Despite the fact only one other CCHA team made this year’s NCAA Tournament, the top-ranked Spartans have had adequate experience against the 12-team field.
MSU - the No. 1 seed in the West Regional - is 7-1-0 against tournament teams this season.
Its lone setback was a 4-3 overtime loss to CCHA rival Michigan at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit on Jan. 27.
But the Spartans also beat the Wolverines four times and topped Wisconsin, Minnesota and Boston College once each.
The league with the best representation in the tournament is the Western Collegiate Hockey Association with five teams (North Dakota, Saint Cloud State, Colorado College, Minnesota and Wisconsin).
And the Spartans are 4-0-0 against WCHA teams this season, with wins over Michigan Tech, Alaska-Anchorage, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
MSU head coach Ron Mason said the Pairwise Rankings, which heavily influence NCAA Tournament berths, emphasize nonleague success more than doing well in the CCHA.
“The reason we got the number one seed this year was because our competition outside of the league was real good and we won,” Mason said. “As a league, we have to realize that outside games count more than intraleague games. Personally, I don’t think that’s right. I think your league games should be what really count.
“I still think our league is as competitive as any league in the country. Maybe it’s too competitive and that hurts (the CCHA) as well, but I don’t know.”
Tourney tickets available
Tickets for the NCAA Tournament West Regional in Grand Rapids are on sale now through Ticketmaster and Van Andel Arena.
The regional features four games - two Saturday and two Sunday.
On Saturday, No. 4-seed Wisconsin will play No. 5-seed Providence at 2 p.m., followed by No. 3-seed U-M vs. No. 6-seed Mercyhurst at 5:30 p.m.
On Sunday, the Wisconsin/Providence winner takes on No. 1-seed MSU at 2 p.m. and the U-M/Mercyhurst winner plays No. 2-seed Saint Cloud State at 5:30 p.m.
Single-day tickets are $25 and tickets for both days are $50.
Call (616) 456-3333 for more information or order online at www.vanandelarena.com.
The MSU Athletic Ticket Office does not have any tickets for public sale.
Vote for Hobey
Fans can support sophomore goaltender Ryan Miller in the final stage of online voting for the Hobey Baker Award - college hockey’s most prestigious individual trophy.
The fans’ vote will account for one out of 25 total votes for the award, which will be handed out April 6 in Albany, N.Y.
The other 24 votes are comprised from an elected Hobey Baker Selection Committee.
Miller - who leads the nation in wins, goals-against average, saves percentage and shutouts - was named one of 10 finalists for the award March 15.
Currently, Miller is in third place behind North Dakota forward Jeff Panzer and Boston College forward Brian Gionta in the fan voting.
Panzer leads the vote by about 350 points over Gionta and about 1,500 points over Miller.
