This weekend, BGSU hockey (16-8-6, 13-6-3) will host the No. 17 Minnesota State Mavericks (16-9-5, 12-7-3) in the Falcons’ last home series of the 2025-26 regular season.
The Falcons and Mavericks previously met this season in Mankato, Minnesota, in November, where the two teams skated to back-to-back draws via 4-4 and 1-1 scorelines. The Mavericks would claim the shootout victory on Friday night, with the Falcons following suit with their own shootout victory on Saturday, leading to both teams claiming three points from the series.
This weekend, collecting points will be of the utmost importance for both teams as the fourth-place Falcons only lead the fifth-place Mavericks by two points in the CCHA standings. Both teams only have four games remaining, including this weekend’s action, to attempt to move into and remain among the top four positions of the CCHA standings, to be able to enjoy the home ice advantage in the CCHA Mason Cup Playoffs that comes with it.
Looking to this weekend, one major challenge that the Orange and Brown will face is trying to beat MSU’s senior netminder, Alex Tracy.
Tracy is the reigning CCHA Goaltender of the Year and has recorded a 1.92 goals against average and a .926 save percentage while making 705 saves and recording three shutouts so far this season. Tracy’s stats rank him as the best netminder in the CCHA in the goals against average category and third best in save percentage, while ranking fourth in the NCAA for goals against average and 10th in the NCAA for save percentage. Due to his play this season, Tracy was recently announced as a semifinalist for the Mike Richter Award, which is awarded to college hockey’s best goalie every season.
On top of the elite goaltending provided by Tracy, the Mavericks are also difficult to score against due to their team’s ability to block shots, as their defensive core of senior Mason Wheeler, senior Campbell Cichosz, junior Evan Murr, and senior Ralfs Bergmanis has combined for a total of 154 blocked shots between the four of them. Wheeler leads the group with 59 blocked shots, which ties him with Bemidji State’s Mitch Wolfe for second in the CCHA. Cichosz has recorded 45 while Murr and Bergmanis have blocked 25 apiece.
While Tracy has been the go-to guy for the Mavericks for all but one game this season, BGSU has had three netminders split time between the pipes. As of late, the Falcons settled into a rhythm of starting junior netminder Cole Moore on Fridays and turning to freshman Jacob Steinman on Saturdays.
Moore has appeared in 11 games this season while recording a 2.29 goals against average and a .910 save percentage, while Steinman has recorded a 2.14 goals against average and a .921 save percentage across 16 games where he has made an appearance.
However, a wrench was thrown into this plan for the Falcons when Steinman suffered a noncontact, apparent leg injury during the Falcons series against No. 18 Augustana (19-10-3, 13-8-2) last weekend, which led to sophomore netminder Tyler Palmer stepping in for Steinman for the remainder of Saturday night’s contest.
Palmer, who has recorded a 2.36 goals against average and a .899 save percentage across eight games this season, may have to step in again this weekend as Steinman’s condition is not currently known.
Minnesota State has seen strong offensive contributions from Murr, senior forward Tristan Lemyre, and junior forward Luigi Benincasa throughout the season.
Murr leads the Mavericks roster in assists (16) and +/- rating (+15), ranks second on the team in points (22) and shots (80), and is tied for third on the team in goals (6).
Lemyre’s 12 goals and 23 points place him atop the Maverick roster in both categories while also ranking third on the team in shots on goal with 79. Additionally, Lemyre scored a total of four points, made up of two goals and two assists, in one game during MSU and BG’s previous series this season.
Benincasa leads the team in shots with 82 while being tied with Murr for third place on the team in goals, ranking second on the team in assists with 15, and ranking third on the roster in points with 21.
Bowling Green’s offensive leaders include senior forward and alternate captain Quinn Emerson, junior defenseman Breck McKinley, and junior forwards Tyler Hotson and Ben Doran.
Emerson leads the Falcon roster in points, having accumulated 30 throughout the season. He also ranks second on the team in assists with 21 and is tied with freshman forward Noah Morneau for second place on the team in goals. Emerson is currently tied for third in the CCHA in assists and ranks seventh in the conference for points.
McKinley leads the Falcons in assists with 22, which also places him second in the CCHA for the category. Additionally, McKinley leads all defenseman in the NCAA for assists while ranking eighth among the NCAA’s defenseman in points with 24.
Doran ranks third on the Falcons in shots (67) and assists (20) while ranking second on the team in points.
Hotson leads the Orange and Brown in goals and power-play goals, having scored 10 goals, five of which were during power-play opportunities, across the course of the season. Additionally, Hotson is currently on a two-game goal streak as the Stratford, Ontario native scored a goal in both of BG’s games against Augustana last weekend.
This weekend, head coach Dennis Williams and the Falcons will host Minnesota State at the Slater Family Ice Arena with puck drop scheduled for 7:07 p.m. on Friday and 6:07 p.m. on Saturday.
Falcon Media Sports Network’s Ben Corak will have the call of both games on WBGU 88.1 FM and will be joined by Kevin Hutchinson and Daniel Ridenour over the course of the weekend.
Falcon Four Players to Watch
Senior Goaltender – Alex Tracy, Minnesota State
Tracy has established himself as one of the top netminders in the CCHA yet again this season. If the Mavericks want to overtake BG in the standings, they will need a strong showing from their star netminder.
Senior Forward – Tristan Lemyre, Minnesota State
Lemyre leads the Mavericks in goals and assists and has had success against the Falcons during the two teams’ previous series in November.
Junior Goaltender -Cole Moore, Bowling Green
The last time Moore faced MSU, he was pulled just under 13 minutes into the first period after surrendering three goals on just eight shots. Moore will look for retribution against the Mavericks while the Falcons look to hold onto their top-four spot in the CCHA standings.
Junior Forward – Tyler Hotson, Bowling Green
Hotson currently leads the Falcons in goals and power-play goals and is on a two-game goal streak. The Falcons will look for offensive contributions from their top goal scorer as they attempt to solve Tracy and the MSU defense.
