Hockey Games to Watch

Story posted January 27, 2016 in CommRadio, Sports by Tommy Butler

This week two teams in the top 10 face off as we get closer to the last month of the college hockey regular season. Lower down on the top 20 list are two teams who especially need to keep or pick up their game during this final stretch if they want their seasons to continue into the NCAA tournament.

No. 5 Boston College vs. No. 10 Notre Dame

Friday: 7:35  p.m. (at ND)

Notre Dame hasn’t lost a game since late last November and have a four game winning streak going. Their recent play has brought them from 18th to 10th in the NCAA Div I rankings since their last loss. Boston College on the other hand hasn’t lost since the last game of 2015, they have won 3 and tied 3 so far in 2016.

Last time these two played was Dec. 10, back when the Irish were 18th and the Eagles were third in NCAA rankings. The game resulted in an upset of the Eagles when Notre Dame scored three goals in the last period to claim the lead with 22 seconds left. Jordan Gross scored the goal that started the comeback with 8:33 in the third to make it 3-2, almost seven minutes later Jake Evans won a faceoff leading to Andrew Ogelvie’s wrist shot goal to tie it up. Finally, Dennis Gilbert slapped the puck towards the goal, through multiple people, and in for the win. The game ended Boston College’s 13-game winning streak and they haven’t been able to stay very consistent since. Hopefully this game will be just as exciting as the last one, it’s certainly very important for both teams.

No. 17 Michigan Tech vs. No. 18 Bowling Green

Friday 7:07 p.m. (at BG), Saturday 7:07 p.m. (at BG)

These two teams have played each other twice already this season and have spit them 1-1. Backs then the Michigan Tech Huskies were 20th and the Falcons were 15th.

Key players in this match include sophomore forward Brandon Hawkins for BG, senior forward and co-captain Alex Petran and senior goaltender Jamie Phillips for MT. Brandon Hawkins was named WCHA Co-Offensive Player of the Week and Vito’s Athlete of the Week. Over the last week he had three goals and two assists. He also took 11 shots, a team-high, and finished with a +3 on-ice rating. This helped the Falcons to their highest-scoring offensive weekend in 11 years. Petan and Phillips were named WCHA Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week on Jan. 18th. Petan, who has already been named player of the week once before this season, has scored three goals in the last two games. Phillips, who has won player of the week two weeks in a row now, stopped 55 out of 58 shots in the Huskies’ last two games. They both helped lead Michigan Tech to end their 10-game winless streak in games vs. Minnesota State. Both teams are playing well and really need a push if they are going to stay in the top 20 or make it into the playoffs.

Tommy Butler is a freshman majoring in communications. You can contact him at tommybutler1480@gmail.com.