State of Michigan shut out of NCAA Tournament for first time since 1979

By Michael Caples –

The Michigan Wolverines were fighting for their place in the history books Sunday afternoon at Joe Louis Arena.

However, they were also fighting for the entire state of Michigan.

The Wolverines’ loss meant the end of their consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances – a streak that ends at 22.

It also ends a streak of 32 straight years where the state of Michigan has had a team competing in the NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Division 1 Tournament. This season will mark the first time since 1979 that no Michigan-based NCAA D1 schools participate in the national tournament.

The NCAA officially announced the 16 teams selected to this year’s field during their selection show on ESPNU, with no Michigan teams making the list.

The University of Michigan played a large part in the streak – having reached the tournament every season since 1991. However, before Red Berenson’s Wolverines dynasty got underway, their main rival, the Michigan State Spartans, were reaching the postseason tournament season after season.

The Spartans reached the NCAA Tournament every season from 1982 to 1990. And before MSU, Northern Michigan was representing the state in postseason play, even reaching the NCAA title game in 1980.

Ironically, the last time a Michigan team didn’t make the NCAA Tournament was a year that the state of Michigan actually hosted the tournament – the Frozen Four took place in Detroit in 1979.

The Wolverines, who started the season as the No. 3 team in the country according to the USCHO Poll, struggled throughout the season and needed to win the CCHA Championship to make the national tournament.

The Wolverines’ quarterfinal series sweep of now-No. 12 Western Michigan hurt the Broncos’ chances of returning to the NCAA Tournament. Upsets in other conferences – Canisius winning Atlantic Hockey – took the Broncos from the bubble to the outside looking in.

Last season, four Michigan-based schools made it to the NCAA Tournament – Ferris State, Michigan, Michigan State and Western Michigan. The Bulldogs made a run all the way to the NCAA title game; they were the only school to win a game in the postseason tournament.