Men's Ice Hockey

Preview: CCHA eyes final weekend of regular season

All eight CCHA members are in conference play this weekend to finish out the 2021-22 CCHA regular season. An important weekend is on tap in the CCHA for playoff positioning in the 2022 CCHA Mason Cup Playoffs. 2021-22 CCHA MacNaughton Cup Champions Minnesota State (1), Michigan Tech (2), Ferris State (7) and St. Thomas (8) are four teams that are in their final standing. 

Of note, fourth-place Lake Superior and fifth-place Bowling Green are tied with 33 points each in the standings and face-off against eachother in Sault Ste. Marie this weekend. Sixth-place Northern Michigan is only one point behind those two clubs and will host seventh-place Ferris State. Finally, third-place Bemidji State will host eighth-place St. Thomas.

Notable Links:  
#1 Minnesota State (29-5-0) at #14 Michigan Tech (19-9-3)
Video Stream: FloHockey
Radio: MSU 1420 AM | MTU 93.5 FM
Live Stats: Friday | Saturday
Game Notes: MSU | MTU

#1 Minnesota State posted two victories, 3-1 and 2-1 (overtime), on home-ice vs. #14 Michigan Tech this season. The Mavericks have won their last nine games and 18 of its last 19 outings, Minnesota State has won the last six meetings with Michigan Tech and owns a 48-23-10 record in the all-time series vs. the Huskies. The first meeting between the two programs dates back to the 1996-97 season and in games played in Houghton, the Mavericks stand 18-17-6. 






 

Bowling Green (14-15-3) at Lake Superior State (15-16-1)
Video Stream: FloHockey
Radio: BGSU 88.1 FM | LSSU 99.5 FM
Live Stats: Friday | Saturday
Game Notes: BGSU | LSSU

Arguably one of the top conference series of the weekend, Bowling Green and Lake Superior State are tied in the CCHA standings headed into the weekend, each looking to earn home-ice in the first round of the 2022 CCHA Mason Cup Playoffs. Bowling Green holds the advantage in the series over the Lakers as the Falcons swept the first series of the season in November in Bowling Green. The Falcons won the opening game of the series by a score of 5-1 on Friday, Nov. 19. In Saturday night's series closer, the Falcons won by a score of 6-2. In the all-time series between the two teams, the Falcons hold the advantage by an overall record of 85-79-14 against the Lakers.






 

Ferris State (10-21-1) at Northern Michigan (17-13-1)
Video Stream: FloHockey
Radio: FSU 97.3 FM | NMU 100.3 FM
Live Stats: Click Here
Game Notes: FSU | NMU

Northern Michigan has posted a record of 70-30-6 against Ferris State. NMU has won the last 16 games played against FSU. The last time the 'Cats played the 'Dogs was a road series in Big Rapids back in November 2021 where NMU swept. The Wildcats won big Friday 6-3 and competed hard Saturday for a 7-6 OT win off just 18 shots on goal.


St. Thomas (3-28-1) at Bemidji State (14-18-0)
Video Stream: FloHockey
Radio: UST 1500 AM | BSU 92.1 FM
Live Stats: Friday | Saturday
Game Notes: UST | BSU

BSU dominates the all-time series record against the Tommies with a 24-3-1 record. The Beavers can clinch the third seed in the CCHA Playoffs and a home playoff series in the opening round with just three points in their series with St. Thomas. Bemidji State earned the series sweep over St. Thomas with a 5-2 victory in game one and a 6-1 victory in game two where the Beavers scored a season-high six goals. Bemidji State is 16-2-1 when playing St. Thomas at home and its last home loss against the Tommies was Nov. 29, 1998.