WCHA announces 2015-16 composite schedule; see the highlights for the Michigan schools
By @SKubus –
Once again, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association league champion will be crowned here in Michigan.
The WCHA announced its composite schedule for its 64th campaign Monday afternoon and, among several other highlights, the Final Five will return to Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids for the 2015-16 season.
The WCHA collectively will play a minimum of 64 nonconference opponents, with four games against Atlantic Hockey; 17 against the Big Ten; at least four against the East Collegiate Athletic Conference; at least two against Hockey East; 22 against the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, as well as games against Arizona State’s new program.
There will also once again be an all-Michigan Great Lakes Invitational in late 2015, as host Michigan Tech will invite fellow WCHA member Northern Michigan to join the University of Michigan and Michigan State in the annual tourney.
With regards to nonconference opponents and tournaments, here’s the breakdown for each of the four Michigan-based schools:
· Ferris State – Western Michigan (home-and-home), vs. Wisconsin, Mariucci Classic (teams TBA), at Michigan
· Lake Superior State – Ice Breaker Tournament (teams TBA), at Michigan State, vs. Arizona State, Catamount Cup (Brown, Colgate, Vermont)
· Michigan Tech – at Michigan State, Great Lakes Invitational (Michigan and Michigan State)
· Northern Michigan – at Wisconsin, Great Lakes Invitational (Michigan and Michigan State), vs. Minnesota Duluth
With regards to league play, each team will play a total of 28 WCHA games, split evenly between home and road. Teams play five other league members four times each and four others two times each. Michigan Tech at Ferris State will be the opening WCHA matchup on Oct. 16 and 17.
Northern Michigan and Lake Superior State – the Wildcats’ second-longest running rivalry in program history – will meet in a home-and-home nonconference series Oct. 16-17 and will meet again Feb. 26-27 in league play as the two teams vie for the Cappo Cup, awarded to the winner of the season series between the respective teams.
Below are some highlights from the 2015-16 WCHA schedule:
Saturday, Oct. 3
U.S. NTDP @ Northern Michigan (Exhibition)
Saturday, Oct. 4
U.S. NTDP @ Lake Superior State (Exhibition)
Friday, Oct. 9
Ferris State @ Western Michigan (NC)
Ice Breaker Tournament (Portland, ME)
Lake Superior State (NC; teams TBA)
Saturday, Oct. 10
Western Michigan @ Ferris State (NC)
Ice Breaker Tournament (Portland, ME)
Lake Superior State (NC; teams TBA)
Friday, Oct. 16
Michigan Tech @ Ferris State
Lake Superior State @ Northern Michigan (NC)
Saturday, Oct. 17
Michigan Tech @ Ferris State
Northern Michigan @ Lake Superior State (C)
Thursday, Oct. 22
Lake Superior State @ Michigan State (NC)
Friday, Oct. 23
Michigan Tech @ Northern Michigan
Lake Superior State @ Michigan State (NC)
Saturday, Oct. 24
Northern Michigan @ Michigan Tech
Friday, Nov. 20
Michigan Tech @ Michigan State (NC)
Saturday, Nov. 21
Michigan Tech @ Michigan State (NC)
Friday, Nov. 27
Ferris State @ Lake Superior State
Saturday, Nov. 28
Ferris State @ Lake Superior State
Friday, Dec. 11
Ferris State @ Northern Michigan
Michigan Tech @ Lake Superior State
Saturday, Dec. 12
Ferris State @ Northern Michigan
Michigan Tech @ Lake Superior State
Tuesday, Dec. 29
GREAT LAKES INVITATIONAL (Detroit, MI)
Michigan Tech, Northern Michigan,
Michigan, Michigan State (NC)
SHERATON/TD BANK CATAMOUNT CUP (Burlington, VT)
Lake Superior State, Brown,
Colgate, Vermont (NC)
Wednesday, Dec. 30
GREAT LAKES INVITATIONAL (Detroit, MI)
Michigan Tech, Northern Michigan,
Michigan, Michigan State (NC)
SHERATON/TD BANK CATAMOUNT CUP (Burlington, VT)
Lake Superior State, Brown,
Colgate, Vermont (NC)
MARIUCCI CLASSIC (Minneapolis, MN)
Ferris State (NC – Teams TBA)
Thursday, Dec. 31
MARIUCCI CLASSIC (Minneapolis, MN)
Ferris State (NC – Teams TBA)
Friday, Jan. 8
Ferris State @ Michigan Tech
Saturday, Jan. 9
Ferris State @ Michigan Tech
Friday, Jan. 15
Minnesota State @ Michigan Tech
Saturday, Jan. 16
Minnesota State @ Michigan Tech
Friday, Feb. 5
Lake Superior State @ Michigan Tech
Saturday, Feb. 6
Lake Superior State @ Michigan Tech
Friday, Feb. 12
Northern Michigan @ Ferris State
Saturday, Feb. 13
Northern Michigan @ Ferris State
Friday, Feb. 19
Ferris State @ Michigan (NC)
Northern Michigan @ Lake Superior State
Saturday, Feb. 27
Northern Michigan @ Lake Superior State
Friday, March 4
Lake Superior State @ Ferris State
Northern Michigan @ Michigan Tech
Saturday, March 5
Lake Superior State @ Ferris State
Northern Michigan @ Michigan Tech
WCHA Quarterfinals
Friday-Sunday, March 11-13
WCHA Quarterfinals (best-of-three series, hosted by higher seed)
2015 WCHA Final Five (Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Friday, March 18
Semifinal No. 1
Semifinal No. 2
Saturday, March 19
Broadmoor Trophy Championship Game
The full press release from the WCHA and full schedule can be found here.