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Welcome to the Real Recognize Real Report. That title isn’t grammatically correct, but it’s not supposed to be. It’s a colloquialism that is commonly used within my family and friend circle, highlighting how a person possessing a particular trait can readily identify others possessing that same trait. A person who is genuine and authentic can recognize other people that are genuine and authentic. The “3R Report” will follow that theme – it’ll always include intel from real, genuine sources whose credibility has been verified. Installments will drop regularly. They won’t always be long, and they won’t always include huge news, but they’ll always be real.

Today’s 3R report focuses on the progress of the quarterbacks in spring ball.

Michigan hockey completed its last practice at Yost Ice Arena on Tuesday and is en route to Minnesota for the Frozen Four.

The Wolverines face No. 1 Boston College on Thursday, April 11, at approximately 7:30 p.m. CT at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. The game will air on ESPN2 following the other national semifinal between Boston University and Denver.

Below, some notes from Michigan hockey players and coaches as the final weekend of the season approaches:

Beating Michigan State was motivation for the NCAA Tournament run
The Wolverines lost to Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament Championship Game last month, watching from across the ice at Munn Arena as their rivals celebrated a goal both had shared.

U-M got its revenge in the NCAA Tournament regional final to seal its third-straight Frozen Four berth.

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“Obviously it puts a pit in your stomach. I think it’s good to go through pain,” captain Jacob Truscott said of watching the Spartans claim the Big Ten Tournament.

“I think it really helped us out, and watching them celebrate, it’s definitely hard, but it motivates us a lot and we got to work that next week. And as soon as we saw them on our schedule, the guys were pumped up.

“But they’re just another team in our way. It felt good beating State, but at the end of the day, it’s just another team we gotta go through. I’m proud of the guys of how they responded and how motivated they were to beat that team.”

The “pain” to which Truscott referred includes four losses to MSU and the several third-period collapses from the first half of the season.

“I think guys did a good job responding and sticking with it, and it’s starting to pay off,” Truscott said.

In the Frozen Four, the first period will be key
Michigan trailed by a goal after the first period in each of the program’s Frozen Four losses in 2022 and 2023.

Starting hot against BC is a focal point for the Wolverines, and Truscott hopes the team can use its experience in the Frozen Four to accomplish that.

“The guys have been here and know what to expect in that first period or right off the get go,” he said. ” I think guys will be more calm and know what to expect. And I think that’s huge to teach the young guys or the guys that transferred in and that haven’t been in those big moments.”

When it comes to the game itself, the Eagles boast four players — Will Smith, Cutter Gauthier, Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault — who rank in the top 10 nationally in scoring.

“We just gotta shut down every line,” Truscott said. “They have more than one good line. Obviously they have that freshman line [Perreault, Smith and Leonard], but we just gotta stick to our game. We gotta be hard on them. We gotta be hard on every line, not just that line. … We just gotta want it more than them.”

Dylan Duke’s big weekend: More impressive than you thought
Though Frank Nazar earned deserved headlines for his assist against Michigan State, Dylan Duke enjoyed an incredibly productive opening weekend in the NCAA Tournament. His four goals and an assist were integral to the Wolverines advancing from a tough region.

What’s more impressive: He played with a hurt hand against the Spartans and, according to Brandon Naurato, essentially couldn’t shoot the puck. In that context, his go-ahead goal midway through the third period — a rush down the wing, driving the net and sliding the puck to Trey Augustine’s far post — all the more impressive. Duke added the dagger on a redirect in the closing minutes.

“That guy’s a warrior,” Truscott said. “He’s a huge part of this team and he just battles every day. He’s such a great leader and he’s a great guy for all of us to look up to.”

Added Frank Nazar: “That guy is a workhorse. He always brings it out in the best times and the best games.”

Underdogs on paper only: ‘We’re a top team’
The Wolverines reached a Frozen Four alongside the nation’s three top seeds. A program of U-M’s pedigree is rarely an underdog, and Michigan doesn’t see itself as one.

“I’ve had no doubt all year that we’re a top team,” Truscott said. “Just because we’re the 10th seed doesn’t mean we’re not one of the best teams. And I think it shows — we’re there with all those people, and we’ve already beat four and five, and I’ve known all year that we’re a top seed.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that we were gonna get here and I think just from the get-go, we can compete with all those teams. Just because we’re 10 doesn’t mean we’re any less than any of those other teams.”