Michigan State, Michigan Establish Themselves as Teams to Beat

The MCRHL held 26 games in Bloomington, IL October 18th and 19th, including the first games of the season for Illinois State, Michigan State, Michigan, and Michigan Tech. After two event weekends, Ball State, Michigan, and Michigan State are the only active undefeated teams, with two teams yet to start play in the 2003-2004 campaign. The Spartans showed that they are worthy of at least their current #4 national ranking, taking advantage of an Illinois State major penalty in their first game to take control, and later defeating Illinois and Purdue. They will face off against Eastern Michigan this weekend in the first home event of the MCRHL season. Michigan also went 3-0 on the weekend, defeating Miami of Ohio, Purdue, and holding off the upstart Illini. The Wolverines will play their two scheduled games against Michigan State in a home and home series. The feature game was just that, another spotlight shining on a great MCRHL rivalry which lived up to its billing. Illinois State was able to score late to clinch a 4-2 win in front of a large contingent of both Illini and Redbird fans. Illinois will be anxious to even the series in their next meeting of the season. Western Michigan bounced back from the upset against Illinois in Fort Wayne to beat the Illini 9-4 in route to an undefeated weekend. The Broncos sit in first by way of points at 6-1-0, and will look to improve that record this weekend at Eastern Michigan in a renewal of a MAC school rivalry. Within a couple of weeks, we should know if this team has the ability to challenge for the MCRHL title, with upcoming games against Eastern Michigan and Michigan State. Check out the standings section to check out the current situation in the MCRHL, along with statistics that will be updated within a week, and check back often for upcoming games and stories on MCRHL.com.