FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Indiana Tech men's ice hockey team is set to host the University of Michigan-Dearborn, Aquinas College, Rochester College, and Lawrence Tech this weekend (March 2-4, 2018) for the inaugural Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) Tournament at the SportONE/Parkview Ice House in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
The Warriors were awarded the second seed in this year's tournament after posting a 21-8-2 overall record and a 5-2 record in conference play. The team finished just two games back of first-seeded University of Michigan-Dearborn and a half game ahead of Aquinas College. Indiana Tech's .710 win percentage is on pace to be their best finish in the program's short four-year history and their 21 wins, which included a string of nine successive victories, ties the program best set back in the 2015-16 season.
Head coach
Frank DiCristofaro's team has been headlined by the play of upperclassmen duo
Jace Childs and
Jarrett Pfeiffer. Childs has posted team-leading numbers with 24 goals, 43 points, and a total of 19 assists, which is second-best for the Orange and Black. Meanwhile, Pfeiffer has contributed 12 goals, 35 points, and a team-best 23 assists to add to the Warrior efforts. Senior goalkeepers
John Slavik and
Zach Larson have also compiled impressive season resumes, recording 18 wins between the pair.
Looking at the competition, the University of Michigan-Dearborn will take the number one seed into the inaugural tournament after finishing a perfect 7-0 in their conference season. Their impressive 23-5-2 overall record included a 4-3 victory over the Warriors while their other competition was cancelled due to weather.
Aquinas College lays claim to the three seed in the tournament due to a 21-10-2 regular season and 5-3 conference record. In their two WHAC matchups, the Warriors would split the pair 1-1, but Aquinas owns a 2-1-1 season advantage as the programs met in two other non-conference affairs this year.
The fourth and fifth seeds of the tournament are held down by Rochester College and Lawrence Tech, respectively. Rochester enters the tournament after posting 5-28 (2-6) records on the year, while the Blue Devils are 11-15-1 (0-8). Indiana Tech swept past both programs in WHAC play during the season.
The tournament opens Friday evening when Lawrence Tech faces off against Rochester College at 8:30 p.m. The Warriors, who open the tournament with a bye, will then begin their quest for a conference title in the semifinals against Aquinas at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, while the University of Michigan-Dearborn awaits Friday's winner for a 5:30 p.m. puck drop in the other semifinal. The championship will get underway at 12:30 p.m. Sunday. All games are to be held at the SportONE/Parkview Ice House in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
