BOWLING GREEN — Christian Stoever has been a brick wall of sorts in net for Bowling Green State University’s hockey team since returning from an injury a little more than a month ago.
What has been the secret for the best five-game stretch in the BGSU senior goaltender’s career?
“Just having more fun with it and going in care free, not really taking it too seriously, But to an extent, obviously focusing in at times and all of that,” Stoever said. “But just having fun and just messing around with it.”
The stress-free attitude from Stoever and his teammates has resulted in the high-powered stretch of hockey early in the Dennis Williams era, as the Falcons (10-7-2, 6-4-2 Central Collegiate Hockey Association) have surged into a tie for third in the league standings. BGSU has won five straight games for the first time since a six-game winning streak midway through the 2022-23 campaign, and the Falcons have not trailed at any point during their recent span.
“I think it’s been a team effort. We’ve done a really good job sticking to our systems and our game plan every game, and I think a huge credit also is to our goaltending,” said BGSU sophomore forward Brody Waters, who has scored four of his CCHA-leading 10 goals during the win streak. “[Stoever’s] been unbelievable this past month.
“He’s really stole some games some nights, so it’s been really nice to have that and along with a great team effort from everyone.”
— BGSU Hockey (@BGSUHKY) January 2, 2025
The Falcons’ stellar play has been due in large part to Stoever, who made his first appearance of the season on Nov. 30 in BGSU’s shootout win over Michigan Tech. He was solid with 43 saves and two goals allowed before leaving in the third period due to an injury.
Stoever returned two weeks later against Northern Michigan, and he has put BGSU in a position to win in every game since.
The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Michigan native has posted two shutouts and allowed just five goals in playing all but 20 seconds of BGSU’s past five games. It has, by far, been the most efficient stretch of Stoever’s four-year BGSU career that has included 84 games; he also won five straight games in goal as a sophomore but allowed 10 goals.
Stoever, who has a .963 save percentage this season, was named the CCHA goaltender of the month for December, as well as the goaltender of the week on Monday after allowing one goal in two games at Lake Superior State last weekend.
“He’s been playing really well, Seeing the puck, tracking the puck, calm in the net,” said Williams, who took over as BGSU’s coach in March. “Doing his job of making that first save is so important, then it’s up to our defenders to do a good job of clearing pucks out and tying up sticks.
“When we’ve had even those mishaps, he’s been there to make that second save for us, which is, I think, what really separates good goalies [from] elite goalies in terms of performance off it.”
Perhaps the biggest benefit for Williams and his squad has been the competition in net. The Falcons have two goalies they can rely on as 6-6 sophomore Cole Moore, an All-CCHA Rookie Team selection last season, has provided plenty of bright spots early in his BGSU career.
“I definitely feel right now with Christian being back in our lineup, we have a 1A and 1B between the two. I’m really fortunate in that position right now to feel really comfortable and confident with both goalies,” Williams said. “Like any position, you need to have internal competition on the ice or else nobody grows. So for the two of them battling right now to want the net, that’s what they should want.
“They should be happy for the guy who gets selected, but deep down, they should have a drive inside that they want that net. Same with the forwards and the [defensemen]. You just can’t be complacent and satisfied ever, but I do know the two of them push each other, they’re happy for each other, and they’re happy for the team’s success.”
BGSU, which hosts Bemidji State on Friday and Saturday at Slater Family Ice Arena, is tied for third in the CCHA standings with Michigan Tech. Due to Augustana — a new league member this season — playing fewer conference games than the rest of the CCHA, the regular season standings are determined by points percentage.
BGSU and Michigan Tech have a .639 points percentage (23 of a possible 36 CCHA points), while Minnesota State (.778) and Augustana (.667) are first and second, respectively.
Sticking to what has worked so far will be the big focus for the Falcons this weekend in a key CCHA series.
“We’re on a five-game winning streak, and that comes from everyone playing the right way, from our goalie to our defense to our forwards,” Waters said. “So I think we’ve just got to stick to that and stick to our systems, and it should be a good weekend.”
First Published January 9, 2025, 7:48 p.m.
