by Josh Seguin and Adam Wodon/CHN Staff
Three traditional powers will take part in the Toledo Regional in Cornell, Michigan State and Boston University. They have combined for 10 national titles and 43 Frozen Fours. Ohio State, which has become a more regular fixture in the NCAAs under Steve Rohlik, will join them, which should bring a strong local flavor to the 8,000-seat arena.
“We’re not too concerned about it,” BU coach Jay Pandolfo said about facing a potentially hostile crowd, despite being the higher seed. “We played in hostile environments all season. I don’t think our guys are affected by it, they enjoy it.”
This week marks Cornell coach Mike Schafer’s final foray into the NCAA Tournament, the 15th of a career that comes to a close with the Big Red’s next loss. Schafer has won 10 first-round games, and is 2-1 against No. 1 seeds in those games.
The four schools have some of the most talented players in the country, while Cornell’s tough defense always makes it a tough out this time of year.
1. Michigan State (26-6-4, Big Ten RS and Tournament Champs) vs. 4. Cornell (18-10-6, ECAC Tournament Champs)
Both Michigan State and Cornell won their respective league titles over the weekend, with the Spartans getting a goal in double overtime from Isaac Howard to take a 4-3 win over Ohio State. Cornell left no doubt in the ECAC, defeating Clarkson 3-1 in Lake Placid.
Despite both having a lengthy history in the NCAA Tournament, this will mark the first time the two traditional powers have met in the NCAAs. Cornell swept a regular-season series, on the road, in 2019, but those players have long graduated at this point.
“You look at the job Coach Schafer has done, he’s been there a long time — and you look at the way his team has responded and finished strong,” Michigan State coach Adam Nightingale said. “They’re well-coached, they defend really hard — we have a ton of respect for them.”
The feeling is mutual.
“I think [Adam] Nightingale has done a really good job,” Schafer said. “They play hard, they play simple, they play fast. They have a good formula.”
Interestingly, if Michigan State wins, Schafer’s career would end with bookends. The first game of his career, November 1995, was a 6-2 loss to MSU at Munn…
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