Tourney gives IU a chance at revenge

The IU hockey team will get a second chance at a conference title this weekend. The Hoosiers will travel to Rochester, Mich., to play for the Great Midwest Hockey League tournament title.\nIU (15-8-1, 5-4-1) missed a chance at a regular season title last weekend with a 6-2 loss to Oakland University (20-6-4, 7-2-1). The victory moved Oakland ahead of Michigan for sole possession of first place. Michigan held on to second place and, along with Oakland, received a bye in the first round of the six-team GMHL tournament.\nIU will play Friday against Ferris State (9-12-5, 0-7-3). The Hoosiers are 2-0 this season against FSU. The winner of that game will play at 8:45 a.m. Saturday against Michigan in the GMHL semi-finals. The finals will be played at 8:15 p.m. Saturday. IU coach Rich Holdeman said the frequency of the games this weekend will help prepare IU for the American Collegiate Hockey Association national tournament, where teams have to play the semi-finals and finals on the same day.\n"It would be nice if we could ease through some of (the FSU game)," Holdeman said. "But for a team like Ferris, this is it for them, so you can't go in there and take it lightly."\nIU will go into the tournament with a full roster after injuries depleted one of IU's highest scoring lines last weekend. Junior forward Matt Howard was out for the weekend and junior forward David Dassell left in the first period Friday with a broken wrist. Holdeman said given the circumstances he was happy with the weekend's results.\n"I'm glad we managed to persevere and get third place," Holdeman said. "It got us a better draw so we don't have to go through Oakland and Miami."\nIU lost both its games against Oakland and went 0-1-1 against Miami (OH). IU won't play either team until the championship game if at all. \nThe Hoosiers will be without sophomore forward Adam Trussel who will have to serve a one-game suspension for a fight with just six minutes remaining last Saturday against Michigan State. Trussel has seven goals and six assists on the year and leads the Hoosiers with a plus 15 plus/minus rating.\nRegardless of the outcome this weekend, IU will get another chance to beat Oakland. The Hoosiers and the Grizzlies will face off in the first game of round-robin play at the ACHA D-I national tournament in Anaheim, Calif. The Hoosiers will return home for a series against Robert Morris Feb. 21-22 before going to play for a national title.