(Photo by Bob Snow, Bruins Daily)

CHICAGO – They are the two feel-good stories of the 2017 Frozen Four.

One, the coaching matchup in Thursday’s Denver-Notre Dame semifinal.

Denver coach Jim Montgomery served as an assistant under ND’s Jeff Jackson, who won national titles at Lake Superior State in 1992 and 1994. The Lakers led, 4-2, into the third period of the 1993 final game against Maine en route to what would be three straight. Until Paul Kariya set up Montgomery for the pure hat trick in the first seven minutes in the 5-4 final.

The second the rarest of the rare en route to the top of NCAA play.

In the 1986 title game, Harvard head coach Bill Cleary had son Bill III on his bench. In the 1977 title game, the Wisconsin Johnson’s – “Badger” Bob and son Mark. The Cleary careers never went the pro route, while the Johnson father and son combo went on to each play in the NHL, each with extended runs with the Penguins.

Thursday night, the Boston Donato’s put their asterisk in the college-sports history books when coach Ted and son Ryan take on Minneosta-Duluth for a shot at Saturday night’s winner-take-all championship game at the United Center on ESPN.

They become the first-ever father-son team to be drafted by the same NHL team to play in the Frozen Four. Ironically, both in their sophomore seasons. Ted won it all in Harvard’s only national title in 1989.

Even their size and draft history are in sync, not to mention their NCAA stats. Ryan Donato at 6-foot-1 and 181 pounds has 61 career points in two seasons thus far. He was taken in the second round at No. 56 overall in 2014.

Ted, at 5-10 and 180 had 148 points over four years, taken in the fifth round at No. 98 overall in 1987. He played 14 seasons in the NHL from 1991-’04; in Black and Gold from ‘91-’99. His best season was the ‘96-‘97 campaign with 51 points.

Heck, both even shoot left.

Both were relatively mum on the topic 24 hours before Harvard’s biggest game in 25 years.

Ted Donato speaks to the college hockey media after Harvard’s practice in Chicago on Wednesday. (Photo by Bob Snow, Bruins Daily)

“I don’t think I, quite honestly, spend a lot of time thinking about it,” dad said at Wednesday’s pres conference. “It’s really been kind of team focused. You know, I am very happy for Ryan and proud of the way he’s playing. I’m also very proud of the way our team, most importantly, is playing. I think it may be something at the end of the season, you know, whenever the sun might come out here, you might sit back and really appreciate what a great life experience it’s been for both of us to be able to be part of a great season to this point.”

Last year, Boston College ended the Donato’s chance for a trip to the Frozen Four.

The balancing act hasn’t changed since.

“It’s a unique balance,” Ted told NHL.com. “A little bit different for each coach that’s had that opportunity. I’m not so sure I have it down yet, by any means. It’s been fun, it’s been challenging at times. Ultimately, I think I’m a coach when we’re at the rink and when we’re practicing or we have games and try to be a dad when we step away.”

“It’s been a blast so far,” according to Ryan. “Obviously there’s a line between father and coach. Before the season even started we knew the territory that came with having a coach as a father or a father as a coach. It’s been good so far and hopefully I’ll keep on learning. It’s a learning experience.”

“People try to compare us at times, at least the roads that we’ve taken,” dad said. “But I think Ryan is very much his own person, has made his own choices and will continue to do so.”

Regardless of game outcomes this week, look for son to follow in the most important footsteps of dad for the next two years.

“Selfishly,” Ted said with that Harvard degree in his back pocket for life, “I think I take incredible pride in everything that Harvard represents and I think as a family we’re very proud that he has the opportunity to not only chase his hockey aspirations but more importantly have the ability to go to a school like Harvard where he really gets to push himself academically and be around so many great people in all facets of life.”