Fighting for the Harris Cup trophy this weekend are three veterans and one rookie team. Top-seed Adrian will looking to take back the trophy this weekend after losing it, for the first time in three seasons, last year in a devastating overtime loss to Milwaukee School of Engineering. Marian, the second seed coming into this weekend, hasn’t won the title since 2002. MSOE comes in as the third-seeded team, and the Raiders are looking to defend their championship title from last season. New to the game this weekend will be Northland; the Lumberjacks have never been to the Harris Cup Four, and earned their first playoff win last weekend against Lawrence.
Well, I went 0-4-0 in last week’s picks, which is truly pitiful. That abysmal pick record brings my season total to 58-46-4 (.537).
On Friday, at the Arrington Ice Arena in Adrian, Mich., we’ll see Marian and MSOE battling in the earlier match-up. Adrian will host Northland in the 8 p.m. game. The winner of each of those games will advance to Saturday’s championship game.
Friday, March 1, 2013
MSOE vs. Marian
The Raiders battled in two games and a mini-game last weekend with Lake Forest before advancing to the semifinals. MSOE took a 3-2 win on Saturday before dropping a 2-0 contest on Sunday. Austin Grosvenor was the hero in the mini-game, scoring the lone goal and giving the Raiders a chance to defend their 2012 Harris Cup championship. Marian earned a bye last weekend after winning the North Division. Marian fell to MSOE on Dec. 7 and 8 by 4-1 and 2-1 scores. In January, Marian shut out MSOE in a 3-0 game. MSOE 2-1
Northland vs. Adrian
After a loss on Friday night, Northland came from a 2-0 deficit in Saturday’s contest to beat Lawrence, 5-2. In the mini-game, Mike Lennon scored the goal, ensuring the Lumberjacks’ first-ever appearance in the Harris Cup Four. Adrian, which earned the 2012-13 regular season title, has yet to lose a conference game this season. The Bulldogs also proudly boast a 21-1-3 overall record this season. The Bulldogs are the only team in the nation with only one loss. I don’t think they are planning to lose on the biggest stage yet this season in their rink. Adrian 3-1
Saturday, March 2, 2013
This would entail that I’m picking an Adrian vs. MSOE championship game. Ron Fogarty, coach of Adrian, has mentioned on a few occasions that the Bulldogs have a goal this season. They want to bring the Harris Cup back to their trophy case. The Raiders defeated the Bulldogs last season in overtime, in Adrian, to earn the bid to the NCAA tournament. It’s also playoff hockey, anything can happen. Adrian 4-3
