When Bowling Green and Minnesota State meet on the ice, the contests are generally tightly contested.
The Falcons have met the Mavericks 12 times in the past three years since the two schools became
conference-mates. Two of those 12 meetings have been in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association
semifinals, and five of the 10 regular-season meetings have gone to overtime.
So while the Bowling Green is merely 4-6-2 against the Mavericks the past three years, the games have
generally been hard-fought and entertaining.
While that’s good news for the fans, the Falcons aren’t heading to Mankato to have fun. It’s a pivotal
series that will likely play a huge role in the final WCHA standings.
“They’re all important (weekends) with where we are right now and the way this year has gone,” said
Bowling Green head coach Chris Bergeron. “We’re tied with them for third; it’s a big series. We know
this rivalry has been created with them. We’ve played them in the Final Five. We’ve played them in the
regular season. We know this is a team that is going to be ready for us.”
Both teams enter the weekend tied for third in the league with 29 points, though Minnesota State has
accomplished that in 16 games, versus 18 for Bowling Green. A six-point weekend for either team would go
a long way in solidifying home ice for the WCHA playoffs.
“(They’re) a team we’re tied with and right now it’s fair to say we’re in a fight for home ice and
they’re a team we’re going to have play hard against to give ourselves an opportunity,” Bergeron said.
“They’re too good of a team to not to give yourself a chance by not competing or by not being your best.
That’s something that’s been a challenge for us.”
Bowling Green and the Mavericks have followed somewhat similar trajectories this season, though their
peaks and valleys have come at different points.
After starting the season 5-0 by outscoring Michigan Tech, St. Cloud and Alaska by a 24-7 margin,
Minnesota State went on a 2-4-1 run through the beginning part of its WCHA schedule.
Since that skid, the Mavericks are 6-3-1 and winners of three consecutive games. They boast the league’s
leading scorer in freshman Marc Michaelis (10 goals and 17 assists), as well has the league’s
top-scoring defenseman in Daniel Brickley (17 points in 14 games). Entering the weekend, Michaelis and
Brickley are the only two players in the WCHA averaging more than a point per game.
“I’m looking at a team that plays the game really fast, and they’re good at it,” Bergeron said. “They’re
a team that has a bunch of skill, and they’re good on the power play. They’ve got some defensemen we
know pretty well, and they’re good players.
“From a defense-forward perspective, they’re as complete of a team as there is in the league, and they
play the game the right way. They compete really hard. They play fast. They make plays.”
In terms of offense, Minnesota State has been slightly less prolific in WCHA contests; it averages 3.06
goals per game in conference games, versus 3.14 goals per game overall. In conference games, only the
Falcons (3.17 goals per game) score at a better clip.
The main question facing Minnesota State comes in goal.
Both senior Cole Huggins (2.41 GAA, .899 save percent) and sophomore Jason Pawlowski (2.49 GAA, .909 save
percent) have been good, but relatively inconsistent. That has allowed junior Aaron Nelson to step into
the fold; he started his first two games of the season last weekend in Minnesota State’s sweep of
Huntsville, stopping 47 of 49 shots in the process.
With the Mavericks being at home, they’ll have the luxury of waiting until the last minute to pick a
starter from the three netminders. Whoever the Falcons end up facing, Bergeron is making sure the team
understands that’s not its biggest obstacle.
“They’re a team that’s looking for a goalie to step up and be the man,” he said. “That’s not our concern.
That’s something we’ll have to be aware of whoever we’re playing against as far as their goalie. We’ll
have to put pucks and people at the net, no different than any other week.
“It’s going to be a really hard series. Our guys need to be prepared for that.”
WESTERN COLLEGIATE
HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
    W    L    T    3/SW    Pts    GF    GA
Bemidji State
    15    3    2    2    49    49    26
Michigan Tech
    11    3    2    1    36    44    26
Minnesota State
    9    5    2    0    29    49    36
BOWLING GREEN
    9    8    1    1    29    57    42
Alabama Huntsville
    7    9    2    0    23    46    59
Ferris State
    6    8    2    2    22    44    46
Alaska
    5    9    2    2    19    41    58
Lake Superior State
    6    9    1    0    19    47    53
Alaska Anchorage
    4    9    3    1    16    31    41
Northern Michigan
    3    12    1    0    10    33    54
OVERALL RECORDS: Alabama Huntsville 7-15-2, Alaska 6-14-2, Alaska Anchorage
5-14-3, Bemidji State 15-8-3, BOWLING GREEN 11-12-2, Ferris State 7-13-3,
Lake Superior State 9-12-1, Michigan Tech 14-9-3, Minnesota State 13-7-2, Northern Michigan 5-17-2
Friday’s Games
BOWLING GREEN at Minnesota State, 8:07 p.m.
Alaska at Ferris State
Alaska Anchorage at Michigan Tech
Lake Superior State at Northern Michigan
Saturday’s Games
BOWLING GREEN at Minnesota State, 8:07 p.m.
Alaska at Ferris State
Northern Michigan at Lake Superior State
Alaska Anchorage at Michigan Tech