By Ben Shanahan
Special to the Sentinel-Tribune
Bowling Green State University hockey (2-6-1) is set to play conference foe St. Thomas (4-5-1 overall, 2-2 Central Collegiate Hockey Association) in the Falcons’ CCHA opener at the Slater Family Ice Arena on Friday and Saturday
The Tommies’ program made the jump to NCAA Division I three seasons ago and they have improved each season.
This season, an under .500 record does not tell their whole story, splitting in their season opener against St. Cloud State (winning 5-4 in overtime and losing 1-0).
That followed with two close losses to the then No. 2-ranked team in the nation, Minnesota (6-5 in OT and 3-0).
St. Thomas coach Enrico Blasi has seen his team turn things around since his debut season, where he went 3-32-1 only two years ago, and BGSU coach Ty Eigner is aware of the challenge the Tommies will bring.
“They are a good team,” Eigner said. “We got the chance to watch St. Thomas. They have gotten better and better each year.
“Sweeping Northern Michigan last week was big for them, and we know Northern Michigan is a dangerous team.
“St. Thomas forwards are dangerous. They have new guys on the back end that provide them with more experience and more options defensively. Their goaltending last year was mainly Aaron Trotter, but now it seems like there are two guys they are confident in (junior Jake Silbell).
“They have done a really nice job, and it will be a difficult weekend for us for sure,” added Eigner.
Both teams will head into the weekend with a two-goal rotation. The Tommies rely heavily on Trotter (2-3-1, .882 save percentage) and Silbell (2-2, .947 save percentage). Both goalies earned victories last weekend against Northern Michigan.
For the Falcons, it seems like they will also continue the two goalie rotation with junior Christian Stoever (1-3, .926 save percentage) and freshman Cole Moore (1-3, .902 save percentage).
“Ideally, for us, we have options and depth,” Eigner said. “When Christian got here as a freshman, the plan was for Zack Rose and Christian Stoever to split the weekends.
“Zack had waited his turn as Eric Dopp moved on, and unfortunately for Zack, he had to have that hip surgery that year and then the same thing the second year.
“For a long stretch, we have never really been in a 1-A and 1-B type of situation, and this year, when we got started, Christian was a junior who had played a bunch of hockey for us and had a net for the first three games,
“Then Cole got in there at Augustana. When Christian wasn’t available for the Western Michigan series, Cole became the option. We are taking it day by day.
“We have confidence in both of those guys. All our goalies give us a chance to do what they need to prepare, so we’ll keep communicating with them, and the goal for us is for them to keep pushing each other, and we’ll play it by year as we go,” continued Eigner.
The Falcons headed into this weekend with the most momentum they’ve had heading into any series this year, splitting against Mercyhurst last weekend to break a six-game losing streak, The Falcons won Saturday, beating the Lakers, 4-2.
“The momentum did translate from Saturday. Mondays are always a crap shoot as far as what you get in practice coming off a long road trip or a difficult home stand,’ Eigner said.
“You are not 100% sure what you are going to get, but the vibe Monday was good, and the players for sure feel good after a win.”
Bowling Green leads the young conference rivalry against St. Thomas, 6-1-1, sweeping them at the Slater Family Ice Arena last year (3-2, 3-2), but the Tommies get their first ever win against the Falcons with a win and a tie against the Falcons at St. Thomas Ice Arena (4-2, 3-3 UST, 1-0 SO).
Both games Friday and Saturday are set for a 7:07 p.m. puck drop.
