By: Casey Roehl

EAST LANSING, MI—In the final weekend before the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA), submits their rankings for 2019 regional tournaments across the country, the Indiana Hoosiers took care of business.

IU (17-7-3), for the first time in program history since joining the Great Midwest Hockey League in the 2014-15 season, have a chance to make regionals following their sweep against Michigan State (6-14-1-1) over their weekend set at Munn Ice Arena.

In a record setting season for IU Hockey, the Hoosiers playoff aspirations now sit in the hands of the ACHA selection committee, who will make their last regular season rankings this Wednesday, before regional tournaments around the nation begin in early March.

Game One: IU 4- MSU 2

The Spartans opened up the game with an aggressive forecheck, which resulted in their first goal of the game at the 5:27 mark in the opening period in Friday’s series debut. A goal scored after the puck rattled off the blocker of IU goaltender Joseph Stebbins gave the Spartans the initial 1-0 lead.

IU answered in the second frame on a Cade Kenyon goal just over two minutes into the second. The freshman snapped a shot past MSU goaltender Maxwell Quertermus to knot the score 1-1.

Halfway through the frame, the Spartans reclaimed the lead after a puck bounced off of IU defenseman Will Patton, which trickled past Stebbins to put Michigan State up 2-1.

Heading into the third, the Hoosiers had won their last two games when trailing after two periods, the streak continued after against the Spartans on Friday.

IU scored three unanswered goals to end the game, sealing the programs first win against Michigan State since joining the GMHL.

IU forward Christian Schurmann-Colicchio scored his team leading 28th goal of the season on a massive one-timer buried past Quertermus to tie the game 2-2.

Indiana took the lead on an Everhett Grimes goal with two minutes remaining in the game, after the puck bounced towards his stick on a rebound in front.

Grimes scored an empty-net goal with one minute remaining to secure the win against the Spartans.

Game Two: IU 5-3

In similar fashion to Friday’s match-up, the Spartans jumped out to an early lead in the opening frame. An IU turnover led to MSU’s first goal 29 seconds into the game on a wrist shot that sailed over Stebbins’ glove.

IU tied the game on a Kenyon goal at the 7:30 mark in the first, his second goal of the weekend to tie the game 1-1.

Indiana took the lead minutes into the second when Colicchio pounced on a rebound in the slot and back-handed a shot by MSU goaltender Patrick Hoedeman, putting IU up 2-1.

MSU re-tied the game on a shot in the slot that beat Stebbins’ glove for the second time in the game, with 10 minutes remaining in the second.

Following a MSU tripping minor, IU scored their lone power-play goal of the game on Colan Fitzgerald’s third man advantage tally of the season to put IU up 3-2 after two periods.

In the final frame, MSU struck for their third goal of the game on a back-door centering pass, beating Stebbins’ blocker to tie the game, 3-3.

Less than nine seconds later, Grimes scored his third goal of the weekend on a shot in the slot following a face-off, putting IU up 4-3.

Despite multiple MSU efforts to score with an extra attacker in the final minute of the game, Colicchio scored an empty-net goal to secure the win for IU, 5-3.

IU concludes the regular season against Trine University next Friday and Saturday, two days after the ACHA regional rankings are released.

IF IU makes regionals, the Hoosiers will play in a three-day tournament from March 1-3, if not, IU ends their season with a pair of exhibition games against the University of Illinois on March 9-10.