TRAVERSE CITY – After shutting out the Bay Area Thunder 8-0 in the first round of regionals, Traverse City Central hockey advances to the Div. 2 semifinal to face Big North Conference champion Petoskey.
The Trojans and Northmen split the season series, with TCC winning the first matchup 5-3 and Petoskey taking the second 4-3.
This is the fifth straight playoff meeting between the teams and also a rematch of last year’s regional final which Traverse City won 4-3. Petoskey last beat Traverse City 2-3 in the 2018-19 regional semifinals.
Traverse City Central will seek its third straight regional finals appearance this season.
The Northmen won the BNC this year with a 9-1 record with their the only loss coming to TC Central. After earning first round bye, Petoskey enters this matchup 21-4 overall and is currently riding nine-game winning streak.
Petoskey looks to make its second straight regional finals.
For the Trojans, the team said they know it will be another tough test with even greater implications with their season on the line this time around.
“The Big North Conference title for the them was certainly not a fluke. They were by far the most consistent over the course of the ten games. And now it’s a new season and we know we’re playing a really, really good team Wednesday and we’re going to have to play well and not make a lot of mistakes,” said Traverse City Central head hockey coach Chris Givens.
“Just having the experience of playing in a playoff game where if you lose, you’re done. I mean, I think it’ll take out some of the nerves in the next game. They are obviously a really good opponent, which we’ll have to play really good against,” said Traverse City Central senior goalie Grant Neuhardt.
The Div. 2 regional semifinal is set for Wednesday night at 5 p.m. at the Ostego County Sportsplex.
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