BGSU hockey (2-3-3, 2-1-3) was able to secure three points out of a possible six points towards the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) standings during their weekend series in Mankato, Minnesota, taking on the No. 16 Minnesota State Mavericks (4-2-4, 1-1-2).
The Falcons fell in the shootout on Friday night after a 4-4 draw and were able to claim a shootout victory of their own on Saturday night following a 1-1 draw.
The Orange and Brown had multiple key contributors over the weekend including senior forward Brett Pfoh who scored the Falcons’ lone tally on Saturday night and scored the winning goal for BG in the shootout, freshman forward Noah Morneau who scored two goals on Friday night to tie the game and force overtime and freshman goaltender Jacob Steinman who finished the weekend having made 46 saves while only conceding two goals and recording a .958 save percentage over the weekend.
Another player that impressed over the weekend was junior defenseman Breck McKinley.
McKinley took a total of four shots over the weekend and had two assists during the Friday night contest, and finished the weekend with a +1 +/- rating.
His performance this weekend improved the junior’s season stats to six assists, six points, 12 shots, four blocked shots and a +6 +/- rating.
McKinley currently holds the team lead in assists and +/- rating while being tied with senior forward Quinn Emerson for second place on the team in points. Junior forward Tyler Hotson currently holds the team lead in points with seven.
On top of his stats being amongst the best on the team in multiple categories, McKinley is also tied for the ninth most assists in the CCHA and is tied for the 11th best +/- rating in the CCHA.
During his first two seasons in the Orange and Brown, McKinley scored six assists through 31 games during his freshman campaign and scored 6 assists and a goal through 35 games in his sophomore campaign.
So far this season, McKinley has already matched his career high in assists through the first eight games and is only one point short of matching his career high in points.
While McKinley had established himself as an offensive threat who was skilled at distributing the puck and making offensive plays during his first two seasons, the St. Albert, Alberta native has been able to have his skills translate to the scoresheet so far this season.
McKinley is yet to go a single weekend series without contributing at least one point so far this season, and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down as the Falcons continue conference play.
McKinley and the Falcons’ next challenge is a home series against the Ferris State Bulldogs at the Slater Family Ice Arena on Nov. 14 and 15.
