BOWLING GREEN — Ty Eigner’s team took steps forward, and his goaltenders got a taste of playing in a rotation last weekend.
Bowling Green State University’s hockey team left Bemidji State with a split against the nation’s No. 20-ranked team. With a matchup ahead this week against new Central Collegiate Hockey Association member St. Thomas, Eigner was able to see what the goaltending tandem of Zack Rose and Christian Stoever was able to accomplish in back-to-back nights against a tough opponent.
“To open the series and open CCHA play with a win on Friday was certainly a positive, and that has a lot to do with Zack Rose,” Eigner said at Tuesday’s news conference. “The takeaway from that game was Zack was outstanding. Probably as good of a game as he’s played in his career here. We will certainly not apologize for our goalie being the best player on the rink that night.”
Rose saved 38 of 40 opportunities, including 15 of 16 in the first and a perfect 11 of 11 in the second period on Friday.
Stoever, a true freshman from Northville, Mich., had 27 saves in 29 chances in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat. He saved 11 of 11 chances in the first, but allowed two goals in the second period as the Falcons went down 2-0.
Despite the loss, Eigner liked the effort from his team.
“We felt like we did play better on Saturday,” Eigner said. “Christian Stoever goes in for his first game and did a really nice job as a freshman in a difficult environment. ... We got down 2-0 on Saturday, and we kept coming and kept playing, but it was just a little bit too big of a hill to climb.”
The Falcons’ penalty kill over the weekend was solid in holding Bemidji State to one goal in eight chances. The Beavers got one goal in five chances on Friday, and they were 0-for-3 on power-play chances on Saturday.
“The penalty kill is doing a really good job,” Eigner said. “The goal we gave up Friday night was kind of an odd goal. It was at the end of a power play, and it was a mixed-together unit [for Bemidji State]. ... Understanding the new system we’re playing, and understanding some responsibilities that are different from how we’ve penalty killed in the past, so we’re real happy with them.”
The Falcons return home to the Slater Family Ice Arena on Friday for a weekend series against new CCHA member St. Thomas, which is in its first season playing Division I after playing in Division III.
The Tommies are 1-9 overall and 1-5 in conference play, with their lone win coming Oct. 23 against Ferris State.
“All we can do is look at tape and how they’ve done and from afar see scores, and I believe, from the things I’ve heard and the things I’ve read, they feel like they’re making progress,” Eigner said of St. Thomas. “It looks like from the outside they’re making the progress, and they’ve played a difficult schedule.”
HOMECOMING: One Toledo-area export, senior Joey Sofo, will be making a return to northwest Ohio for St. Thomas. The St. John’s Jesuit product and Sylvania native transferred from Alaska Anchorage prior to the start of last season. He scored two goals and had one assist in three games last year for St. Thomas. This season, he has four assists in seven games played.
“The Sofo family and hockey are synonymous with this area,” Eigner said. “When he was at Alaska Anchorage I believe his dad and the Sofo Foods Group brought in probably 200 fans, which was great.
“We know Joey. I remember when he was playing Triple-A hockey in Michigan. His brother, Jase, is the same age as my son, and they went to St. John’s together. We’re familiar with who they are, and great that he can be getting an opportunity to finish his college career at St. Thomas.”
First Published November 2, 2021, 6:27 p.m.
