WCHA Championship Decided In Double Overtime

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Houghton, Mich. – Michigan Tech's Shane Hanna scored on a breakaway 6:35 into the second overtime and the Bowling Green State University's hockey season came to a close with a 3-2 loss in the Western College Hockey Association (WCHA) Championship game Saturday evening. The Falcons' season comes to a close with a record of 21-18-2.

After Bowling Green battled back from a 2-0 third-period deficit with a pair of goals just 24 seconds apart, the two teams settled into a tug-of-war. Neither team was able to break the deadlock through the final 13 minutes of regulation and an entire 20-minute overtime session. Both teams had limited opportunities in the early stages of the second overtime before Matt Roy's breakout pass led to Hanna's breakaway. He beat BGSU goalie Chris Nell high to send Michigan Tech into the 16-team NCAA Tournament.

BGSU entered the game on a seven-game win streak, the longest for the program since the 1987-88 season. But playing in front of a sold-out crowd of 4,466 at John MacInnes Student Ice Arena, the Falcons were unable to take advantage of opportunities early. The Huskies broke open a scoreless first period with a pair of second period goals to take control of the game.

After being outshot 8-6 in the first period, the Falcons failed to get a shot on goal until earning a power play opportunity at the 8:40 mark after boarding behind the MTU net. By that point, the Huskies had taken a 1-0 lead on a 2-on-1 opportunity that Joel L'Esperance took full advantage of. BGSU rung up 12 shots the rest of the period, including numerous quality scoring opportunities, but the Huskies were still able to build on the lead.

After a pair of penalties at the 11:56 mark brought 4-on-4 skating with it, Jake Jackson was able to find open ice after a defensive miscue opened the left side of the ice. His shot from the left circle put the Huskies on top 2-0.

While the Falcons were generating offensive opportunities, they were unable to break through until Joe McKeown's slap shot found the back of the net 6:36 into the third. With new life, BGSU continued the charge. The Falcons quickly forced a turnover in the offensive zone and Matt Pohlkamp buried a shot just 24 seconds later to tie the game at 2-2. It remained that way until Hanna's winner.

"The game wasn't over," BGSU Head Coach Chris Bergeron said. "I didn't expect any less from our group. Once it got tied, it was a bounce here or a crossbar. Overtime is a tough thing because both teams want it so bad. They are playing so hard for their school and for each other. Unfortunately, someone has to lose."

Bowling Green outshot Michigan Tech for the game 38-30, including 23-9 between the second and third periods. Both teams were scoreless on one power play opportunity. The Huskies twice scored on 4-on-4 hockey, posting their second and third goals with the more open ice.

"Going into the first overtime and at the end of the third, we were really buzzing," senior captain Sean Walker said. "We had tons of opportunities in the overtimes as well."

While the loss ends the Falcons 2016-17 season, BGSU reached numerous team milestones. Bowling Green played in its first conference championship game since 1988. The Falcons have now advanced at least to the league semifinals in all four years it has played in the WCHA and BGSU has won at least one best-of-three playoff series in seven consecutive years, the longest such streak in the country.

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