DI hosts Missouri State; DIII headed to conference playoff

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On February 5 & 6, the #22 DI Hogs (14-15-2) are set to host WCHL conference rival, #20 Missouri State (17-17-0).  The Razorbacks enter the weekend on a four-game skid, having most recently dropped a pair of contests to the University of Oklahoma last weekend by 5-1 and 7-3 scores.  The Ice Bears, meanwhile, come to Springdale on a four game winning streak.  After dispatching DII Missouri by 10-1 and 4-0 scores earlier last month, Missouri State swept Illinois State last weekend in its final home series of the season.

The season is on the line for both clubs.  In order to safely make the National Tournament, the Hogs and/or Bears would likely need to be #18 or better in the National Rankings.  Although the top twenty ranked teams ostensibly make the final field, that number is reduced by other conferences who have both autobids and teams in those conferences that are outside the top twenty-five.  Stated differently, unranked teams who win an autobid conference will kick out ranked teams within the top 20.

The puck drops against Missouri State at 7 pm on Friday, February 5, and at 4:00 pm on Saturday, February 6.  Friday is Law Night and Saturday is Senior Night.

The season is on the line for DIII as well.  The DIII Razorbacks travel to the SECHC conference tournament to compete for the program’s sixth conference title.  Arkansas has never lost a game in the SECHC tournament in five previous appearances.  The DIII Hogs enter the critical weekend after having swept DII Kansas last weekend.  Arkansas opens the tournament as the #1 seed against LSU on Friday, February 5, at 8 pm.  The game will be broadcast live here.  A complete downloadable tournament bracket is below.

Meanwhile, the SECHC announced all-conference awards this week and five Razorbacks were recognized.

First Team ALL SECHC:
Ross Miller
Forest Mudgett
Sky Chambers

2nd Team ALL SECHC:
Hutton Kalik
Renaud Gaboury

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