Weekend Preview (Dec 1-2): The New Rink

By: Kyle Jones 

 

The last weekend event of the fall semester may also be the largest.  Every school in the MCRHL will be represented as they travel to Shelby Township and play at the site of the 2013 MCRHL Regional Tournament: The New Rink.  We will see eight ranked teams play along with six top 25 match-ups (according to NCRHA Coast to Coast). Twenty-four games will be played in total, but here are three to keep an eye on.

 

In the most anticipated DI game of the weekend, MSU and GVSU will face off at 2 pm on Saturday.  This game will mark the first match up between these two highly talented teams in the 2012-13 regular season.  Michigan State is notorious for their electrifying offense but it didn’t seem to be fully charged to start the season.  They found it difficult to get quality shots against teams with good defense.  The Spartans cant afford to get off to a slow start in this game.  Grand Valley’s bread and butter is defense allowing only 6 goals so far this season.  This game should be strength against strength: Michigan States high powered offense vs Grand Valley’s lockdown defense.

 

The Redhawks and the Bearcats come into the weekend as the only remaining undefeated teams in DII.  Although both teams have not lost to this point, each team has done it in very different ways.  With the exception of Western Michigan, Miami has rolled passed the competition without any hesitation.  With a deep bench and lots of experience, Miami seems poised to be the team to beat in the DII division.  Cincinnati plans to be the team to stop the Redhawks in their tracks.  Cincinnati (in contrast to Miami) has won four tight games.  Although they are not flashy, Cinncy is very methodical in their game play and find ways to win. Miami may have the edge in experience but Cincinnati has shown they know how to win tight games.

 

Michigan State has had a target on their back as the team to beat in the B division for the past four years, but this year Grand Valley seems to be homing in on the bullseye and look to pass up the Spartans.  Grand Valley feels snubbed as they were left unranked in the first poll of the year.  The Lakers want to prove they not only belong in the top 10, but show the power on top of the B division has shifted.

 

Teams to keep an eye on:

This is a big weekend for Ohio State.  They already have losses to Michigan State and Grand Valley this year.  Although we are not even half way through the season, Ohio State needs a signature win against a quality team.  If they lose to both MSU and GVSU this weekend, they will have quite the hole to dig out of when next semester rolls around.  

 

Western Michigan has played a tough schedule so far this year.  The Broncos may be the best team with a losing record in the NCRHA.  They have played teams very tough and could very well be 3-0, but instead find themselves 1-2.  This weekend they will need to prove that they are better than their record indicates.