Macon Mayhem closing in on big accomplishment

Two years ago, the Macon Mayhem’s roster didn’t consist of a single player. Last season, the team fought its way into the final spot for the SPHL playoffs.

Macon is now one small step away from a big coronation this weekend at the Macon Coliseum. The Mayhem (35-13-6 with 76 points) can clinch the league’s regular-season title by gaining just one point Friday or Saturday against Roanoke. With a win — or at minimum an overtime loss on either day, Macon will enter the postseason as the SPHL’s top seed.

If the Mayhem lose both games, second-place Peoria (31-12-11) would need to win both games against Mississippi to claim first place.

Either way, odds are in favor of local fans seeing the clinching of first place this weekend.

“This weekend, we have to finish what we started and go into the playoffs playing the right way,” Mayhem head coach Kevin Kerr said.

The Mayhem clinching would also set up their first-round playoff matchup. Columbus leads Roanoke by three points for the final spot, and the Rail Yard Dawgs need to win Friday and Saturday and have Columbus lose both of its games at Evansville to get into the postseason.

“This time of a year, it’s all about momentum. I’d rather be playing well at the end of a season in second or third place than in first place and not playing as well,” Mayhem goalie Jordan Ruby said.

While being able to clinch a regular-season title in front of their home fans carries a lot of weight for the Mayhem, staying locked in on the big picture of playing well going into the postseason carries a lot of emphasis, as well.

“I don’t want to be complacent, I don’t want any of our guys to be complacent. We have to go into the playoffs feeling really good about ourselves about our game,” Kerr said. “We feel pretty good about our game, but I think there at things we need to hone up on and make sure everybody is on the same page going into playoffs.”

Macon is coming off a stretch of playing seven games in a span of 10 games, a stretch capped by taking four out of six points last weekend to seize control of first place even after dealing with a rash of nagging injuries and suspensions.

The good news for the Mayhem is that Dennis Sicard returns from his five-game suspension Friday, and defenseman Ryan Michel is also expected to be activated for Friday.

“We’ve had a long stretch — seven games in 10 days and suspensions and injuries, “ Kerr said. “But overall, I feel like the mindset of our team is very good and expectations are still very high.”

Michel’s return will be most welcomed for the Mayhem just in time for the playoffs.

He last suited up Feb. 14 and is second on the team and first among defensemen with a plus-14 plus-minus rating — a strong measure of how effective Michel’s play is when he is on the ice.

Key for Michel this weekend, according to Kerr, will be getting back on the ice in game competition to be ready for the postseason.

“He’s been off and needs to get playing and get some games underneath his belt going into the playoffs,” Kerr said. “He’s one of our best defensemen, he kind of has a calming effect back there with the way he plays and handles the puck — he’s a plus 14 player and one our best defensemen.”

This story was originally published April 5, 2017 at 5:21 PM with the headline "Macon Mayhem closing in on big accomplishment."