Bowling Green State University hockey coach Ty Eigner. (Sentinel-Tribune file)
By Ben Shanahan
Special to the Sentinel-Tribune
Bowling Green State University hockey coach Ty Eigner is looking to turn the season around as the Falcons host winless out of conference opponent Mercyhurst Friday and Saturday at the Slater Family Ice Arena.
The 1-5 Falcons look to bounce back this weekend after playing their last out-of-conference opponent this weekend before entering CCHA play as the 0-3-2 Mercyhurst Lakers of the Atlantic Hockey Association come to the BGSU ice.
The only similar opponent both have faced so far this season is the Robert Morris, who are also in the AHA. BGSU split, with the Falcons losing 3-0 in the season opener and then Robert Morris defeated the Falcons, 3-0, in their home opener.
RMU only played the Lakers once, tying them 3-3 but beating them in a shootout to take the win.
Eigner says the Falcons look to three major pillars they have relied on all season to change their fortunes: special teams, goaltending, and leadership.
Although it is not always a key part of the game practiced, as explained by Eigner, the Falcon penalty kill has been elite so far in the first six games of the season, with an .857 kill percentage, ranking them 24th best in the country.
That is one positive, says Eigner, but the penalties have to stop. He missed the season opening games because he was on suspended leave.
“The penalty kill has done a great job,” Eigner said. “The two games I saw start to finish were the Western (Michigan) games.
“The other games I was not able to watch, but I do know we have guys on the penalty kill who are confident (assistant) coach (Curtis) Carr has done a really good job.
“The penalty kill does not have to be practiced as much as the power play because it is more about understanding what the other team is doing or what they are looking to do and how to combat that,” continued Eigner
On the other side of special teams, the Falcons have really struggled to score, with the Falcons scoring 2 for 14 (.148%) times with a man advantage through six games.
Power play goals came from sophomore Dalton Norris in the season opener against RMU and transfer senior Spencer Kersten in the last game against the WMU Broncos,
“The power play takes practice, and getting a group of guys who are comfortable working through sets takes time and practice,” Eigner said.
“You will see a lot of times at the beginning of the year that penalty kills are clicking at a high rate, and penalty kills take a little bit of time to get going. One thing is that we haven’t had a lot of practice time due to our schedule.”
One of the toughest decisions Eigner had to make since his return is who to play between the pipes, as both goalies, junior Christian Stoever and freshman Cole Moore, have both been phenomenal in each of their three games.
Stoever sits at the head of the CCHA and fifth in the nation in save percentage (.947%), including a shutout win in the season opener.
Moore, in his first three games of his career, has made 98 saves with a game high of 42 against WMU with an .891 save percentage, but is still looking for his first career win.
“There is no question Cole was thrown into a difficult spot, and he responded,” Eigner said. “He was one of those guys in that Western series who was definitely part of the solution that gave us an opportunity.
“You have to look at it as a glass half full. We probably weren’t sure how many games Cole would play up to this point, and the fact that he has been in there and done a good job certainly is a shot in the arm for his confidence but also confirms what we thought of him during the recruitment process.
“Now that we have Christian Sotever and Cole Moore, that certainly gives us options, and in goal, having options is a good thing,” added Eigner.
Even with all the new faces on the Falcon’s bench, the coaching staff has seen lots of leaders emerge, especially from transfers Spencer Kersten from Princeton, Josh Noddler from Michigan State, and Owen Ozar from Denver, who all have tons of NCAA experience.
“Kersten was a captain at Princeton, and Josh Noddler was an assistant captain as a junior at Michigan State, so those guys every day are very good. They are grad students. They have a resume in college hockey and experience that some guys don’t,” Eigner said.
“So for them to be there to answer questions from young guys is good. Then you have Owen Ozar, who won a national championship in Denver, so he has tons of experience.
“Especially last week, going into a difficult place to play in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Owen had played there and understood it. Those players have definitely helped not just from an on-ice performance standpoint but from a leadership standpoint as well,” continued Eigner.
Puck drop is set for 7:07 on Friday and Saturday at the Slater Arena, with Friday set for youth hockey night and Saturday set for fan favorite Star Wars night.
