CHS Week 12 Preview
By: Russ Eddins @EddinsRuss
Game of The Week: Tennessee at MTSU
This week’s Game of The Week is Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) vs. the University of Tennessee.
The GOTW will be held Sunday at 10:00 a.m. CT. Both teams will also face off Friday at 8:45 p.m. CT.
College Hockey South is going to stream Sunday’s contest free on YouTube. MTSU will host both games at the Ford Ice Center in Antoch.
You can watch Sunday's game here.
Tennessee has seven points in the CHS D2 North Division, sitting in 3rd place. MTSU is right behind them with six points.
The Blue Raiders have a -3 goal differential, while the Ice Vols have a nine differential.
“Our key to a successful weekend is to stay disciplined and stick to our systems,” said
MTSU head coach James Murrary. They need to play “with confidence, pace, and tempo.”
MTSU uses lots of different systems. They like to switch it up often; that keeps their opponents on their heels. Tennessee will need to account for that in order to have a good weekend.
Auburn vs. South Carolina
Only one CHS D1 will not qualify for the conference playoffs. Which D1 teams make the playoffs will be determined by My Hockey Rankings (MHR).
Going into the weekend, Auburn is ranked the lowest of the five CHS D1 teams. Alabama is one spot ahead of the Tigers, and South Carolina is two spots ahead. This series is an excellent chance for Auburn to leap one or both teams and go into winter break strong.
“For us, I think if we play good defensive hockey and use our team speed, we will be successful this weekend,” said Head Coach of the Tigers Ryan Rutz.
“They have five or six top forwards we need to be aware of and a good goaltender,” said Gamecock Head Coach Allan Sirios. “This is our chance to finish a good semester and put some distance between us and them (Auburn).”
Georgia Women’s vs. South Carolina Women's
The University of Georgia and University of South Carolina’s women’s teams will play an outdoor game at the Classic Center in Athens, Georgia. Friday’s game is at 5:00 p.m. ET.
This weekend, several outdoor games will be played there, including Georgia D1 versus Oklahoma State (ACHA), Georgia D1 versus Alabama D1, and Georgia D3 versus Kennesaw State.
According to Head Coach Jasen Riherd, the Georgia Women’s team has been talking about playing this outdoor game all week.
“I’m so excited. Hannah (UGA Women’s Team President) has been so helpful in getting my team off the ground…it’s going to be full circle playing her team” said South Carolina Women’s President Hana Donnelly.
Miami vs. Florida Southern
Florida Southern College leads the CHS D3 Division with 16 points; the University of Miami is right behind them with 14 points.
After playing at the University of North Florida on Friday at 8:00 p.m. ET, FSC will travel to the Kendall Ice Arena, home of the Miami hockey team.
The last time these two teams faced off was earlier in November. FSC won that game 6-5. Miami went down by three in the first but fought back to tie it in the third. FSC would go on to get the game-winner late in the third.
A big key for FSC in this game will be not to slack up like they did in the first contest against Miami. They also took too many penalties in that game, so they need to be more disciplined and play a complete game.
Tampa D2 vs. USF
No love lost between these crosstown rivals. Game one of the University of Tampa D2 and University of South Florida will take place at the Clearwater Ice Arena, the home of the Spartans, on Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Game two will be a home game for the Ice Bulls. The contest will be on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. ET.
Tampa D2 is going through some growing pains this year. They have a younger team. With six CHS points, they are 6th out of seven teams in CHS D2 South. Their record in conference play is 2-5-1.
USF is one point ahead of the Spartans. The Ice Bulls can get over .500 on the season with a sweep this weekend.
ABOUT College Hockey South: Founded in 2008, College Hockey South is a 25-school, 38 team intercollegiate hockey conference spanning seven southeastern U.S. states that competes in AAU College Hockey. College Hockey South is a 501(c)3 not for profit organization.