Active Division Playoffs Nearly Set

 

The fight for the last playoff spot was cleared up quickly, with Illinois taking advantage of their opportunities, Ball State going 0-4 on the weekend, and Purdue not pulling off the miracle.  The Illini were able to beat Ball State, Purdue, and Miami along with tying Purdue in their second contest to come within one point of clinching a playoff spot. 

 

The Boilermakers went 1-2-1 and finished their regular season with 6 points and will miss the MCRHL Championships for the second straight year.  They clearly improved from a year ago, however, and look to be on the road to the playoffs by next season.

 

The Cardinals still have four games remaining, but must win them all and have both Illinois and Illinois State lose all remaining games to make the Championships.  They will qualify for nationals as the only Division II team in the MCRHL, and will need to use their remaining regular season games to prepare for the intensity of that tournament.

 

Miami now has two games remaining in their regular season after a 2-2-0 weekend, bringing their record for the season to 7-7-2.  They still have a shot for that fifth seed (the last MCRHL seed to make the national championships last year), but even if they fall to sixth they will certainly be a bubble team.  Losing a key game to Michigan likely hurt them, but winning another key game against Ohio State had to help.  The Redhawks only have Ball State and Illinois left on their schedule, teams they went .500 against last weekend.

 

Ohio State had a rough weekend, going 1-3-0 to open the second semester. With 14 points after 11 games, the Buckeyes still have a chance to catch a lot of teams and move up very high in the standings.  Two games against each of Eastern Michigan, Michigan State, and Western Michigan will determine where this team finishes, anywhere from second to eighth is within range.

 

 

So now the focus will turn to Cedar Springs, Michigan, at the Lazer Skate Sports Plex, where a fight for seeding and national bubble position will commence. 

 

Ohio State will play four games, two against Western Michigan and two against Michigan State which will largely determine their fate.

 

Illinois State will attempt to clinch a playoff spot with two points against Michigan State (twice) or Western Michigan, a tough task for sure.

 

Michigan State will try to remain within striking distance of first place Eastern Michigan with five games on the weekend, two against OSU, two against ISU, and a rematch against Western Michigan, who bested Michigan State earlier in the regular season with the Spartans taking out some revenge at the Winter Invitational.

 

Western Michigan also is looking to get a top three seed with four games against teams we?ve already discussed.  The Broncos have had some great wins and some questionable losses this season, and will need to have some consistency to build momentum for the MCRHL Championships.

 

Only 35 games remain on the MCRHL Active Division schedule, and eight big ones will be played this weekend.  This event probably has the most top tier teams playing each other than any other has in the regular season.

 

Stay tuned for MCRHL.com for a Development Division update, along with stats and scores from last weekend, next weekend, and all events to come.  Only 45 days remain until Selection Friday, so it?s now crunch time for everyone to increase their national standing.