For the second time this year, a rivalry game between the Michigan State hockey team and the University of Michigan has been canceled.
This time, the match scheduled for March 10 in East Lansing has been canceled in a mutual agreement between the Spartans and Wolverines in order for the two programs to have similar rest and preparation time as other schools for the Big Ten Tournament after it was moved up four days, according to an athletics statement.
Originally the tournament was scheduled to begin on March 18, meaning MSU and U of M would have eight days to prepare before the first round, a typical routine for Big Ten hockey. But with the tournament moved forward, this cancellation made sense for both programs with all Big Ten teams now ending their regular seasons on March 6.
Michigan State and Michigan last faced each other in a home-and-home series in early January. Michigan took the first game in Ann Arbor, a handily 9-0 victory. The Spartans bounced back though in the second game in East Lansing for a 3-2 victory.
The two teams were scheduled to play Feb. 9 in Ann Arbor, but that game was postponed while U of M athletics were paused due to concerns over one of the COVID-19 variants.
MSU’s regular season will now end this weekend with No 5. Wisconsin in town for games on Friday and Saturday.
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