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Just like in 2016, Central Michigan entered the regional playoffs as the #9 seed. Meaning that two upset victories were needed in order for them to advance to the national tournament in Dallas, Texas. After winning the Vezina Cup championship just a week prior, the Chippewas had all the momentum heading into regionals.

Regional Semi-Final: #9 Central Michigan vs. #4 Grand Valley (3/6)

As soon as the puck dropped, both teams played very cautiously. Both teams were really feeling each other out the first three or four minutes of the game.

Central Michigan knew even though GVSU was the #4 seed, they were the best team at the regional tournament. And Grand Valley swept the Chips back in January by demanding scores of 10–4 and 6–3.

Grand Valley had not played a game in two weeks after getting eliminated by Ferris State in the second round of the MCHC tournament on February 22.

Just by watching, one could tell that nerves were high coming into this game as it was a win or go home game.

After about four minutes of slower, back and forth hockey, Grand Valley showed the first sign of strong offense. CMU defenseman Charlie Hayes knocked Cole Parkhurst off the puck in Central’s defensive zone. But Lakers’ forward Trevor Lassaline was at the right place at the right time to pick up the loose puck. Lassaline then launched a shot from the slot, beating Central Michigan’s goaltender Thomas Rofe over the glove hand, putting Grand Valley State up 1–0 with 15:10 to go in the first period.

#4 Dalton Sutherland (Photo by Tyler Lajiness and Haley Zerkel)

It did not take long for the Chips to respond as Dalton Sutherland managed to hold the zone, skate up in the slot area and net an unassisted goal with 12:50 to go in the first period. Knotting up the score at one goal apiece.

The rest of the first period consisted of consistent offense and great goaltending from both teams as Grand Valley lead in shots after the period 13–11.

The entire first period was also played on full strength as there were no penalties called in the first 20 minutes of play. Which is highly unusual for the Chippewas. The first period ended in a 1–1 tie.

The second period started with offensive explosions for both teams. It only took a minute and 22 seconds for GVSU to take a 2–1 lead as Timothy Baldwin scored off a feed from Mitchell Lawton.

But just a little over a minute later, CMU winger Jacob Standre picked up a goal to tie the game 2–2 with 17:22 to go in the second period of play. Standre’s whole line of offense got in on that play as Jacob Turowski and Brendan Nelson picked up assists on the game-tying goal.

#9 Jacob Standre (Photo by Tyler Lajiness and Haley Zerkel)

The only other abnormal occurrence in the second period was the first penalty in this game. With 8:01 left in the period, CMU forward Keegan Moore picked up a five-minute major penalty and game misconduct for head contact on a hit laid on Parkhurst of GVSU. With Moore leaving the game and Central now down a man for five minutes, the Chips had their work cut out for them.

#16 Keegan Moore (Left), #15 Justin McComas (Right) (Photo by Tyler Lajiness and Haley Zerkel)

Grand Valley recorded seven shots on goal throughout the first four minutes of their power play. But with 52 seconds left in their man advantage, Laker forward Daniel Deblouw got booked for a trip.

After the short 4 on 4 play, GVSU killed off their short penalty kill, making both teams 0/1 on the power play.

Even though Grand Valley State put up 19 shots in the second period, Thomas Rofe stood strong in net for Central Michigan and the second period ended tied at two.

The third period of play started slower than most thought it would. As both teams only recorded two shots each through seven minutes of play. But with a little more than ten minutes to go in the game, the speed and intensity skyrocketed.

Rapid back and forth play ensued. Scoring chance after scoring chance occurred for both squads. But solid defense put each scoring chance to a halt.

The third period was also very physical. The officials let the teams play with very minimal penalties so far in the game and with this being an elimination game, no one was getting a whistle unless it was a very obvious penalty.

With 5:37 to go in the game, Avery Hill got the referee’s attention with a high stick in his attacking zone corner. Putting the Chippewas to their second man advantage of the night.

Central immediately got the puck deep in the attacking zone and maintained control for the majority of the first half of the power play. Only allowing Grand Valley to clear the puck one time.

Finally, just a little over a minute into the man advantage, the Jackson Jennette netted what ended up being the game-winner with 4:25 left on the clock. With tic-tac-toe passing from both Standre and Sutherland, Jennette was able to bury it, making the score 3–2 late in the game.

#20 Jackson Jennette (Photo by Tyler Lajiness and Haley Zerkel)

With just over four minutes left for Grand Valley to tie the game at three, tensions were very high.

Central Michigan during GVSU’s timeout (Photo by Tyler Lajiness and Haley Zerkel)

The Lakers were able to control the puck in CMU’s zone for three full minutes, but could not get the puck in the net. Causing them to then use their one and only timeout.

Following the timeout, they left goaltender Jared Maddock on the bench to use the extra attacker. Making play 6–5 in their favor.

With 1:23 to go in the game and CMU trying to cling onto a 3–2 lead with an empty net on the other end of the rink, the crowd was making a lot of noise. Trying to cheer the Chips to victory.

Grand Valley won the faceoff following their timeout and began trying to set up a play. Great positioning by the Chip’s defense forced all three shots that occurred during this time to come from odd angles. Creating easy saves for Thomas Rofe.

With one clear attempt for a 200-foot empty-net goal by the Chippewas and more well-played defense in the CMU zone, the Chippewas held onto their one-goal lead and took the regional semi-final game by a score of 3–2. Completing one of the two needed upsets to make it to nationals.

With Grand Valley heading home, Central Michigan headed to their hotel to ready themselves for another tough game against the #3 Michigan State Spartans the next afternoon at 4:30 P.M.

Regional Final: #9 Central Michigan vs. #3 Michigan State (3/7)

The Chippewas were fired up after taking down the #4 Grand Valley State University Lakers. But they knew another difficult matchup was still between them and a trip to Dallas.

Michigan State came into this game very confident as they have improved as a team quite a bit since they split a two-game series with CMU back in early November. The Spartans were also coming off of a dominant 4–0 victory over the #10 Miami University (Ohio) the night before.

MSU was on top of the Chippewas from the second puck dropped to start the game. The Chips had a few rushes into the Spartan zone in the first period, but they all resulted in minimal scoring chances.

The ice seemed tilted for 90% of the period. Michigan State controlled play in the CMU zone and Central just did not have an answer for all the pressure. Despite the first period being played entirely on full strength, MSU looked as if they were on a period long power play.

Luckily for Central Michigan, Thomas Rofe came in clutch. Making 19 saves in the first period alone and only seeing his offense put up four shots on the opposing goalie, Finn Bylsma, Rofe knew he had to bail out his team.

#1 Thomas Rofe (Photo by Tyler Lajiness and Haley Zerkel)

Seeing multiple scoring chances for the Spartans and seeing shots from all angles, Rofe was the one and only reason the Chippewas got out of the first period of play tied 0–0.

Michigan State’s offense did not slow down for the second period, but the Chips finally got some offense brewing as well.

The intensity increased tenfold during the second period of play. The offensive pressure was very equal for both teams as both squads managed to put up 17 shots each on the two goaltenders.

With six minutes to go in the second frame of the game, the teams were still battling for the first goal of the night. And finally, with 5:46 to go in the period, the strong Spartan offense broke the silence. Forward Alex Franczek picked up a stretch pass in the neutral zone off a series of passes from Joe Hildebrandt and Chris Trush as he put one past Rofe on a breakaway to take a 1–0 lead.

Although the period had been very evenly matched, that goal turned up MSU’s offense even more. Just over a minute later with 4:21 left in the second, Mateusz Sobolewski picked up another breakaway goal (assisted by Mike Cianci and Griffin Yakey) putting the Spartans up 2–0. And in a game like this, a two-goal lead was very demanding.

After going down two goals, the Chippewas got scheming. Just 40 seconds after the Spartan’s second goal, Andrew Porzondek carried the puck into the attacking zone on the right side. After looking to shoot, he elected to hit Jackson Jennette with a pass where he got a shot off in the slot area. Bylsma made the save, but could not control the rebound. Luckily for CMU, Joey Simoncelli was waiting on the doorstep to bury the rebound to cut Michigan State’s lead to 2–1 with 3:41 left in the second.

Team celebration after #91 Joey Simoncelli’s goal. (Photo by Tyler Lajiness and Haley Zerkel)

After two periods of play, MSU had the 2–1 lead, were ahead in shots 36–21 and this game still had no penalties called.

With the second period of play ending with three goals being scored in a two minute and five-second span and the officials really letting the two teams play, the third period was bound to be an exciting one.

#9 Jacob Standre screening MSU, goaltender Finn Bylsma (Photo by Tyler Lajiness and Haley Zerkel)

Like the first two periods, Michigan State’s offense did not slow down in any way. Right out of the gate, they picked up two quality scoring chances in the first three minutes of the final period.

After the first few minutes of being on their heels, the Chippewas applied full force against the Spartans triggering a clash of offensive power.

From the 17:00 mark and on, this game was the most exciting hockey the Chippewa and Spartan fans have experienced all season. Knowing that if MSU nets a third goal, they likely had the game in the bag and if CMU tied it up, we would most likely see overtime. Winner goes to nationals. Loser goes home. This was the definition of playoff hockey.

After repeated spurts of offense for both teams and rapid back and forth play, Central Michigan managed to slip a second goal by Bylsma to tie it up at two goals apiece.

With 3:57 left in the game with the season on the line, CMU’s first line went back to work. With assists from Simoncelli and Jennette, Porzondek scored in a wide-open net to make it game 2–2 in the final minutes of regulation.

#5 Andrew Porzondek (Photo by Tyler Lajiness and Haley Zerkel)

Exactly one minute of play later, Michigan State defenseman Justin Gauthier attracted the attention of a referee and picked up the first penalty of the game with 2:57 to go. The cross-checking penalty caused Dakota Ristow of the Spartans to dispute the call with the official and picked up a 10-minute misconduct for his words.

Seeing this golden opportunity, the Chippewa fans were anticipating the game-winner while on the power play.

Unfortunately for the Chippewa fans, CMU’s power play looked more like a power play for the Spartans, as MSU actually accumulated three shots on goal and two scoring chances while shorthanded. The penalty was easily killed off by MSU with just under a minute to play.

CMU bench entering the first overtime period (Photo by Tyler Lajiness and Haley Zerkel)

Each team picked up a scoring chance in the final minute, but no one managed to net the game-winner. With regulation ending in a 2–2 tie and MSU leading in shots 49–27, we were heading to overtime.

Playoff overtime consists of 20 minute periods, next goal wins.

At the start of the first overtime period, the intensity in the building was higher than it had ever been that night. The pre-game nerves return for the players, knowing it’s score next, or go home.

With Ristow, a key Spartan forward in the box until the 13-minute mark of the overtime period due to his 10-minute misconduct late in regulation, the Chippewas had the upper hand in the first part of overtime.

But even with Ristow in the box, Michigan State still managed to put a lot of offensive pressure on CMU. Identifying the offensive threat, Central Michigan provided key defensive positioning to force the three shots Michigan State had against Rofe in the overtime period, to happen from the outside of the zone.

After ten minutes of exciting up and down hockey, Brendan Nelson of CMU picked up the puck at the Chippewas’ blue line off an MSU turnover. He then took it the length of the ice, made a move on a Spartan defenseman and netted the game-winning, unassisted goal down low on Bylsma.

Chippewas’ bench reacts to Nelson’s game-winning goal (Photo by Tyler Lajiness and Haley Zerkel)

The Chippewas finally took the regional final game by a score of 3–2, with 9:39 left in the first overtime period. Sending Central Michigan to the national tournament for the third time in five seasons!

CMU team photo after winning the regional final! (Photo by Tyler Lajiness and Haley Zerkel)

CMU will enter nationals as the #4 seed in the north region. The Chips are guaranteed three pool play games and will take on the following schedule:

March 24, 2020, at 7:30 P.M.: (N4) Central Michigan vs. (S1) South Florida

March 25, 2020, at 1:00 P.M.: (N4) Central Michigan vs. (A2) George Mason

March 26, 2020, at 10:30 A.M.: (N4) Central Michigan vs. (P3) Kansas

Key: (N4)=North #4/ (S1)=South #1/ (A2)=Atlantic #2/ (P3)=Pacific #3

All games will be able to be streamed on YouTube with live video and audio. Follow the following social media accounts for national tournament information and links to broadcasts!

CMU DIII Hockey Club Radio Network: @CMUDIIIHCRN

CMU Hockey Twitter: @CMUHOCKEYDIII

CMU Hockey Instagram: @cmuhockeyd3

CMU Hockey Facebook: @CMUHOCKEYDIII