BGSU hockey (2-2, 2-0) sits atop the CCHA after one week of play, one of six teams to have played conference games and one of two teams to have yet to drop a point. After three tough season-opening losses (exhibition loss to Robert Morris, two regular-season losses to Niagara), the team has recentered to a three-game winning streak through an exhibition against Windsor and two conference wins against Lake Superior State.
“It was a really good feeling for our players,” said head coach Dennis Williams in his press conference following the Lake State series. “We’ve battled pretty hard; we’ve had a rough go trying to get wins. For our guys to go up on the road and get those two wins against CCHA opponents … is important.”
It was good feelings all around for a hockey club that outplayed the Lakers in nearly every aspect, especially in the offensive zone.
The Falcons scored seven goals, six from players who did not play in the Orange and Brown last season, with three on the power play, the first man-advantage goals of the season.
“We still have to generate a little more five-on-five,” said Williams on his team’s offense. “The power play came through this weekend; we hadn’t had much luck with the power play. If you really look at how we scored the majority of our goals, it’s because we are getting to the right areas.”
To a well-playing Bowling Green team at home comes Bemidji State, another team that won two games in their first conference series, dropping only one of six available points to Augustana.
The Beavers come off a slightly disappointing regular season in 2024-25, where they finished 10-12-4 in conference play but beat Augustana in a three-game Mason Cup Quarterfinal series at Sioux Falls, finally losing in the semifinals to Minnesota State.
The Beavers have historically been a wagon under head coach Tom Serratore, who coaches in his 25th season in Bemidji.
The second-winningest head coach in BSU Hockey history coached the club to a MacNaughton Cup (regular season) Championship in the 2023-24’ CCHA season before a loss to Michigan Tech in the Mason Cup Finals.
Bemidji lost three of its top five scorers to graduation after last season, also losing its 2023-24 CCHA Goaltender of the Year in Mattias Sholl. Through eight games this season, six against three clubs that have received NCAA ranking votes (St. Cloud State, Minnesota-Duluth, Augustana), they have found a way to outscore opponents 26-23 and skate away with three wins in a one-score game.
“I thought we played well defensively,” said Serratore, contrary to his team’s high-scoring potential. “I thought we took away a lot of time and space. Our special teams are still a work in progress.”
Freshmen forwards Oliver Peer and Max Namestnikov have impressed early in the season, especially Peer, who has played first-line center and tied for a team-high in goals (4) and points (8). Namestnikov has scored a goal and four helpers, assisting on the first and scoring the game-tying goal in the 3-2 Saturday win over Augustana.
Two Beavers were chosen by the CCHA media poll to be Preseason Media Co-Rookies of the Year. Amazingly, it was not either of the forwards mentioned but defenseman Max Vig and goaltender Max Hildebrand. Vig has scored no points yet but is third on the team in blocks, while Hildebrand, named 2024-25’ WHL Goaltender of the Year, leads the Beavers in saves and minutes played and was this week’s CCHA Rookie of the Week.
Sophomore defenseman Isa Parekh was additionally named to both the coaches’ and media preseason poll All-CCHA team following a three-goal, 15-assist, and CCHA All-Rookie Team 2024-25 campaign.
The test will be a good one for the Falcons at home. Bemidji State is a team with CCHA success, a good group of returners, and an outstanding group of freshmen whom the Falcons will have to worry about for the next few seasons.
Last season, BG and Bemidji played four one-score games, two that were decided in overtime and one that went to a shootout.
“Their team is really well coached and disciplined,” said Williams on Bemidji’s play. “They are definitely coming in feeling really good about themselves, and they should; they played good hockey. If we don’t manage pucks properly, they will score in waves.”
The Falcons open up home ice and home CCHA play with Bemidji State on Friday at 7:07 p.m. and Saturday at 6:07 p.m. Tune into Falcon Media Sports Network’s Ben Corak with Sean Connelly on Friday and Nathan Burkett on Saturday on WBGU 88.1 FM, the home of Falcon hockey.
