BGSU hockey (9-5-4, 6-3-3) had multiple players deliver notable performances during their weekend series against in-state rival Ohio State (6-11-1, 2-6-0).
Bowling Green started the weekend with a 2-2 tie on Friday night that would eventually end with the Falcons falling in the shootout at OSU’s Schottenstein Center before returning home to the Slater Family Ice Arena, where the Orange and Brown would claim their first victory over the Buckeyes since the 2018-19 season via a 5-3 scoreline.
Key contributors over the weekend included junior forward Tyler Hotson who scored five points over the weekend including four points on Saturday en route to winning the CCHA Forward of the Week award, junior forward Ben Doran who was credited with three assists over the two games, junior defender Breck McKinley who scored a goal on Friday night while contributing two assists during Saturday night’s contest and alternate captain and junior defender Gustav Stjernberg who blocked a total of six shots between the two games.
While the previously mentioned players, among others, contributed great personal performances that played major roles in the Falcons’ success against the Buckeyes, arguably the best performance of the weekend came from Bowling Green’s junior netminder Cole Moore.
Moore’s season has been far from ideal in a season where many expected the Toronto, Ontario native to be the Falcons’ main starting netminder.
After having a solid performance in his season debut in BG’s opening game of the season against Niagara (7-10-0, 4-5-0), which saw Moore make 18 saves while recording a .900 save percentage, Moore had downright dreadful performances in his other starts.
Following the season opener, Moore started the second game of the series against Niagara and made 14 saves while letting in four goals for a .778 save percentage in BG’s 5-2 loss against Niagara before being pulled in favor of sophomore Tyler Palmer following the second period.
Moore would not see game action again until the opening game of Bowling Green’s series against Minnesota State (12-5-5, 8-3-3) in Mankato, Minnesota. Moore would be pulled after just 12 minutes and 48 seconds of playing time after allowing three goals within the first eight shots he faced to finish the game with a career worst .625 save percentage.
Heading into the Ohio State series, very few expected Moore to get the nod as the starting goaltender. However, Moore rose to the occasion and made a strong case for himself to receive more ice time as BGSU enters the second half of the hockey schedule.
Moore would start both games for the Falcons and would play the entire 125 minutes of gameplay between the two Ohio teams. He would make 29 saves during Friday night’s contest and an additional five saves in the shootout in the Falcons’ 2-2 tie in Columbus on Friday night. Moore finished the night with a season best .935 save percentage after making multiple key and impressive saves throughout regulation, overtime, and the shootout.
Moore would once again get the nod to start on Saturday night, where Bowling Green would claim their 5-3 victory to end a 10-game streak of not being able to defeat the Buckeyes. While Moore’s numbers took a slight dip compared to the previous night’s, as he posted a .893 save percentage after making 25 saves, Moore’s contribution can not be understated, as the netminder’s key and timely saves throughout the game were among the biggest factors allowing the team to secure their first win over their in-state rival in over seven years.
The Toronto, Ontario, native finished the weekend having made 54 saves and recorded a .915 save percentage over the course of the weekend. He’s improved his season stat line to 91 saves, a .867 save percentage, and a 3.57 goals against average over five games.
Moore’s performances against Ohio State not only provided the Toronto native with much-needed confidence but also demonstrated that, despite his struggles earlier in the season, Moore is still a very capable college netminder who has made a strong case to earn more starts in the second half of the season.
If Moore can continue to play similarly to how he did this past weekend, Bowling Green’s goalie room of Moore, Palmer (108 saves, .900 save percentage, 2.16 goals against average this season) and freshman Jacob Steinman (229 saves, .905 save percentage, 2.72 goals against average this season) may have cemented itself as one of the CCHA’s best goaltending rooms.
Head coach Dennis Williams will have a difficult choice deciding who to start in net as the Falcons prepare to return to conference play against Ferris State (4-18-0, 3-11-0) at FSU’s Ewigleben Ice Arena in Big Rapids, Michigan, on Jan. 9 and 10.
