The Colgate men’s hockey team is back on the ice after having last weekend off and the Raiders as they are traveling to Bowling Green for two games in Ohio.
THIS WEEK: HITTING THE ROAD TO BGSU
The Raiders are back on the road this weekend with a long trip to Bowling Green, Ohio, to take on the Falcons of Bowling Green State University. The Raiders are returning the favor of a long trip after the Falcons came to campus last year. The two-game series was split with Colgate taking the second game by a 4-2 score. Bowling Green, like Ferris State, is now a part of the new WCHA. The Falcons faced Union and went 1-0-1 at Messa Rink and skated against in-state rival Ohio State on Tuesday night.
NEXT WEEK: #11 HUSKIES ON CAMPUS FOR TWO
St. Cloud State is making its first trip to Colgate since 2005-06 next weekend for a pair of games. The Raiders are looking for their first win against the Huskies as the visitors have a 3-0-1 mark versus Colgate with the lone tie coming as a 5-5 gridlock. St. Cloud is part of the new National Collegiate Hockey Conference and enters this weekend at 1-0-1 after playing Bemidji State at home on Oct. 11 and 12.
AMONG TOP NETMINDERS
Senior netminder Eric Mihalik became the 10th goalie in Colgate history to reach 30 wins in a career. The Avon Lake, Ohio, native has appeared in 74 career games for the Raiders and an average of 24 games a season in his previous three seasons. He added his fourth career shutout against Ferris State on Oct. 6 and allowed only one score against RIT on Oct. 10.
SENIOR GETTING SHOT
Colgate only senior skater, Mike McCann, has made the most of his opportunity so far this season with three points in the first three games. He is on the power play consistently for the first time in his career as part of the second unit. He saw a lot of time against RIT and responded with two points during a pair of man advantages, including a power play goal to tie the score at 1-1 against the Tigers.
DEFENSE RESPONDS
After the season-opening 7-4 loss to Ferris State, the questions came up about the Colgate defense, but the Raiders have responded with allowing just one goal in the last two games, including a shutout against the Bulldogs in game two of the series. Colgate risked its bodies in that game with a season-high 21 blocks. Against RIT, the Raiders played defense by controlling the puck on offense as they allowed only 17 shots on net in the entier game. The penalty kill has also improved, allowing one goal in the last 10 chances after two in the opening game.
CORNWALL SOUTH
NOT MISSING A BEAT
The sophomore class that made a huge impact as rookies is back and got off to a great start. The Class of 2016 has three of the top four scorers, led by Mike Borkowski. He has four points on two goals and two assists and he is joined by Tyson Spink as the only two skaters that have scored in all three games. Spink has a goal and two helpers for three points. Kyle Baun had a good weekend against Ferris State with a goal and two assists, but was shutout against the Tigers.
SECOND UNIT COMES THROUGH
SCOUTING THE FALCONS
Bowling Green is coming off a 4-3 win over Ohio State on Tuesday night and its now 1-1-1 on the season. The Falcons scored four unanswered goals after the Buckeyes went up 3-0 in the second period. Last weekend, Bowling Green started the year with a two-game series against Union at Messa Rink. They earned a 3-3 tie on Friday night and then dropped a 5-2 decision on Saturday. They are racking up the penalty minutes as they are fourth in the nation with 67 minutes in the box.
It’s early in the season for both teams and for Bowling Green, senior Bryce Williamson leads the way with three points on two goals and an assist. He got the rally started on Tuesday with the first goal and assisted on the second. Ben Murphy is tied with Williamson for the team lead in goals with two and had the gamewinner against OSU. LIke Colgate, the Falcons are spreading out their scoring as 14 different skaters have tallied points this season and five have two or more points.
In goal, Bowling Green is young with a sophomore and rookie in net. Sophomore Tommy Burke has started two of the three games for the Falcons and has a 1-0-1 record with a 2.88 goals against average and a .891 save percentage. Tomas Sholl got the start against Union in the second game and took the loss and made 24 saves.
SERIES HISTORY
Colgate and Bowling Green will be taking the ice against each other for the 11th and 12th times since the first meeting back in 1973-74. The Falcons hold an 8-1-1 advantage in the series after Colgate earned its first win against BGSU last year in a 4-2 win. The two teams split last season after taking the first game of the series.–
