The top seeded Aurora University ACHA D2 hockey team entered the 2017 Central Regional and held rank by defeating Michigan State and Davenport University to earn a birth at Nationals

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Aurora University 5; Michigan State University 3
                         Aurora University 5; Davenport University 3
LOCATION: Plymouth Cultural Ice Center, Plymouth MI
RECORDS: #6 Aurora University 18-2
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Central Region Semi-Final vs Michigan State
After a back and forth opening 8 minutes AU's Pat MacDonald found the back of the net twice in 2 minutes to give the Spartans an early 2-0 lead which is where we stood after the first period.  As we began play in the second period Michigan State would not take long to cut the lead in half scoring just 3 minutes in. Aurora would not take long to answer as one minute later Connor Quinn would score to regain the 2 goal lead.  Midway through the second period saw AU's lead once again cut to one.  Just as we had seen earlier in the period Connor Quinn answers with his second of the night to regain the 2 goal lead. The second period would end with AU leading 4-2.  The first 10 minutes of the third period would see both teams have minimal chances as the defense tightened.  Michigan State would eventually break that trend as they scored a power play goal with 9 minutes remaining in what is now a one goal game. The highlight of the night came with about 6:00 minutes left with AU clinging to that 4-3 lead.  Aurora's defense would turn the  puck over at there own blue line and gave up a break away to potentially tie the game.  Goalie Matt Bartels however would make an unbelievable save, quickly got to his feet and passed the puck to Ryan Davlantes to went coast to coast and scored top shelf goal to put the Spartans up for good.  The final horn would sound as AU wins 5-3

Central Region Final vs Davenport University
AU did not take long to get on the board as Tom Greene and Joe Smagacz would both find the back of the net to give the Spartans a 2-0 lead just 5 minutes into the first period.  Brad Neal would stand strong through the first turning away 16 Davenport shots to preserve the 2-0 lead after one period of play.  Early in the second period Joe Smagacz had the goal of the tournament for his second of the game.  With AU still up 2-0 in the second and Davenport on the power play, the puck was cleared to the Davenport blue line as Smagacz won a foot race and beat the Davenport defenseman scoring a shorthanded goal to put AU up 3-0.  That proved to be the only tally of the second period as the teams would go to the locker room with Spartans holding that 3-0 lead.  As they had done in the first two periods AU would not take long to strike again.  Just 19 seconds in Pat MacDonald would get his first of the game and third of the tournament to secure a 4-0 lead. With 9 minutes to go in the 3rd and Davenport having an offensive zone face off desperation mode set in as they pulled their goalie. Connor Quinn would make that short lived as he struck for the third time in two days clearing the puck full ice into the empty net to put AU up 5-0. The game was far from over though as Davenport refused to go away quietly as they continued to pull their goalie in a comeback attempt.  This time with more success as they tallied 3 goals in the next 6 minutes to cut the AU lead to 5-3 with just 2 minutes left.  AU would finally settle down and take control of the puck in the final two minutes to run the clock out.  The Spartans win the game with a final of 5-3 to win the Central Regional and advance to the 2017 D2 ACHA National Tournament
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TOP SPARTAN PERFORMERS
vs. Michigan State University
Connor Quinn with two goals and one assist
Pat MacDonald added two goals
Ryan Davlantes added one goal with it being the game winner
Matt Bartels had 28 saves

vs. Davenport University
Joe Smagacz had two goals and one assist
Brad Neal had 39 saves

SPARTAN STAT LEADERS
vs Michigan State University
Goals: Pat MacDonald and Connor Quinn (2)
Assists: Matt Bartels and Connor Quinn (1)
Saves: Matt Bartels (28)

vs. Davenport University
Goals: Joe Smagacz (2)
Assists: Joe Smagacz and Kevin Salinas (1)
Saves: Brad Neal (39)

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