Ohio State comes to Lawson for CCHA playoffs
March 5, 2002
KALAMAZOO -- Western Michigan University's hockey team begins postseason action this weekend, March 8-10, hosting Ohio State University in a best-of-three games CCHA First Round series at Lawson Arena Friday, Saturday and Sunday, if necessary. Faceoff for all games is 7:05 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased at the Athletic Ticket Office located at Waldo Stadium or ordered by phone at 269 387-3092 or toll free 888-4-WMU-TIX. Reserved seats are $12. Admission for WMU students is $3.
WMU concluded the regular season with an overall record of 19-13-4 and was 13-12-3 in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, finishing in sixth place. Ohio State was 17-15-4 overall, 12-12-4 CCHA and tied for seventh place.
CCHA Tournament First-Round Pairings
#1 Michigan (22-9-5) vs. #12 Lake Superior State (7-25-2)
#2 Michigan State (24-7-5) vs. #11 Bowling Green (9-23-6)
#3 Northern Michigan (23-11-2) vs. #10 Miami (12-20-2)
#4 Alaska Fairbanks (20-11-3) vs. #9 Ferris State (15-18-1)
#5 Nebraska-Omaha (20-14-4) vs. #8 Notre Dame (14-15-5)
#6 Western Michigan (19-13-4) vs. #7 Ohio State (17-15-4)
All 12 conference schools have earned automatic berths into the CCHA Tournament, with the top six regular season finishers hosting first round series. The six series winners will advance to Joe Louis Arena for the CCHA Super Six weekend, March 15-17.
The top two remaining seeds, based on regular season finish, receive quarterfinal byes. The quarterfinals take place March 15, followed by semifinal games on March 16 and the championship contest on March 17. The tournament champion receives an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
The Broncos are hosting their first CCHA playoff series since the 1995-96 season. WMU is appearing in the CCHA Tournament for the third straight year after missing the playoffs in 1998 and 1999. The Broncos qualified for the conference tournament 14 straight years from 1984 to 1997.
Last year, head coach Jim Culhane's club played one of the more memorable playoff series in school history. WMU lost at Northern Michigan in three games in a series that produced two overtimes and the highest scoring playoff game in league history.
For more information, visit the Broncos on the Web at <www.wmubroncos.com>.
Media contact: Daniel Jankowski, 269 387-4138, daniel.jankowski@wmich.edu