The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) is entering its final weekend before the Mason Cup tournament. After this week, it will be a win-or-go-home situation for each team. This weekend will be eight of the nine CCHA teams’ last chance to leave a mark on the regular season.
Postseason Outlook
Currently, there are four teams able to take the first-place spot in the CCHA standings by the end of the weekend: Augustana (50 pts), St. Thomas (48 pts), Michigan Tech (48 pts), and Minnesota State (46 pts).
St. Thomas, Michigan Tech, and Minnesota State control their own fate in getting first place. Augustana is the only team off for the final weekend of the regular season. They will finish the regular season with a 14-8-4 record in the CCHA.
Bowling Green is the only team out of holding the Mason Cup quarterfinal home ice advantage that can reclaim it. The Falcons would need at least five of the six series points to advance past Michigan Tech, their last series opponent, in the standings.
Only two teams are locked into their position. Northern Michigan is unable to scratch out of ninth, and Ferris State will finish eighth, the last team to qualify for the Mason Cup tournament.
Michigan Tech and Bowling Green Battle for Home Ice Advantage
The Falcons are fifth in the CCHA standings. They are only two points behind Minnesota State and four points behind both Michigan Tech and St. Thomas. Bowling Green cannot climb to first place in the CCHA, which currently belongs to Augustana.
Michigan Tech will host the Falcons in Houghton, Michigan. The Huskies have split three of their last four CCHA series. Bowling Green enters the weekend on a three-game losing streak.
Northern Michigan Playing the Spoiler Role
Northern Michigan was officially eliminated from Mason Cup qualification after being swept by Lake Superior State. The three-win Wildcats can now only fight to keep the Minnesota State Mavericks from taking any more points themselves.
The Mavericks currently sit in fourth place, meaning any fall in the standings would take them out of holding home ice advantage for the Mason Cup tournament.
Lake Superior State Looking to Jump the Beavers
Bemidji State can not move up any further from its sixth spot in the CCHA standings. However, the Beavers are only three points ahead of Lake Superior State, meaning the Lakers could take sixth by the end of the weekend.
The Lakers host Ferris State in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. The Lakers-Bulldogs series will be the only one to take place Thursday and Friday, as opposed to Friday and Saturday.
