Western Michigan University will host the University of Michigan this weekend in a CCHA tournament series. The Broncos won the tournament last year. Mlive Kalamazoo Reporter David Drew joined WMUK's Gordon Evans to look at Western's chances in the CCHA tournament.
The two teams will meet at Lawson Ice Arena Friday and Saturday night and again Sunday if necessary for best of three series. Western is the higher seeded team and has home ice advantage. But Drew says the Wolverines come in with more momentum on a six game unbeaten streak, while the Broncos are 3-3-4 in their last 10 games.
Western had a bye for the first round of the tournament while Michigan was sweeping Northern Michigan in the first round. Drew says the week off will likely do the Broncos some good. but Drew doesn't expect a sweep from either team. He says it's likely the two teams will play Sunday to determine who moves on to the CCHA Semi-finals at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.
Drew says Western is likely to make the NCAA tournamentregardless of what happens this weekend. But he says the series with Michigan could affect their seeding. Drew says the Wolverines will come in more desperate, because if they don't win this series, their season is over.
This series will mark the final CCHA games to be played at Lawson Ice Arena. Drew says an up and coming Western Michigan program playing one with the University of Michigan's tradition is a great way for the CCHA to go out in Kalamazoo.
