Michigan State, Eastern Michigan B Clinch Regular Season Titles

Although Michigan State suffered their second loss of the season and first in league play to the suddenly hot Ohio State Buckeyes 4-1, the Spartans were able to clinch the regular season MCRHL Active Division Championship along with the first seed in the MCRHL Championships March 6-7. The entire tournament field in both divisions is set, and the schedule can be downloaded at www.collegerollerhockey.net/bb. Eastern Michigan and Ohio State are the only teams to defeat Michigan State this season, and both will be battling for spots in the national championships, as they are currently in fourth and fifth place. One of the biggest games of the tournament will occur on Saturday the 6th when OSU and EMU will face off in the first round. Additionally, Eastern Michigan B was able to win their last remaining regular season game and clinch the first ever B Division regular season title. Both the Eagles and the Broncos of Western Michigan clinched first round byes in the tournament and will await the winners of two play-in games. Here are the matchups for the first round of the MCRHL Championships: Active Division (double-elimination) Saturday, 10:00 AM (1) Michigan State vs. (8) Ball State Saturday, 9:00 AM (2) Western Michigan vs. (7) Illinois Saturday, 9:00 AM (3) Michigan vs. (6) Illinois State Saturday, 10:00 AM (4) Ohio State vs. (5) Eastern Michigan B Division (first round single-elimination, then double-elimination) Saturday, 11:00 AM (4) Michigan State B vs. (5) Illinois B Saturday, 12:00 PM (3) Michigan B vs. (6) Ohio State B Saturday, 3:15 PM (1) Eastern Michigan B vs. Winner of (4)/(5) Saturday, 4:15 PM (2) Western Michigan B vs. Winner of (3)/(6) Again, the complete schedule can be downloaded at www.collegerollerhockey.net/bb in the MCRHL section. More details and previews on the tournament will be posted, so stay tuned to MCRHL.com and NCRHA.org for the latest developments.