By Ben Shanahan
Special to the Sentinel-Tribune
Bowling Green State University hockey (4-10 overall, 2-4 Central Collegiate Hockey Association) travels to Houghton, Michigan, to open up their December playing conference rival Michigan Tech (6-6-3, 4-2).
The all-time series matchup dates back to 1972 and is at a stalemate 22-22-5 record. In Houghton, the Huskies hold a slight advantage, holding a 10-9-4 record over the Falcons.
The Huskies head into this series seeming to finally start making a turn for the better, starting the season out 0-4-3 before two separate three-game win streaks, including one that can continue on, in the month of November.
“For us and Michigan Tech, we felt like they were going to be a team battling for the CCHA regular season championship,” BGSU coach Ty Eigner said.
“It starts in goal for them. They have preseason player of the year candidate Blake Pietila. He has been a really good goalie for them for his whole career.
“Regardless of what their record is, they are a really good team, and I believe they will be there in the end when it is all said and done.
“On top of that, Houghton is a tough place to play; they have really good fan support, and we are going to have our work cut out for us for sure,’ continued Eigner.
For Michigan Tech, they are one of the only non-two goalie weekend-type teams in the CCHA, a dying breed in college hockey.
Their starting goaltender is four-year starter and last season CCHA player of the year Blake Pietila, who so far this season in 12 games played is 5-4-3 with a .902 save percentage and a 2.85 goals against average.
“Based on how the position is going, we see it with us,” Eigner said. “We had situations where we had a 1A and a 1B, and then there were other teams that rode one guy.
“This weekend, we are planning on seeing Pietila both nights, and he is a really good goalie. Ultimately, who is in the net for the other team, how we play, and how we do in front of that goalie are more important than who is in the net,” added Eigner.
For the Falcons, they will also play one goalie with junior Christian Stoever out. Freshman Cole Moore is projected to get both games between the pipes. Moore this season in eight games played has a .900 save percentage and a 3.14 goals against average.
“Our goalies are positive,” Eigner said. “I look forward to the day when we have Christian Stoever back and we have two guys that we go to.
“Unfortunately, we have not had that situation much this year. Cole did a nice job, and he is starting to get comfortable with what it takes to be a Division I goalie and how you handle that.
“Cole is getting comfortable, and Christian is getting closer to getting back. It will be nice to have healthy competition, which will make both guys better.”
Friday puck drop is set for 7:07 p.m., and Saturday puck drop is set for 6:07 p.m. Both games are being streamed on FloHockey.
