BGSU hockey is now over halfway through their 2025-26 conference season, their 13th of 26 games being game one at Ferris State last weekend, part of a season-series sweep of the Bulldogs.
There were definite low points in the first half. One was the first series of the season at Niagara, 2-0 and 5-2 losses in fairly poor games played. Just three weeks later, there was another, hosting Bemidji State for the first home series of the season, losing in both a shootout and overtime.
Possibly the most egregious was the final series of 2025. Northern Michigan came to town without a win and left with a regulation win and overtime loss, their first four points of the season coming over the Falcons.
Granted, BGSU was missing two key defensemen (Gustav Stjernberg and Jackson Niedermayer) and a forward (Max Martin). They could be leading the CCHA right now. Instead, they are just fifth.
There are extreme positives to this point. Ferris State and Lake Superior State were dominated by BG, Falcons outscoring Bulldogs 22-9 with a chance at their second season sweep of the year against LSSU.
These are teams you should have handled and done. BG played two teams standing higher than them currently and split with both: Minnesota State and St. Thomas, both on the road.
Through these 20 overall and 15 conference games played, the biggest surprise and maybe team MVP has been senior forward Quinn Emerson, with a team-leading 23 points and 17 assists. Another pleasant surprise is junior defenseman Breck McKinley’s 16 assists and 18 points, tied for second on the team in both regards.
Bowling Green is playing their best hockey of the season, stepping deeper into the second half. The forward group has depth scoring, the defense is stout with the addition of freshman weapon Ty Higgins, and the goalie room has three fantastic options for any night.
It is just in time, too. The Falcons have the toughest schedule in the CCHA during the last six weeks of the regular season, playing the five other teams competing for the number one seed. Three of those series are away and there is no bye week from now until after the Mason Cup Tournament.
There is a ton of hockey left to play, but not that much season left. BGSU stands at fifth, chasing the first seed by three points, with all of the top six within five points of first. Every series, game, period, goal, shot, and shift through the second half can take the Falcons as equally close to and far from the number one seed.
