MTSU club hockey (19-5, 18-1 ACHA) dropped to the second spot in the American Collegiate Hockey Association Division III rankings after 16 consecutive weeks at the top spot. 

The Blue Raiders dropped to No. 2 after a tiebreaker with Calvin University (16-3-1, 15-1-1 ACHA). The ranking comes after MTSU’s first conference loss of the season in a split weekend series against the No. 16 University of South Carolina Gamecocks. 

“I think it’s kind of the best of both worlds because we got humbled by South Carolina,” head coach JJ Murray said. “But then at the end of the day, we were still tied for number one in the nation.”

Rankings in the ACHA are determined solely by conference games, including strength of schedule and overall record. The Blue Raiders and the Knights are tied at 12.81 in overall score. Some factors that impact the scoring are strength of schedule and goal differential.   

“We’ll have a target on our back, and I keep relaying that message to the guys,” Murray said. “You’re still the team to beat.”

With the regular season in the rearview mirror, Middle Tennessee looks forward to the College Hockey South playoffs, where the Blue Raiders secured the No.1 overall seed and a bye. 

The Blue Raiders play the winner of Kennesaw State University and the University of Tennessee in the play-in. Middle Tennessee has a winning record against both teams, going 3-0 against the Owls and 2-0 against the Volunteers. 

MTSU will begin conference tournament play on Friday, Feb. 27, joining the winner of Kennesaw and Tennessee in the quarterfinals. 

To contact the sports editor, email [email protected].

Follow Sidelines on Facebook at Facebook.com/MTSUSidelines, on X @mtsusidelines and Instagram @mtsusidelines. Sign up for our weekly newsletter here.