Over the January 23rd to 25th weekend, the Sault College Cougars travelled to Bozeman, Montana to face the Montana State University Bobcats in a three-game ACHA Division II men’s hockey series. Despite stretches of strong five-on-five play, costly special teams breakdowns proved to be the difference as the Cougars dropped all three contests.
The opening game of the weekend on January 23rd quickly swung in favour of the Bobcats, who capitalized early and often, particularly on the power play. Montana State opened the scoring just 45 seconds into the contest when Tyler Fisher netted his ninth of the season. A power-play goal from Jack Muhlfeld at 9:03 doubled the lead before the Bobcats struck twice late in the period, including another man-advantage marker from Spencer Wilkinson, to take a commanding 4-0 lead after one.
Montana State added a fifth goal early in the second period, and although the Cougars found the back of the net in the third on a Harley Wardell goal, special teams again haunted Sault College as the Bobcats scored another power-play goal en route to a 7-1 win.
Trennis Riley and Keenan Marks shared goaltending duties for the Cougars, stopping 46 of 53 shots, while Montana State netminder Nikolai Wallery turned aside 33 of 34 shots.
On January 24th and looking to bounce back, the Cougars delivered a much tighter performance in game two. Montana State opened the scoring late in the first period, but Sault College responded with a strong second frame. Mitchell Moore tied the game early in the period, followed shortly by Brock Santa Maria giving the Cougars their first lead of the weekend.
However, the Bobcats answered back with two goals of their own in the second to reclaim the lead. Despite a determined push late, including sustained offensive pressure, Sault College could not find the equalizer. An empty-net goal sealed a 4-2 Bobcats victory.
Trennis Riley was sharp in goal for the Cougars, stopping 51 of 55 shots in a standout performance, while Richie Popson earned the win for Montana State.
In the finale on January 25th, Sault College entered determined to salvage a win before heading home. Montana State struck first late in the opening period, but the Cougars responded with a momentum-boosting shorthanded goal from Jacob Kovacs to tie the game heading into the first intermission.
That momentum was short-lived, as the Bobcats converted on the power play early in the second period to retake the lead. Montana State added an insurance goal in the third, once again leaning on timely special teams execution to secure a 3-1 victory and complete the series sweep.
Keenan Marks was solid between the pipes for Sault College, making 45 saves on 48 shots, while Wallery stopped 26 of 27 for the Bobcats.
Despite flashes of resilience and strong goaltending throughout the weekend, the Cougars were undone by special teams, surrendering multiple power-play goals while struggling to generate consistent offense with the man advantage.
Sault College now returns to Sault Ste. Marie to close out the month of January with back-to-back home games at the Northern Community Centre on January 30th and 31st, where they will host the University of Minnesota Gophers.
