The BG hockey team will look to rebound this week as it takes on Michigan in a mid-week matchup.
The Falcons will head to Ann Arbor for a pre-Thanksgiving, Wednesday night. Puck drop is set for 7:35 p.m.
BG and the Wolverines (4-6-1, 2-5-1-1 CCHA) only play each other twice this season, with both games being played at Yost Ice Arena. The Falcons will make a return trip north for a single game Jan. 8.
The two teams also only played twice in the regular season this past year. Both of those games were played at the BGSU Ice Arena.
The Falcons and the Wolverines also met at Joe Louis Arena in the semifinals of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs.
BG jumped out to a 2-0 lead in that game before losing 3-2 in double overtime.
However, that Michigan team is a much different version than this season’s team.
Lost to graduation was goalie Shawn Hunwick, who paced Michigan with 24 wins, a 2.00 goals-against average and a .932 save percent this past season.
This season, Michigan has had major issues in goal, with a pair of freshmen in net.
The Wolverines have the most porous defense in the CCHA, allowing 3.55 goals per game.
Neither goalie has had much success. Steve Racine has been the better of the two, playing in eight games with a 2.92 GAA and a .885 save percent. Jared Rutledge has played in four games, with a 4.46 GAA and a .855 save percent.
But what Michigan lacks on defense, it more than makes up for on offense. The Wolverines lead the conference with 3.64 goals per game.
Leading the way for Michigan is senior forward A.J. Treais, who assisted on Michigan’s double overtime winner against BG in the semifinal game. His eight goals and 13 points are both team-highs.
Also having a strong year is Alex Guptill, the reigning CCHA Rookie of the Year. He ranks second on the team with 10 points.
The Wolverines have gotten strong production from their defensemen as well, despite having played without stalwart Jon Merrill, who has missed the entire season after suffering cracked vertebrae in the team’s exhibition game against Windsor.
Mac Bennett leads the blueline with 10 points. Michigan has also received strong contributions from hard-hitting freshman Jacob Trouba, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft.
Trouba has four goals and five assists in 10 games. He was recently suspended one game after receiving a match penalty for a hit he put on Northern Michigan’s Reed Seckel.
BG is currently on a five-game winless streak. For the season, BG is 2-8-3.
However, the team made some strides this past weekend against Ferris State. The Falcons heavily outshot the Bulldogs, despite losing both games.
BG also received multi-point weekends from Ryan Carpenter and Dan DeSalvo. Carpenter leads the team with nine points, while DeSalvo ranks second with eight.
