There's a different kind of March Madness happening on the ice at the New England Sports Center in suburban Boston.
From left, Central Michigan's Owen Campbell and Jay Naidu and Missouri forward Jack Hazelton fight for the puck Friday at New England Sports Center in Marlborough, Mass. Hazelton averaged 0.88 points per game in the regular season. MINH CONNORS/Missourian
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Missouri club hockey continued its pursuit of a national title with a dominant 10-2 pool-play victory over 16th-seeded Central Michigan in the American Collegiate Hockey Association Division 3 Championship on Friday. The Tigers are now one win away from a Final Four berth.
The eighth-seeded Tigers scored early and often, while MU goalie Tanner Richardson finished with 24 saves on 26 shots.
From left, Missouri players Nick Spolec, Charlie Walker, Jack Hazelton and Tanner Richardson stand for the national anthem before taking on Central Michigan on Friday at New England Sports Center in Marlborough, Mass. The Tigers beat Central Michigan 10-2. MINH CONNORS/Missourian
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MU club hockey defenseman Trevor Jones celebrates during the game Friday at New England Sports Center in Marlborough, Mass. The Tigers play Hope at 7 p.m. Saturday. MINH CONNORS/Missourian
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Seven Missouri players snuck the puck past Central Michigan goalies Loren Jones and Joel Drucker. Nick Spolec, Danny Rudman and Andrew Cacioppo each had two goals. Coming off his hat trick against Air Force on Thursday, Spolec’s second goal against Central Michigan was his 30th of the season.
Riding a 15-game winning streak, Missouri next faces top-ranked Hope at 7 p.m. Saturday. The winner will advance to the Final Four semifinal game Monday.
MU club hockey forward Nicholas Trainor moves with the puck Friday at New England Sports Center in Marlborough, Mass. MINH CONNORS/Missourian
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Central Michigan defenseman Christopher Martin, left, blocks MU club hockey forward Henry Kasten on Friday at New England Sports Center in Marlborough, Mass. Kasten has 23 goals in 25 regular-season games this season. MINH CONNORS/Missourian
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Missouri forward Ben Schroeder, center, receives fist bumps from teammate Jack Dobbs, left, and assistant coach David Giesel before the Tigers head out on the ice against Central Michigan on Friday at New England Sports Center in Marlborough, Mass. Schroeder scored one of Missouri's 10 goals. MINH CONNORS/Missourian
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