Hockey needs win to qualify
Club hockey team captain Rob Innis said he wanted to win nationals before this season’s first game.
Now, five months later, he and his teammates have to win Friday at No. 3 Michigan State (9-9-4) to get that opportunity.
Four teams from each region make up the sixteen-team field for the national tournament. With the top three spots in the Central Region locked down by Davenport, Oakland and Michigan State, the final spot has come down to CMU (15-11-1) and Michigan (10-10-3).
No. 4 Michigan has the edge based on its strength of schedule. Even though CMU split with Michigan this season and has the better record, the team will have to defeat Michigan State to jump Michigan in the ratings.
Innis said Friday’s game is all or nothing.
“Being here as long as I have been, I don’t think that any season is a success unless we make it to nationals,” he said. “The MSU game will definitely define our season as a success or failure.”
State is unbeaten in its last seven games, including a win and a tie against the Central Region’s top two teams—Oakland and Davenport.
The first game between the two teams ended at 3-3.
Michigan State scored all three goals on the power play.
Drawing the defensive assignment against MSU’s top line will be Chad Pipken, Chuck Vaughn and Craig Lipar’s checking line. This unit has been CMU’s best defensive line all season.
Alternate captain Bob Kelly said CMU must also stick with what has been working.
“We really don’t want to get off the page we’ve been on because we’ve been putting this together for a few months now,” he said.
Goaltender Troy Reuter said that Friday’s 10 p.m. game is crucial.
“It’s do or die time I guess,” he said. “We have to win or our season is over.”
