-Admission for a single game is $5 for adults and $3 for students.
-Those 14 and under will be admitted free.
-As part of Championship Weekend on Saturday (February 28), the MCHA All-Conference team, MCHA Player of the Year, and MCHA Coach of the Year trophy will be awarded at the conclusion of the first MCHA playoff game.
-The MCHA All-Tournament team will be announced after the MCHA Championship.

MCHA HOCKEY TOURNAMENT TO BE HELD IN FOND DU LAC
The Marian College Sabres men’s hockey team will be hosting the 2004 MCHA Hockey Tournament at the Fond du Lac Blue Line Family Ice Center, February 27^th through February 29^th.  Tickets will be available at the FDL Blue Line Family Ice Center on game-days (no advance sales) and are $3 for adults and $2 for children, students and seniors.  The tournament features the MCHA regular season champions, the Marian College Sabres, as well as the #2 seeded Minnesota-Crookston Golden Eagles, #3 MSOE Raiders, #4 Lawrence University Vikings, and the #5 Northland Lumberjacks.  Friday night will feature #4 Lawrence vs. #5 Northland at 7pm.  Saturday’s action sees #2 Minnesota-Crookston vs. #3 MSOE at 3pm, and #1 Marian vs. the winner of Friday’s game at 7pm.  Sunday will consist of the consolation game at 1pm and the championship final at 5pm.

The Sabres enter the tournament with a 14-2-0 MCHA mark, having won 8 of their last 10 league games en route to claiming their second regular season title in three years. They were undefeated at home during league play this season.  Junior captain Jon Daigle, who was second in league scoring this year with 19 points (8G/11A) in 13 games, leads the Sabres offensive attack. Goaltending will be in the capable hands of senior Terry Dunbar.  Dunbar is a two-time MCHA Tournament MVP, and will be looking to add a third MCHA tournament title to his impressive college resume. “Every senior wants to go out on top,” stated Dunbar. “Having come so close last season, this will be a great opportunity to end a playing career in front of the home crowd.”

Sabre head coach Chris Brown looks forward to having the opportunity to host the tournament. “The single-elimination format is an exciting one,” said Brown. “It doesn’t matter if you are 20-2 or 2-20, any team can win this event. That is what makes it so exciting and entertaining.”

One of the Sabre defeats came at the hands of Minnesota–Crookston, during the regular season finale two weeks ago in Crookston. The Golden Eagles also ended Marian’s season a year ago, when they earned a 2-1 victory in the championship, their second in the past four years. The Golden Eagles enter on a hot streak, having gone 6-2-1 in their past nine games. They were second in both offense (4.44 GPG) and defense (3.00 GAA) during the regular season and boast three of the Top 10 scorers in the league, led by senior Brock Anundson and his 19 (9G/10A) points.

MSOE earned the #3 seed with a 9-7-0 record, with those nine wins representing the best regular season total for the Raiders since they began play in the MCHA. They have 14 freshmen on the roster this season, and many have made a name for themselves, as four of their top five scorers on the season are newcomers. Senior Jason Martin led the way with 19 points, with freshman Brian Soik (18), Luke Hasbargen (16), Nick Bilpush (15), and Michael Duta (15) rounding out the top five.

Lawrence fell a bit from last season’s program-record win total, but do have history on their side in this event. They have placed third in each of the past three seasons, and are capable of beating any of the teams they play. Northland had the top scorer in the MCHA this season, as the Lumberjack’s Ryan Becker was tops in the conference with 20 points and 14 assists. The ‘Jacks were also second in the power-play, converting 22.2% of their opportunities. Either team is capable of making a run in the tournament.

The Sabres have been in the MCHA tournament final in each of the five years it has been held, winning twice.  Marian’s opponent in the previous four tournament finals has been Minnesota-Crookston. Who will play for the chance at the Harris Cup in 2004? That will be decided in five games in a little over 48 hours this weekend at the FDL Blueline Family Ice Center.

-Story courtesy of Marian SID Intern Tom van Kasteren