A record five Colorado Springs players went from playing youth hockey together to being potential NCAA Tournament foes this weekend.

“You always knew of a couple guys in the tourney like the Hales (brothers David and Ryan) at North Dakota, but having five guys at the same time is pretty special,” UMass-Lowell junior forward Josh Holmstrom said.

They know each other well.

Holmstrom, Denver senior forward Chris Knowlton and Minnesota junior wing Tom Serratore played on the same bantam and midget teams for the Denver-area Colorado Thunderbirds. Holmstrom was teammates with Denver sophomore Matt Tabrum on the Colorado Rampage of northern Colorado Springs. Niagara junior goalie Cody Campbell played for the Pikes Peak Miners.

“It’s definitely cool to see guys out of Colorado Springs playing Division I,” Knowlton said. “The number will definitely get higher because hockey in Colorado is really taking off. The Thunderbirds do a great job preparing you and those are strong clubs down in Colorado Springs.”

The five could end up playing each other for a spot in the Frozen Four this Saturday if their teams win Friday.

Campbell’s third-seeded Niagara (23-9-5) plays No. 2 North Dakota (21-12-7) while Serratore’s top-seeded Gophers (26-8-5) face No. 4 Yale (18-12-3) in the same West regional.

No. 1 seed UMass-Lowell (26-10-2) takes on No. 4 Wisconsin (22-12-7) with No. 3 Denver (20-13-5) matched up against second seed New Hampshire (19-11-7) in the Northeast regional.

According to Lowell coach Norm Bazin, a former CC assistant along with Jason Lammers, Holmstrom has played a big part in the River Hawks’ resurgence. He tallied 24 points (12 goals) this season and scored the game-winner against Providence that clinched the regular-season title.

He scored the opening goal in last year’s NCAA win over No. 1 seed Miami.

“Josh Holmstrom brings intensity to each and every game,” Bazin said. “He is one of our assistant captains who is a great example for our younger players both on and off the ice.”

Holmstrom expects more of the same success this weekend.

“We are definitely building off last year,” he said. “We learned what to expect and how to handle the situation. We have high hopes.”

If they play again, Holmstrom and Knowlton will take a moment to acknowledge their friend.

“Josh and I lined up against each other a few times and we would smile and ask how the other was doing,” Knowlton said.

Then it is game on.

“It always brings out your best when you play anybody you know,” Holmstrom said. “It is always fun to beat guys you know.”

Area hopefuls in NCAAs

Five players who call Colorado Springs home are playing on some of the 16 teams competing in the NCAA Division I ice hockey tournament this weekend. They are:

Cody Campbell, junior goalie, Niagara

Josh Holmstrom, junior forward, UMass-Lowell

Chris Knowlton, senior forward, Denver

Tom Serratore, junior forward, Minnesota

Matt Tabrum, sophomore forward, Denver