It was one year ago today, March 12, that sports shut down around the country. I don't think I'll ever forget the deep sadness that lingered around the Minnesota State hockey facility when those players found out their season was over, that their dreams of getting to the Frozen Four, or even winning a national championship, had died. Heartbreaking.
Today, although we're all still under the cloud of COVID-19, the Mavericks begin another playoff run. They will host Ferris State in the first game of a best-of-three series in the first round of the WCHA tournament. This weekend's other matchups include Lake Superior State vs. Alabama Huntsville, Bowling Green vs. Northern Michigan and Bemidji State vs. Michigan Tech.
As always, the question is: Will anyone be playing on Sunday?
The four winners will advance to a single-elimination semifinal/championship weekend. That will take place in Mankato, if Minnesota State advances past this weekend.
Remember: MSU's game times this weekend are 6 p.m. today, 4 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday (if necessary).
A lot of the coverage this week centers around the WCHA awards, which the Mavericks cleaned up on. Here's coverage from The Rink Live's Jason Feldman and The Free Press' Kevin Dudley.
One player who did not get an award this week was forward Walker Duehr, but the senior has been on a tear over the second half of the season, Feldman writes.
Last season's top WCHA player, Marc Michaelis, made his NHL debut a week ago, and Dudley caught up with the Vancouver Canucks rookie to see how it went.
College Hockey News has a WCHA tournament preview.
If you missed it, be sure to check out the Maverick Hockey Podcast this week. I interview Richter Award finalist and two-time WCHA Goaltender of the Year Dryden McKay.
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