BERKLEY, Mich. - Before the Berkley Bruins kick off their second season in the Midwest Junior Hockey League in October, the team will scrimmage Adrian College’s ACHA Division III Gold team.

The game will take place on Saturday, Sept. 13, at 4 p.m. at the Arrington Ice Arena on Adrian’s campus.

Bruins’ head coach Dan Pszenyczny said the game will be a good way to gauge where his team is heading into the MWJHL season.

“This is a great opportunity for our players, not only being able to play against a great college team that has won three straight national championships, but we are also are getting a tour of the rink and campus as well,” Pszenyczny said. “I like this scrimmage game because it shows the players on my team how the next level of hockey is played and will show them what kind of hard work it takes to get to the next level. Plus, we can see what things we need to work on and fix before the season starts. This is also great for the players to be looked at from the coaches of Adrian and to be able to talk and ask questions about their program and things the school looks for in student-athletes.

“I really appreciate Coach Cross for this amazing opportunity and I hope we can make it a tradition to do this every year. We are really looking forward to this experience.”

Adrian head coach Jeremy Cross mirrors Pszenyczny’s feelings of excitement for the day’s events.

“Dan reached out to me to see if we would be interested in a scrimmage game and I thought that this would be a great experience for my team to get ready for the season and also to see the talent that the Berkley Bruins have on their roster,” said Cross. “I hope to make it an enjoyable day for the Bruins players to see our campus and rink and ask myself and our coaching staff questions about college hockey.

And while Adrian currently does not have any MWJHL players on its roster, that may change in the years ahead.

“I have scouted the MWJHL and believe it is a good league to recruit quality talent out of,” Cross said. “I will be looking to recruit some kids out of the MWJHL this year.”

The Bruins start their MWJHL schedule in Berkley on Friday, Oct. 4, with their home opener against the MC Monarchs. Game time is set for 4:30 p.m. at the Berkley Ice Arena.

Photo/Jeff Zigman