LONDON, Ont. - The Western Mustangs Men's Hockey team has one final crack to make the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) National Championships. 

After a heartbreaking, series-ending loss to the Lakehead Thunderwolves by a score of 5-2 on March 6, the Mustangs must now travel to Trois-Rivières to play No. 3 UQTR to decide the third OUA spot at nationals.

Because nationals-host Lakehead won the OUA West series, the host berth for the nationals is now contested between the OUA West runner-up Western and OUA East runner-up UQTR.

The Patriotes lost their OUA East finals series in two straight games to McGill. The Redmen and Thunderwolves battle for the Queen's Cup in Thunder Bay, Ont., on Saturday March 13.

Puck drop is on Saturday, March 13 at 7 p.m. and fans can listen to the game live on CHRW Radio (94.9 FM in London or online at http://www.chrwradio.com/listen/). 

The task won't be easy for the Mustangs, as UQTR posted the best record in the OUA this season going 32-3-2 to finish atop the OUA East with 48 points.

It will also be a very unfamiliar opponent for Western Mustangs head coach Clarke Singer. In his 11-year tenure he's never traveled to take on the Patriotes, only hosting them in four meetings at Thompson Arena.

In the most recent meeting, Western defeated UQTR 5-1 at Thompson Arena on Nov. 13, but the game was tied entering the third period and the Patriotes did not have their full team with them.

"They have added some players after Christmas who are now playing big roles for them," said Western Mustangs head coach Clarke Singer. "In my opinion, their goaltender (Jean-Christophe) Blanchard is key for them, he had some of the best numbers in Canada during the year. Also, (Guillaume) Chicoine is their most offensive defenseman and key to their powerplay. 

Singer said he is also wary of the Patriotes top line of Francis Charland, Jean-Sebastien Breton and Etienne Bellavance-Martin who combined for 126 points in the regular season, "probably the most points of any line in Canada."

While the Mustangs finished the regular season as the No. 6 nationally ranked men's hockey team, the Patriotes were ranked No.3 overall which means that at least one of the top six ranked teams in the nation will not make it to the CIS Championships.