NCRHA Division I Matchup of the Week

Arizona State University vs. Grand Canyon University

Saturday, November 12, 2022 – 11:00 am and 2:00 pm

Season Head to Head: GCU leads season series 1-0 (3-2 win on October 29)

In their first regular season weekend in the NCRHA, Grand Canyon University has taken the West by storm. They currently sit at 1^st place in the WCRHL Division I standings, having gone 4-0 in the opening weekend while defeated WCRHL Division I rival Arizona State University by a score of 3-2. Grand Canyon’s cross-divisional games featured wins against Cal Poly (II) by a score of 6-1, CSU Fullerton (DII) by a score of 7-3, and University of Arizona (DII) by a score of 6-4.

Arizona State handled the business in their other 3 games of opening weekend, defeating CSU Fullerton (DII) 6-1 and 4-0, and Cal Poly (DII) 5-0). Just the goal differential itself shows the polar opposite strategies of these 2 squads, with GCU gunning for goals all game long (netting 22 in 4 games), while looking at ASU’s goals against, just 4 in 4 games, shows the ASU defensive strategy. On that same note, it is GCU’s Aydin Schwetz that leads the nation in Division I goal scoring with 11, and ASU’s Lane Hartwell taking the #2 spot in Goals Against Average with a 1.00. We will see how those competing strategies line up this weekend, twice!

This weekend will see a double-header rematch between the Sun Devils and the Lopes. Only one team can come out ahead, whether it be 2 games to 1 or 3 games to none. The Arizona Showdown is going to be intense, with both teams also taking on University of Arizona (DII) in U of A’s home rink.

All of the Arizona WCRHL teams will complete their first semester of play this weekend, and will start back up again at the WCRHL event in Queen Creek, AZ the weekend of January 28-29, 2023.

NCRHA Division II Matchup of the Week

Michigan State University vs. The Ohio State University

Saturday, November 12, 2022 – 8:00 pm and Sunday, November 13, 2022 – 12:00 pm

Season Head to Head: 0-0, teams have not yet met this season

Both Michigan State and Ohio State participated in the ECRHA’s Grove City, PA event to kick off their season. Each team played 3 games against ECRHA opponents, Michigan State going 0-3, and Ohio State going 1-2 on the weekend. Michigan State’s games were all decided by 3 goals or less (Temple 8-5 loss, Slippery Rock DI 9-6 loss, Robert Morris 9-7 loss). Ohio State also played Slippery Rock D1 (11-0 loss), Penn State (7-6 loss) and Temple (3-2 win).

Michigan State and Ohio State played each other 3 times last season, with Michigan State taking all 3 games (6-4 in the regular season, then 5-0 and 2-1 at MCRHL Conference Championships). It’s a clean slate for both teams, who are now both competing in the same division in what has been many years.

Next stop after the MSU-OSU double-header this weekend is Huntingdon, TN the weekend of November 19-20, where they will face each other one more time and other opponents the likes of Lindenwood D1, Bethel D1, Lindenwood AA Gold, and Lindenwood AA Black.

NCRHA Division III Matchup of the Week

Illinois State University vs. Missouri S&T

Saturday, November 12, 2022 – 10:00 am

Season Head to Head: Missouri S&T leads season series 1-0 (10-3 win on 11/5)

Missouri S&T comes off of a 3-1 opening weekend in St. Louis, defeating Division III opponents Maryville, Kansas State and Illinois State, and dropping their remaining game to Lindenwood AA Black by a score of 7-4. Missouri S&T’s Tyler Bradley has cracked the top 20 in Division III scoring, with 10 goals and 6 assists in 4 games. Illinois State went 2-2 in the same opening weekend, defeating Kansas State, SIU-Edwardsville and losing to Missouri S&T and Lindenwood AA Black. The Redbirds Jack Johnsen and Shane Dotto lead the team in scoring with 9 points a piece.

In the matchup on opening weekend, it was a 2-2 game halfway through the 1^st period, when Missouri S&T took control and never looked back. They added 8 goals to the Redbirds 1 over the course of the game and took all 3 stars of the game. Look for the Illinois State Redbirds to come out firing to avenge this early season loss.

NCRHA Division AA Matchup of the Week

University of Arizona AA vs. Arizona State University AA

Saturday, November 12, 2022 – 1:00 pm

Season Head to Head: 0-0, teams have not yet met this season

Both Arizona State AA and University of Arizona AA sit tied for 1^st place in the WCRHL Division AA standings, both with a 2-2 record and not having faced each other. Arizona State was 2-0 in AA/Affiliate games at the WCRHL opening weekend, and 0-2 against Division III opponents San Jose State and UC Santa Barbara. The same story for U of A, 2-0 in AA/Affiliate games and 0-2 against DIII opponents Cal Poly Pomona and UC Santa Barbara. U of A’s Christian Michalowski and Tyler Pear lead WCRHL AA scoring, along with 2 players from CSU Fullerton AA.

This weekend the teams will face off at the Arizona Showdown in Tucson, AZ, and will also face Northern Arizona University (DIII) as well as other DI and DII opponents. U of A AA and ASU AA will face each other at least one more time this season, at the WCRHL event in Queen Creek, AZ on the weekend of January 28-29, 2023.