WCHA announces 2018-19 schedule
By @MichaelCaples –
It may be only the second week of May, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start looking ahead to next season.
Yesterday, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association announced its schedule for the upcoming 2018-19 college hockey campaign.
Here are some highlights from each of the Michigan-based WCHA schools:
Ferris State
The Bulldogs open with an exhibition contest against USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program Under-18 Team on Oct. 6 in Big Rapids.
A non-conference home-and-home with Western Michigan officially kicks off Ferris State’s NCAA schedule – Oct. 12 in Big Rapids and Oct. 13 in Kalamazoo.
FSU plays a home-and-home with Michigan State on Nov. 2 (East Lansing) and Nov. 3 (Big Rapids).
Ferris State’s first All-Michigan WCHA weekend is against Michigan Tech at home on Nov. 9-10.
Their final home games are against Alabama Huntsville on Feb. 22-23; FSU concludes the season Mar. 1-2 at Lake Superior State.
Lake Superior State
The Lakers open the 2018-19 campaign on the road, playing Merrimack on Oct. 6-7.
They then host Nipissing for exhibition contests on Oct. 12-13.
WCHA conference play begins for LSSU on Oct. 26-27 when they host Alabama Huntsville.
LSSU will host Michigan on Nov. 2-3.
Their first All-Michigan WCHA weekend will be the Lakers hosting Northern Michigan on Nov. 23-24.
Lake Superior State will travel to Plymouth for a game against the NTDP on Dec. 16.
They will then take part in the Great Lakes Invitational with Michigan, Michigan State and Michigan Tech – date and match-ups have not been announced.
They will conclude the WCHA regular-season by hosting Ferris State on Mar. 1-2.
Michigan Tech
The Huskies kick off the 2018-19 season with a bang, taking on defending national champ Minnesota Duluth at home on Oct. 12-13.
From there, they spend four straight weekend series on the road – Wisconsin (Oct. 26-27), Alabama Huntsville (Nov. 2-3), Ferris State (Nov. 9-10) and Clarkson (Nov. 16-17).
Tech hosts Northern Michigan (on the back-end of a home-and-home) for their home game against a fellow WCHA Michigan school.
They will continue their tradition of playing in the GLI during the holidays.
The Winter Carnival will take place in conjunction with Minnesota State’s visit on Feb. 8-9.
MTU concludes the season with a home-and-home against rival NMU on Mar. 1-2.
Northern Michigan
The Wildcats will open their 2018-19 season with a road trip to Michigan State for two games (Oct. 12-13).
NMU continues with away games at St. Cloud State on Oct. 19-20.
Northern’s first home games will be against Bemidji State on Oct. 26-27.
As mentioned above, NMU has home and homes with rival Michigan Tech on Dec. 7-8 and Mar. 1-2.