Men’s Hockey Begins Playoff Push Saturday

WESTFIELD, Mass. – The action will be just as hot as the warming spring temperatures when the puck drops at Amelia Park Ice Arena on Saturday for the MASCAC Quarterfinals. The fourth-seeded Westfield State Owls will host the team that eliminated them in the semi-finals a season ago, the fifth-seeded Salem State Vikings at 5:35 P.M.

In the regular season, the Owls beat the Vikings in all three matchups: 8-2 on November 14, 6-2 on January 16, and 5-2 on February 8. As the sixth-seed last season, the Vikings upset the Owls 5-2 at Amelia Park to advance to the MASCAC championship.

Both teams struggled near the end of the regular season. The Owls have dropped four-straight games and the Vikings haven't won a game since February 1, going 0-3-3 in that stretch. Salem, however, has managed a win and a tie against Plymouth State, the conference's regular season champ and the top seed in the tournament, which could portend for the Vikings to be the dark horse throughout the playoffs.

Senior forward Daniel Backstrom (Helsinki, Finland) leads the Owls with 24 points in the regular season with 11 goals and 13 assists. Fellow senior FX Girard (St. Lazare, Quebec) has done his part with 10 goals and 13 assists for a total of 23 points. Senior goalkeeper Thierry Messervier (Montreal, Quebec) will tough to score on amounting a 2.82 goals-against-average and .921 save percentage.

For the Vikings, senior defenseman Callum Hofford leads the way with a team-high 19 points on six goals and 13 assists. Right behind Hofford is sophomore right-winger Billy McGwin and freshman center Michael Shippee, who have each amounted 14 points. In between the pipes is senior goaltender Sean Cleary, who is entering the game with a 3.50 goals-against-average and an .899 save percentage.

The winner advances to the semifinals and would play at Plymouth State on Tuesday, March 3.

Ticket prices for Westfield State home games are $6 for adults, and $3 for senior citizens and non-Westfield State students. Westfield State students, and children 12 and under are admitted free.

Those who can't make the games can get live video and stats on www.westfieldstateowls.com or watch on MASCAC.tv on Roku, Amazon Fire or AppleTV.

-- Written by Joe Braverman, Sports Information Intern