The Bowling Green State University hockey team takes the best conference start in the CCHA on the road this weekend, traveling to Marquette for a two-game series against Northern Michigan at the Berry Events Center, BGSU Athletics announced.
The Falcons and Wildcats meet at 7:07 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, and again at 6:07 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, with both games streaming on Midco Sports Plus, according to BGSU Athletics. Bowling Green carries a 4-0-0 conference record into the weekend, good for first place in the CCHA.
History is on the line. According to BGSU Athletics, a win Friday would give the Falcons a 5-0-0 conference start for the first time since 1994-95, and a weekend sweep would make it 6-0-0 in league play for the first time since 1982-83.
The series is the 139th and 140th meeting between the programs, with Bowling Green holding a 64-63-11 edge all-time, BGSU Athletics said. The Falcons have won five of the last six meetings, though five of the last seven have been decided by a single goal, and the teams split their only series last season in Bowling Green.
Noah Morneau has powered the start. BGSU Athletics reported Morneau has seven goals this season, including a hat trick against Bemidji State last weekend that earned him CCHA Forward of the Week honors for the third time this season. He leads the nation with four power play goals, and the Falcons’ 12 power play goals are tied for third nationally, while goaltender Jacob Steinman has been in net for all four conference wins.
The special teams have been a strength on both sides of the puck. BGSU Athletics reported the Falcons’ penalty kill is operating at 87.2 percent — second in the CCHA and 11th in the nation, with just five power play goals allowed on 39 chances — and forward Jake Sloan carries a team-leading five-game point streak, with three goals and three assists in that span, into the weekend.
Northern Michigan enters at 3-7-0 overall and 1-3-0 in the CCHA, but all three of its wins have come against teams receiving votes at the time, including a split with Minnesota State last weekend, according to BGSU Athletics. The games are previews only — the series has not been played yet.
Photo: Bhockey10, CC BY-SA