BG faces a big test this weekend in more ways that one. The Falcon hockey team left for Lake Superior State University Thursday morning for a pair of games tonight and tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. The series comes at a crucial time in the season when BG sits on the cusp of .500 at 3-4-1. They are 2-2-0 against Central Collegiate Hockey Association opponents, and a sweep this weekend could help propel them toward the top of the conference.

“Like every weekend, special teams are going to be very important,” said coach Scott Paluch.

BG and Lake Superior’s power plays are currently ninth and tenth, respectively, in the league. Each of their penalty kills are also ranked near the bottom. But the Falcons’ biggest test this weekend will be matching up against Lake Superior’s size. The Lakers’ average player weight is 187 pounds, compared to BG’s 183.

And the Lakers boast 16 players taller than six feet, compared to just eight on the Falcons. In fact, their two leading scorers, Zac MacVoy (eight points) and Nathan Perkovich (five points) are six feet two inches and six feet five inches, respectively. Compare that to BG’s two leading scorers. Dan Sexton (11 points) and David Solway (eight points) both stand five feet ten inches tall.

“We’re going to have to win a lot of battles in front of the net against them and get the puck deep in their zone,” said BG senior defenseman Kevin Schmidt. “It’s definitely going to be a grinding type of a game each night.”

BG is tied for second in the country in most shots with 281 in eight games. That solid level of puck possession will help to keep the pressure on Lake Superior’s large bodies and might help stave off a few crushing hits in the Falcons’ defensive zone.

The teams last faced each other in the first round of the 2008 CCHA playoffs on March 9. Jacob Cepis scored the game-winning goal a minute and 34 seconds into overtime to send the Lakers back to Sault Ste. Marie with a 4-3 loss at the BGSU Ice Arena.

Expect them to be out for revenge this weekend.

“They probably will be,” Schmidt said. “They’re in the same boat record wise, so it’s a huge weekend for us and a huge weekend for them.”