Fifth-place Lake Superior State leads CCHA in scoring
One wouldn’t expect that the fifth-place team in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association could be the highest-scoring team in the CCHA, especially for a team that finished last season 8-17-1 and in last place.
So far this season, Lake Superior State Lakers scored 28 goals against CCHA opponents, three goals ahead of St. Thomas and Bemidji State, the first and second-place teams. Not only do they lead in goals, but they also lead the league in goals per game (3.4), assists (5.36), points per game (8.79), and penalty-kill pct. (.836).
Why? The answer is twofold.
Simply, the Lakers are efficient shooters. They score on a league-leading 12.3% of shots, next being Minnesota State at 11.2%. Only four Lakers are top 30 in shots (Harrison Roy, Jared Westcott, Dawson Tritt, John Herrington), but all of them are in the top 20 in goals. How impressive is that, despite taking few shots they lead in goals scored. Lake Superior has one six-goal game, four five-goal games, and five four-goal games, also having nine of the top 30 highest point totals (goals + assists).
The other reason is Jared Westcott. Westcott is the best offensive player in the CCHA and the sixth-best offensive player in the NCAA. With two 2023 CCHA Forward of the Week titles, he has scored 12 goals on only 39 shots, three power-play goals, three game-winning goals, and a hat trick against St. Lawrence, averaging 1.57 points per game. With 10 assists, the senior has surpassed his stat line as a junior by nine points, and, with three more points, would have been the leading scorer on last year’s LSS team in 22 fewer games played.
Huskies take care of business in Mankato
Michigan Tech was voted by the coaches’ poll as the preseason favorite to win the CCHA. This past weekend was the first time that they truly represented themselves as a team to beat.
The Huskies took an away series in Mankato and turned it into two wins and third place in the CCHA. Against Minnesota State, they scored three goals in back-to-back games, the first game with an OT game-winning goal by forward Ryland Mosley. Mosely scored two goals on Friday, accompanied by Isaac Gordon with a goal of his own. Gordon scored the first goal of the game on Saturday alongside the second of an impressive two-assist, +3 rating two-day performance by sophomore defenseman Matthew Campbell.
Both Mosley and Campbell were chosen as the CCHA forward and defenseman of the week, the first time either player has been honored this year. Fellow Huskies Chase Pietila and Isaac Gordon have also been honored, Pietila as a defenseman, and Gordon as a rookie, totaling four honorees on the season for Michigan Tech.
The Huskies look to extend their three-game win streak at home in Houghton, Michigan as Bowling Green travels to the MacInnes Ice Arena.
St. Thomas loses first game in three weeks
After getting swept by Bemidji State on Oct 27-28, St. Thomas successfully buried Northern Michigan, Bowling Green, and Lake Superior State in the first game of a split series, outscoring the opponent 22-9 in that five-game stretch. The five-game win streak is good for the longest in the conference and is the most wins of any CCHA team this season. The Tommies are now 7-6-1 overall, the only winning record overall in the CCHA.
Northern Michigan puts two “Goalies of the Week” in net
After a 30-save shutout against Bowling Green, the CCHA announced Ben Halasz as their eighth GOTW, the third time a Wildcat has been named GOTW this year. Charlie Glockner was last week’s honoree with a 59 save and 2-goal weekend against Alaska Fairbanks. On Oct 30, Halasz received his first weekly honor after a 1 win 63 save, and 3 goal series against Ferris State.
The two are the only goalie duo in the CCHA to receive weekly honors this year, as well as being the first duo to receive back-to-back honors since the CCHA reinstitution. Northern Michigan now represents over 1/3 (37%) of the total number of weekly honors given this year.
Standings Changes
- St. Thomas* flies to first place after split with Lake Superior State and two Bemidji losses.
- Bemidji State falls, gains no points in the CCHA.
- Michigan Tech* to third after sweep of Minnesota State.
- Northern Michigan down to fourth after split with Bowling Green.
- Minnesota State drops to sixth after getting swept by Michigan Tech
- Bowling Green rises to seventh after win against Northern Michigan, and Ferris State’s lack of CCHA gameplay
*Teams that received votes this week in the NCAA men’s hockey rankings-Michigan Tech (9 votes) St. Thomas (3 votes)
Individual Accolades
Forward of the Week: Ryland Mosley (MTU)
Forward of the Month: Jared Westcott (LSS)
Defenseman of the Week: Matthew Campbell (MTU)
Defenseman of the Month: Kyle Looft (BSU)
Goaltender of the Week: Beni Halasz (NMU)
Goaltender of the Month: Aaron Trotter (STU)
Rookies of the Week: Brody Waters (BGSU)
Rookie of the Month: Isaac Gordon (MTU)
