At 8 p.m. on Saturday, there will be hockey.

But it won’t be your father’s brand of hockey — this is roller hockey. These student athletes have traded in their skates for blades to compete in a high-intensity, high-scoring, four-vs-four juggernaut of a sport.

The Grand Valley State roller hockey club is hosting a 12-team tournament this weekend against key opponents from the Midwest Collegiate Roller Hockey League (MCRHL). The headline game is a battle between No. 1 GVSU (10-2) and No. 2 Michigan State (7-1).

The Spartans have dealt GVSU both of its losses so far this season. If there is one roller hockey rivalry to take note of, this is the one. Michigan State has dominated GVSU for five-plus years, but the Lakers are ready to knock the Spartans from their pedestal of regional roller hockey glory.

“State is our number-one rival,” said senior defenseman Brendan Ryan. “We are looking to take them down and make a statement.”

Both teams are on three-game winning streaks, and both teams sport potent offenses.

GVSU rolls out a high-tempo offense built on intensity and hard work. MSU has an uncanny ability to capitalize on opportunities on the offensive end. For the Lakers, junior Dom Zuelch leads the offense with 16 goals, while MSU has the league’s top scorer in Eric Purcell (18 goals).

On the defensive side, GVSU has a lot of work to do in covering the high-octane Spartan goal scorers.

“We need to mark them and prevent them from getting any chances,” said GVSU coach Nick Dow. “We need to control their style of play and force turnovers in the neutral zone.”

A big key for the Lakers is creating odd-man rushes against the MSU defense. From there, they hope to capitalize on opportunities. Another key for GVSU is scoring quickly and early in the game.

“Getting an early lead would be big,” Ryan said. “If we can get up on them, they will struggle to come back.”

What might be the biggest key to the rivalry game is the goaltending on both sides.

GVSU’s Alex Stutzky, in his second year with the team, has put together an impressive season so far. Stutzky leads the league with nine wins and a .926 save percentage. MSU, meanwhile, also boasts a talented netminder in Everit Bommarito, although there are some differences between the two.

“We play the same style in net,” Stutzky said. “I just have to be more aggressive and challenge the puck.”

The Lakers are heavily promoting the rivalry matchup. The first 50 students to show their college IDs will get a free GVSU club roller hockey shirt. The players are hoping for a strong turnout.

“We are hoping for a good atmosphere,” Ryan said. “When everyone shows their Laker spirit, it will really help us get pumped up for the game.”

The GVSU-MSU game (D1) starts at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Rivertown Sports Complex on 2605 Sanford Ave. in Grandville, Mich. Admission is free.

“To beat them would mean the world,” Stutzky said. “It would be the icing on the cake.”