BGSU hockey (14-7-6, 11-5-3) hosted the top team of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) and No. 15-ranked St. Thomas (18-8-3, 15-4-2) at the Slater Family Ice Arena on Teddy Bear Toss Night Friday evening, and while the Falcons would pick up one point for the CCHA standings, the Tommies emerged from overtime with the 3-2 victory and two points towards the CCHA standings.
Special team units would play an important role for both teams in the game, as neither team scored a single goal during five-on-five play.
BG’s power play unit would start the scoring as junior forward Brody Waters would find the back of the net off a rebound opportunity to release the teddy bears from the crowd. Fellow junior forwards Ben Doran and Tyler Hotson were credited with the assists on the play.
All teddy bears collected will be donated Nationwide Children’s Hospital of Toledo.
“I love the concept, I love the idea. (In) college hockey, it’s such a premium to score, so it makes (it) a little more nerve-racking when you’re going out there on a marketing night like that,” said head coach Dennis Williams of the Teddy Bear Toss. “Obviously, it was nice to get it in the first period and thanks to all the fans that brought a teddy bear to help celebrate a great cause.”
Not long after Waters’ goal, Bowling Green would be dealt a five minute major penalty to attempt to kill off after a massive open ice body check from junior defenseman Gustav Stjernberg on UST senior forward Jake Braccini would result in Braccini leaving the game with an injury and Stjernberg leaving the match with a five minute major and a 10 minute game misconduct, his fourth game misconduct in as many series.
St. Thomas would tie the game on the ensuing power play opportunity with freshman forward Nathan Pilling scoring on a one-touch opportunity after receiving a behind-the-back cross-crease pass from senior forward and St. Thomas captain Lucas Wahlin. Along with Wahlin, senior forward Ryan O’Neill was awarded an assist on the play.
Bowling Green would retake the lead just 54 seconds into the second frame of play when freshman forward Noah Morneau ripped a shot from the right faceoff circle during a fast break to beat UST’s Carsen Musser during four-on-four play. Freshman defenseman Brayden Crampton and Hotson were credited with assists on the play.
Pilling would once again tie the game for the Tommies during a power play opportunity via a one-timer shot from the right faceoff dot. Junior defenseman Nick Williams and Wahlin would set up the play and be rewarded with assists.
The third period would feature no change in score as both teams stuck to their defensive structures by blocking shots and breaking up plays.
Bowling Green had a strong showing when it came to blocking shots, as 10 different Falcons blocked shots while redshirt senior defenseman Jackson Niedermayer (five), Crampton (three) and sophomore defenseman Ivan Korodiuk (two) all blocked multiple.
“It is a tough thing to do. It’s hard, I give credit to those guys,” said coach Williams about blocking shots. “I’m glad you bring it up, especially those types of guys who have multiple because they probably don’t get recognized by anybody in the crowd that sees that, it’s normally the goals or assists or a hit or a save. The players that can commit to that give us the best chance to win.”
Nick Williams would give St. Thomas the victory and two points towards the CCHA standings in overtime by ripping a shot past junior goaltender Cole Moore while on a two-on-one opportunity. Senior forward Luc Laylin and sophomore forward Dylan Godbout were credited with the assists on the game-winning tally.
Moore finished the game having made 24 saves while recording a .889 save percentage.
Musser performed slightly better from a statistical standpoint as the sophomore netminder made 25 saves en route to recording a .926 save percentage.
Williams and the Orange and Brown will look for a slightly better result with more points tonight as the Falcons and Tommies close out their weekend series at the Slater Family Ice Arena with puck drop scheduled for 6:07 p.m.
Falcon Media Sports Network’s Ben Corak and Vaughn Ullom will have the call live from the Slater on WBGU 88.1 FM.
