MCRHL To Kickoff Their Season This Weekend

Oct. 27th Joe Dumar’s Tournament Preview

By: Kyle Jones

It’s hockey season again.  No, the NHL is still locked out, but collegiate roller hockey is just a few days away.  The MCRHL kick-off tournament will be held at Joe Dumars Fieldhouse in Shelby Township, MI.  There are no division II games on the schedule but Grand Valley, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan and Ohio State each send a DI and B team to Metro Detroit.  Michigan will send their DI team and Michigan State plan to send their B team. 

These are the story lines to watch this weekend:

Teams to Watch:

Central Michigan (DI):  The Chippewa’s played in DII last year and steamrolled through the MCRHL going undefeated.  They were 26-0-1 in the regular season and playoffs eventually shutting-out Pittsburgh in the National Championship game 8-0.  This weekend marks their first DI MCRHL game Central will play since they won the regional championship in 2011.   How will they fair against the stiff competition DI has to offer?

Ohio State (B):  I played in the B division and I know first hand, Ohio State is a talented and scrappy team.  They are alway a tough team with a stout defense and strong goaltending but found it difficult to consistently beat the MCRHL’s best.  Against teams they play this weekend, last year Ohio State was 3-3-1 with a goal differential of 0. The Buckeyes were invited to Nationals last year and if they want another invite this year, they will need a strong start in this tournament.

Players to Watch:

Brandon Dare, EMU (DI): Last year Brandon lead his team in goals and points (20 and 37 respectively). Besides Dare, the Eagles 4 top scorers last year are no longer with the team. Dare also was named to the the 3rd team All-American last year. With that said, I would draft Dare on my MCRHL fantasy team.  Expect big numbers from Brandon this year.

Nick Dow, GVSU (DI):  Not only is Dow entering his 4th year, he is also the President of the organization.  He lead the GVSU defense in points last year.  Grand Valley relies on their defense to win game and Dow leads that unit.  Dow was part of the last GVSU team to win a MCRHL championship in 2010, but that was a DII team.  If GVSU wants to be DI champs this year, they will have to lean on Dow.

Matt Figlewicz, GVSU (B):  Figlewicz holds down the blue line for the Grand Valleys B team and has been doing so for the past three years.  He is not only solid on defense but scoring threat with good speed and a shot that tends to find the back of the net.  He has proven himself to be valuable by being selected as a 3rd team All-American last season.  As he enters his fourth year as a Laker, look for him to score north of 30 points this year and 6 points this weekend.

Matt Sobecki/ Jeff Gbur, MSU (B): Michigan State’s B team has had a lot of success between the pipes in recent years.  This all on the heels of having 3 different starting goalies in 4 years.  This year is no exception as they usher in two freshmen goaltenders.     Sobecki and Gbur have big shoes to fill.  There is no room for butterflies here.  This weekends slate is unforgiving and will need a strong performance from both of these goalies.

 Games to Watch:

Ohio State vs GVSU (DI), 7:15 pm: Last season, these two teams ended up in a virtual tie.  Ohio State edged out Grand Valley in regular season by one point.  They each split a game at regionals but GVSU won the game that mattered, sending them to regional championship game.  If these teams are anything like they have been in the past it will be a tough, grind-it-out kind of game.  These teams may not be big rivals, but this game is equally as important for both squad. 

MSU vs GVSU (B), 8:15 pm:  This is a rematch of last year’s MCRHL regional championship game which ended in a 4-0 MSU win.  Look for the Lakers to seek revenge with returning starters who still have a sour taste in their mouth.  Grand Valley may have an edge with a number of returning veterans for the 2012-13 season but it won’t be that easy.  The Spartans have not lost to GVSU since Nov 2010 and look to keep that streak alive this weekend.