and along the way to elevate the visibility of ̽̽ and ̽̽ Hockey.