Only two standings shifts occurred this week of games with Bemidji State rising to first place, and Minnesota State rising to fourth place in the point totals*.
The two teams split a series against each other and set CCHA season highs. They completed the highest-scoring contest of the year across all conference teams, finishing 7-6 in regulation, and obtaining an attendance of over 5000 people at Minnesota State, the highest-attended game in the CCHA.
The only team in the CCHA that has Thanksgiving off from games is #7 Ferris State. All other teams in the conference play at either 7:07, or 8:07 EST on Friday and Saturday.
#1) Bemidji State (5-7, 4-4)
The new #1 team in the CCHA had a rough series against Minnesota State. The Beavers lost the first game 5-1 as they were unable to score on four power-plays and allowed three goals in the final period. Goalkeeper Gavin Enright allowed four goals saving only 10 shots for a save percentage of only .600.
The second game began with eight goals in the first period (5-3 Minnesota State), coming back and escaping the tie in the 15th minute of the third period with the second goal of the game by senior forward Jackson Jutting. The goalkeeping struggles continued with Raythan Robbins who started the game, allowing five goals with only five blocked shots. He was later replaced by Enright who gave up one goal in 16 saves.
Bemidji State now plays #2 North Dakota in a non-conference game on both Friday and Saturday.
#2) St. Thomas (6-5-1, 4-2)
The reason that St. Thomas dropped out of their lead in the CCHA is due to not having played a game this weekend. The Tommies have two games in hand going into three CCHA series in a row: Lake Superior State, Ferris State, and Minnesota State. They are heavy favorites against Lake Superior State with recent impressive performances by forwards Lucas Wahlin, Luke Manning, and Cooper Gay.
The Tommies can regain first place with a win as Bemidji State cannot advance their point total in non-conference games.
#3) Northern Michigan (5-6-1, 3-3)
The Wildcats travel to Bowling Green to take on the Falcons this Friday and Saturday. They have a current four-game winning streak with commanding wins over both Lake Superior State and Alaska Fairbanks.
In their two 3-1 wins over Alaska Fairbanks, goaltender Charlie Glockner tallied two goals allowed, no powerplay goals allowed, and 59 saves.
Glockner has started only three games and played in six in total yet has allowed nine goals in 99 saves for a save percentage of .917.
#4) Minnesota State (5-4-1, 3-1)
Minnesota State is coming off an impressive series against the number-one team. Against Bemidji State they outscored 11-8, finishing the first game with three straight goals and starting the second game with five straight goals.
Forward Sam Morton added three goals and one assist to his already sterling year, now second in scoring in the CCHA, aiding the Mavericks in splitting the series and advancing in the conference.
The Mavericks now have the best in-conference winning percentage in the CCHA, also having beaten #10 St. Cloud State twice and won in a shootout against #4 North Dakota. They are now tied with St. Thomas for the highest overall winning percentage in the CCHA.
They will play the Michigan Tech Huskies at home for a chance at acquiring third place.
#5) Lake Superior State (6-6, 3-3)
Jared Westcott remains the leading scorer in the CCHA, leading his team to a split weekend with Bowling Green this past weekend. In the loss to the Falcons, Westcott scored a goal and two assists, and in their win scored two goals and one assist as well as the game-winning goal in overtime.
The Wildcats take the trip to St. Paul, Minnesota to battle the St. Thomas Tommies. This will be the first of a difficult conference stretch for the Lakers, as after the Tommies, they will find the defending CCHA champs, Minnesota State, at home, and then the first-place Bemidji State Beavers on the road.
#6) Michigan Tech (4-6-3, 2-2)
The Huskies have split both series in the CCHA with a win and loss to both Bemidji State and Ferris State. They have been outscored 14-13 but have proved themselves as a formidable team offensively.
They have two players with double-digit points, Isaac Gordon and Ryland Mosley, both of whom are top 10 scorers in the CCHA with three more players knocking on the door of 10 points.
Michigan Tech will play Minnesota State in Minnesota to try and break their even record in the CCHA.
#7) Ferris State (4-7-1, 2-4)
The Bulldogs have been outscored 19-12 in conference play, finding themselves in the middle to bottom of almost every statistical category, including point differential. They split two series at both Northern Michigan and Michigan Tech, additionally having lost two games against Minnesota State at home.
In the last series, Antonio Venuto led Ferris State in scoring with three goals in two games, including the first goal of the second game. This brings him to nine goals and two assists on the season, and the only Bulldog with double-digit points.
Ferris State will stay home this Thanksgiving as they have no games, then bring St. Thomas to the Bulldog’s rink on Dec. 1 and attempt to even their record at two wins.
#8) Bowling Green (3-9, 1-3)
Bowling Green earned their first win of the CCHA season against Lake Superior State after getting swept by St. Thomas last weekend. BG won the first game in a close matchup but inevitably took the lead in the third period and widened the gap with a goal by Ryan O’Hara to win 5-3.
After the tying goal by O’Hara in the third period, Jared Westcott of Lake Superior State found the back of the net 30 seconds into OT. O’Hara entered the double-digit point total with three goals and one assist, bringing him to the top five scorers in the CCHA.
O’Hara and the Falcons get to spend this Thanksgiving in Bowling Green, taking on the Northern Michigan Wildcats, trying to find two more wins and get an even record in the CCHA.
Augustana (4-5-1)
The Vikings had this past week off from games, but now are playing a home-home series with Omaha on Friday and Saturday. Augustana is not able to compete for the CCHA championship this year but will continue to play each CCHA team twice.
They are currently 2-2 against the CCHA, sweeping Bowling Green and getting swept by Michigan Tech.
*Point Totals: Teams are awarded three points for each conference win in regulation, two points for an overtime or shootout win, and one point for an overtime or shootout loss.
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