The series in Sault Ste. Marie could be the most important of the season for Bowling Green hockey (8-7-2, 4-4-2 CCHA) and the first year under Dennis Williams. It is a must-win two games for BG if they wish to make the best run at a home playoff game.
Lake Superior State is currently fourth in the CCHA, ahead of BG in fifth. They are the last two teams in the conference (aside from Augustana) to have only ten games played, LSSU with two more wins to the Falcons, two ties, and two more points toward points percentage.
With a sweep for BG, they would rise to 23 points in 12 games, above Lake Superior and tying with Michigan Tech for third. A sweep for LSS would mean they rise to the second spot in the conference with even games played with all opponents. Bowling Green would need 4+ points on the weekend to rise above the Lakers.
The turn of the year could be a great turning point if the Falcons can complete a sweep or at least a 4+ point weekend. Their 14 games following this weekend include only four against teams currently higher in standings, and one of those series is LSSU again at home. Taking an early hold of a home playoff game (top-four seed) could be key for them down an easier stretch.
Lake State is a massively high-powered offense, scoring the most total goals of any team in the CCHA while being second in only conference play. They lead in goals, assists, shot percentage, and points while being second in powerplay percentage and faceoff winning percentage.
They have a history of offense-forward play, first or second in those same statistics in 2023-24 as well. Their main fault is defense and, by extension, discipline. While being the second most penalized team in the CCHA, they have the fourth most goals allowed, 10 more than BG, the least blocks in the conference, and have given up the third most shots and goals against average.
A great representation of their season and play is the series against Ohio State, scoring five goals against a good Big10 program but giving up 15. Bowling Green scored only one goal against the Buckeyes the weekend before but gave up only five.
Their leading scorer, junior center Connor Milburn, has the fourth most points in the conference with 17 but, like nine of the top 10 Laker scorers, still has a negative rating (5). Senior defenseman Nate Schweitzer has been a great offensive asset, scoring one goal and 12 helpers, his +2 is the highest rating of any Laker who has 13+ games played.
Schweitzer and LSSU’s downfall has been penalties, himself accounting for 36 minutes of penalty this season with two 15-minute matches (meaning he received 10-minute misconducts twice). Their seven players in the top 30 penalty minutes are the most in the CCHA.
Meanwhile, the Falcons, who on Nov. 14 led the CCHA in penalties and penalty minutes, now are third, showing marked improvement in discipline over the month and a half. There has been an almost one-to-one ratio between BG and their opponents’ penalties across the season and since middle-November.
Opposite of the Lakers, BG’s problem has been offense. Against the last team in the CCHA, Northern Michigan, BG only scored six goals. Over the last seven games, they have scored only 13 goals but have won three in a row for a 3-3-0-1 record, supported by strong defensive performances and great goaltending by sophomore Cole Moore and senior Christian Stoever, who won the Goaltender of the Month award in December.
The Falcons and Lakers will draw in the first game of two on Friday, Jan. 3, in the Taffy Abel Arena at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Falcon Media Sports Network’s Ben Corak will have the broadcast from LSSU on WBGU 88.1 FM starting at 6:45 on Friday and Falcon Radio at 5:45 on Saturday.
Falcon Four Players to Watch
Junior Winger – Sasha Teleguine, Lake Superior State
The second-highest forward scorer for LSSU, Teleguine has a team-leading eight goals as well as four assists. He has additionally been arguably the most clutch scorer with three powerplay, one shorthanded, one first, and one game-winning goal.
He doesn’t record a consistent number of shots, goals, or assists per game, but he is talented and dangerous enough to draw the game into himself. Against Bemidji State in a 4-3 win, Teleguine scored three of the four goals, including the first for LSSU and game-winning. He has not scored since, but his total shots have been only three in both intermittent games.
Senior Winger – Dawson Tritt, Lake Superior State
The assistant captain, Tritt, is going to look for a rebound series after only one goal and point in the last four games. While he has not taken many shots and isn’t a huge offensive power, he is shooting .333 on the season with five goals and assists, a very efficient 200-foot skater who scored 13/12/25 last season.
Sophomore Winger –Brody Waters, Bowling Green
While much of his scoring comes from on and around the blue paint, Waters’ last goal came on a wrist shot from mid-distance, diversifying his shot selection. Now, with a CCHA leading nine goals, he will have to be on point to help along with BG scoring.
He is an extreme offensive catalyst on the high-producing first line for BG. Falcons lost only one game in which Waters had scored in the 2024 calendar year, and, with the goal struggles they’ve had, a natural scorer such as the sophomore is a huge benefit to BG keeping up with Lake Superior State.
The Goalies – So. Cole Moore, Sr. Christian Stoever, Bowling Green
Like 2023-24, the goalie situation will be as interesting as it can be. Last season, it was Moore who came in and spoiled the starting job from Stoever as a freshman. This year, it is Stoever making a mid-season comeback to take some time away from Moore.
The senior is benefiting from a much better-performing defense than Moore had most of the season but has still been outstanding in his four games played. Moore has been great in his own right, good enough to win BG five of 13 games through the most difficult part of the schedule.
There is no telling who will start either game. It will surely depend on the first game outcome as if BG wins, the starter will probably play the second game, and if they lose, the goaltender will probably change. That is the beauty of having two superb goalies to put between the iron.
