BGSU hockey (8-7-2) last played Rochester Institute of Technology (4-15-1) on Oct. 29 in a 2-1 overtime win at the Gene Polisseni Center in Rochester.
Seventy-one days later, the two teams met at the Slater Family Ice Arena to complete the season series between the two non-conference opponents. The resulting contest would result in a game that matches their previous matchup’s scoreline while featuring far different gameplay.
The Falcons controlled play throughout the first period, outshooting their opponent 27-6 in the first frame.
Bowling Green’s hard work would pay off halfway through the period when a point shot from graduate student forward Ville Immonen was blocked and found the stick of sophomore forward Brody Waters, who promptly fired a puck that found its way past RIT’s freshman goaltender Jakub Krbecek. Junior Defenseman Dalton Norris also assisted in the play.
The first period also featured a high amount of physical play that would be a constant throughout the contest. Players such as sophomore defenseman Gustav Stjernberg and junior forward Jaden Grant led the way for Bowling Green’s physical gameplay as each laid multiple crushing checks throughout the game.
The second period featured no goals and very few scoring chances as the gameplay comprised mostly icing calls going against both sides.
The physicality continued and multiplied in amount and intensity as the game continued throughout the second and third periods.
Multiple less-than-clean hits from both teams went uncalled, including one laid by RIT’s junior forward Adam Jeffery, which resulted in Falcon’s graduate student forward and co-captain Ethan Scardina having to leave the game early due to injury. The intensity of physicality culminated in multiple multi-player bouts that included punches being thrown by both sides.
“It’s an emotional game, and I like it. I think that’s how the game should be played: on your toes and with passion and compete.” Said head coach Dennis Williams. “I thought we did a good job of sticking up for one another.”
The third period would see RIT’s only goal of the contest as sophomore forward Kevin Marx-Norén was able to score on a breakaway after stealing the puck from Norris.
The third period also featured a moment that Falcon fans have been waiting for all season as senior forward and co-captain Ryan O’Hara was finally able to end his 17-game goal drought going back to last season. Despite leading the team in shots and tied with Waters for the team lead in points, this was O’Hara’s first goal of the year.
The play started in the neutral zone when junior forward Quinn Emerson won a puck battle and was able to tap the puck over to O’Hara, whose shot was able to sneak its way through Krbecek for the score.
“Probably not my highest percentage shot of the game; I probably had a few better looks,” Said O’Hara after the game, “That’s the way it goes sometimes, found a way in”
“I think everyone on the team was super excited for him (O’Hara) to get that first one ’cause we know a lot more is going to following that,” said Waters.
Other Falcons who stood out in the contest included senior goaltender Christian Stoever and newly signed freshman defenseman Ivan Korodiuk. Stoever made 19 saves throughout the game and recorded a .950 save percentage. Korodiuk recorded four shots on goal in his collegiate debut.
Despite being on the losing side of the contest, Krbecek’s performance was also worthy of being mentioned, as the goaltender made 44 saves and recorded a .957 save percentage.
The Falcons will travel to Michigan’s upper peninsula to play the Lake Superior State Lakers at the Taffy Abel Arena on Jan. 3 and 4 in a return to conference play.
Falcon Media Sports Network’s Ben Corak will have the call for both games beginning at 6:45 on WBGU 88.1 FM.
