One win stood between MTSU club hockey and a berth in the American Collegiate Hockey Association Division III Frozen Four — and it proved just out of reach.
No. 2-seeded Middle Tennessee club hockey (23-7, 22-3 ACHA) fell short of clinching a spot in the Frozen Four after a 3-1 loss to No.7-seeded Grand Valley State University (21-5-3, 21-5-3 ACHA) in the pool play finale.
“At the end of the day, we gave it everything we had in the second and third periods,” MTSU captain Linden Palmer said. “Grand Valley State just played an incredible defensive game.”
The Blue Raiders started off the national tournament strong, defeating Saint Vincent University 4-2 and Northwood University 5-0. Likewise, the Lakers defeated Northwood 3-2 in overtime and Saint Vincent 3-2.
MTSU and GVSU entered the Centene Community Ice Center & Maryville University Hockey Center with a chance to advance out of pool play. But with a Frozen Four berth on the line, Middle Tennessee couldn’t carry offensive momentum against the Lakers.
As the puck dropped, both teams traded shots on goal. GVSU broke through late in the first period as forward Bryan Matko slotted a shot over the shoulder of MTSU goaltender Ayden Kopec to put the Lakers in front 1-0 late in the first.
Momentum continued for Grand Valley in the second period as forward Bryce Ball fired a cross-ice pass past a sprawling Kopec to put the Lakers up 2-0 seven minutes into the second.
Middle Tennessee responded less than a minute later as defenseman Yuli Lima scored, cutting the deficit to 2-1 midway through the second frame.
Despite a penalty kill by MTSU, GVSU added the insurance goal late in the second to push the score to 3-1 in favor of Grand Valley.
The Blue Raiders emptied the gas tank in the final period, outshooting Grand Valley 14-5 in the final frame.
MTSU pressed late in the third period, pulling Kopec for an extra attacker, but the Lakers held defensively and earned a 3-1 victory. Price finished the game with 40 saves compared to Kopec’s 24.
Despite the loss in pool play, the Blue Raiders had a strong inaugural campaign in the ACHA. MTSU spent 16 consecutive weeks ranked No. 1 in Division III and reached the national tournament for the second consecutive season.
“It was pretty tough to process being so close but coming up short,” Palmer said. “Knowing it was my final game playing in blue, it’s hard not to look back and think about things I could have done differently.”
As the offseason begins for Middle Tennessee, many key contributors leave behind towering legacies. As Palmer, forward Matthew Siciliano, forward Brendan Ogle and forward Ethan DeMumbrum, among many others, depart.
A core of veteran leadership helped shape MTSU’s most successful stretch in club history, including a College Hockey South championship, a CHS Veterans Cup title, and two national appearances.
Returning players like forward Tommy Chunchukov, paired with new arrivals, will usher in a new era of Middle Tennessee hockey.
“We’ll be back,” Chunchukov said. “That’s kind of it, we’ll be back next year.”
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