TAMPA — Traveling a thousand miles is nothing when you're a college hockey fan.

At least not for the diehard fans descending on Tampa this week to watch their teams compete in the Frozen Four at Amalie Arena.

On Wednesday, they arrived. They wore jerseys. They cheered.

They were the most dedicated of the dedicated, dozens sitting in the stands to watch their teams — Denver, Boston College, Quinnipiac and North Dakota — practice for the Division I Men's Ice Hockey Championships.

They're not alone. When the semifinals start today, the NCAA estimates that more than 16,000 will fill the arena for each game. Some, though, didn't have that far to travel.

Scott Sipperly arrived at 11 a.m. with his son Colton, 15, who plays youth hockey for the Tampa Scorpions. It was, of course, a school day for the Tampa Catholic High School student.

"My dad signed me out an hour ago," the teen said.

• • •

When Jim Wiste watched the University of Denver Pioneers tear up the ice Wednesday, it was like a step back in time.

In 1968, the now-70-year-old was in their skates — and helped lead his team to clinch the national title. He fumbled with his iPhone to find an old black-and-white photo he saved. It's a snapshot of him and a teammate on the ice right after the win.

He went on to play in the National Hockey League.

"You wish you could go back in time and lace 'em up one more time," Wiste said as he looked the current Pioneers whiz back and forth on the ice.

He wore a large championship ring on his right ring finger — made retroactively for him and his teammates five years ago. "Back then, they'd only give you pennants," he chuckled.

Wiste now lives in Denver, where he runs a sports bar and is always eager to cheer on his favorite team.

"You can't take it for granted," he said. "It's the greatest chance of a lifetime."

• • •

When Boston College was on the ice, Carol Savel was right up against the glass. She was on a mission.

IPhone in hand, a nimble Savel followed the Eagles' players with her camera lens as they maneuvered the puck around the ice. The photos weren't for her, but to text live to her daughter Mackenzie Savel, a senior at BC.

The Belleair mother snapped photos and sent updates to her daughter, trying to nab shots of certain players, like goalie Thatcher Demko, who's up for two prestigious college hockey awards this season.

The daughter is on her college's rowing team and wasn't able to come back to Florida for the Frozen Four, her mother said. She was devastated she wouldn't be able to watch her favorite team in the Frozen Four.

"She's a huge hockey fan for a Florida girl," Carol Savel said.

The mother wore an Eagles T-shirt with a makeshift sign: "My daughter's a BC senior, Class of 2016, adores BC hockey and coach, please sign this tee."

But the team cleared the ice before she could get any autographs.

Mom didn't give up, though. The winning teams will have autograph sessions Friday

"So, cross your fingers," she said.

• • •

There's no scientific way to tell who is biggest fan of Quinnipiac University's hockey team. Bob Johnson, 65, is definitely in the running. He graduated in 1972 and played hockey for the school, back when it was a club team.

Johnson may live in McLean, Va., but that doesn't keep him from attending Bobcats' games in Hamden, Conn. He was at 12 this season.

Johnson was one of the few Quinnipiac fans there, but the self-declared "maniac from Quinnipiac" said fellow Bobcats would fill the stands when the semifinals start today.

He has one superstition: a white baseball cap with the Quinnipiac logo from the 1990s. It's Johnson's lucky hat.

When Quinnipiac lost a playoff game to Cornell in March, Johnson wasn't wearing his lucky hat to the game. He wore it for Game 3, and Quinnipiac won the series 2-1.

The hat may be old and worn, but he stands by it. He'll be wearing it this week.

"You gotta take it one game at a time," he said. "But once you get the taste … you want to win."

• • •

As soon as North Dakota's skates hit the ice, Danny Cooper was ready.

High-pitched and nearly ear-shattering, he roared "Sioux," as he waved a mighty green University of North Dakota flag overhead.

Cooper, 59, of Ohio said back in college he used to run a similar flag around the entire arena every time the team scored.

He has been to five of seven NCAA championships where his team won it all.

North Dakota fans certainly brought the most flair to Wednesday's practices.

The Fighting Hawks — though many fans Wednesday still preferred to call them by their former name, the Fighting "Sioux" — drew a couple of dozen decked out in green.

"Spirit is in everyone's heart," Cooper said of his fellow fans. "We feed off the team, and the team feeds off of us."

Contact Sara DiNatale at sdinatale@tampabay.com or (813) 226-3400.