Only six of nine Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) played conference matchups in the third week of major regular season play. Michigan Tech and Augustana had bye weeks, and although each team played at least four games, Ferris State led with eight.
The CCHA has elected to sort their standings based on points percentage in 2024-2025 because Augustana plays a different amount of conference games than the other teams. The points percentage formula is conference points divided by conference games played multiplied by three.
Ferris State at Lake Superior State
A classic CCHA split weekend, Ferris State (FSU) won the Saturday game with a three-goal comeback, holding the Lake Superior State (LSS) Lakers off for a 3-2 win and three points in conference.
Forwards Tyler Schleppe and Max Itagaki scored all five weekend goals for the Bulldogs, including one for each on Friday, one for Itagaki and two for Schleppe on Saturday with the game-winner. All season goals scored for the two players happened this weekend, with Itagaki up to a team-leading eight points (2G-6A-8P) and Schleppe’s three goals the only three points of his season (3G-0A-3P).
LSS spread their goal-scoring better, with six scores in a 4-2 win and 2-3 loss, with no one with two goals. Four Lakers had a goal and assist, two in each game, with a total of six goals, 11 assists and 11 players scoring points. Like the Bulldogs, they also took 3 points from their weekend win.
The Lakers head into a bye week for Nov. 22 and 23 while the Bulldogs head home for two games against Augustana, their ninth and tenth conference games of the season in only November.
Northern Michigan at Minnesota State
Minnesota State (MSU) took their second consecutive four-point weekend of the CCHA, a 3-0 win and 1-1 shootout loss to Northern Michigan (NMU) at home. Senior forward Will Hillman had a two-goal weekend, the second an unassisted score in the first period of the second game, the only point for any Maverick in that game (including shootout).
NMU gained their first two points of the season in that second game, the sixth of the conference schedule for the Wildcats. Freshman forward Jakub Altrichter was the co-hero for NMU, with the only shootout make of the three rounds for both teams. Senior Wildcat goaltender Ryan Ouellette was the other hero, allowing only one goal in regulation and saving all three attempts in the shootout.
A third great performance for the Wildcats was freshman Will Diamond, who earned the Rookie of the Week award from the CCAH with his game-tying goal in the Saturday matchup, forcing the overtime and shootout.
Northern Michigan has their bye week coming up, with Augustana to follow in the last days of November. On Nov. 22 and 23, Minnesota State heads to Houghton for a two-game set against the Michigan Tech Huskies, the number one team in the CCHA.
Bowling Green at St. Thomas
Bowling Green won the first of two CCHA weekend shootouts in their first game against St. Thomas. Junior defenseman Jack Blake won the shootout in the fifth round, the only defenseman on either team to have an attempt.
Fellow Falcon blueliner Breck McKinley was awarded the CCHA Defenseman of the Week award following a goal and assist weekend. He is the third Falcon to earn a weekly award this campaign.
St. Thomas rebounded to their first win in four games, a 6-3 dominant win over the Falcons with two goals. Cooper Gay had the best weekend of any player on the ice, with two goals and one assist, followed closely by Matthew Gleason with two goals, both players on the same line. Gay earned a CCHA Forward of the Week award for his performance against the Falcons, the second Tommie to earn a weekly award this season.
While the Falcons and Tommies both have eight points, St. Thomas’ two more games played lower their points percentage, placing them seventh and BGSU fourth.
The Falcons have their second bye week this coming week, while St. Thomas heads to Bemidji, Minnesota, for Bemidji State on Nov. 15 and 16.
Bemidji State at Minnesota
The Beavers had a great weekend against #3 Minnesota in an inter-state non-conference matchup. On a Thursday and Saturday home-and-home series, Bemidji State lost to the Gophers 3-5 and then won in the Saturday game at home 3-1, their best win of the season.
Junior forward Irey Kirklan had one of the best weekends in the CCHA, with a goal in the loss and two goals toward the win. His teammate and goaltender Mattias Sholl played almost as good with 72 saves, five goals allowed (four in one game, one in another), a win over the #3 team in the NCAA and his first Goaltender of the Week award this season.
The Beavers stay home for a series against St. Thomas on Friday and Saturday, their seventh and eighth games played of the season.
