The fattest month of the college season—Hoctober—has come and gone, and its final weekend was an absolute cornucopia of historic highlights for the CCHA: Five non-conference wins including Bemidji’s slaying of No. 2 St. Cloud, a half-dozen career-first goals, a milestone win and a 972-day scoring drought broken. Let’s break it down.

The World Wide Leader

How does a player get his highlight onto ESPN SportsCenter when his games are streamed, not broadcast? To re-brand an old phrase from the political arena, “It’s the social, stupid!” 

Kash Rasmussen's goal made the #SCTop10 last night!#CCHAHockey | @mtuhky pic.twitter.com/RXLRchxKwY

— CCHA (@CCHAHockey) October 29, 2022

First, the play on the ice. Michigan Tech freshman Kash Rasmussen tracked his rebound at the side of the St. Lawrence cage, and found the puck fluttering belt-high. The left-handed shooter swung from his heels and slammed the puck into the back of the net.

Michigan Tech sports information added the hashtag #SCTop10 to its video tweet, which was then RT’d by @CCHAHockey, and BOOM, it was spotted by an ESPN production assistant. Kash is now a household name in Bristol, Conn. Incidentally, Rasmussen’s baseball swing—his first career NCAA goal—was ranked No. 8 in Friday’s SCTop 10.

The Buzzer Beater

Hearts were sagging in the Soo Friday night. A spirited Lake State comeback against Clarkson appeared to be falling short in the waning seconds of regulation, and hometown announcer Bill Crawford twice told his audience that the Lakers effort appeared to be too little, too late. But despite tumbling through the slot, LSSU freshman Connor Milburn got solid wood on a Jared Kucharek rebound with less than two seconds remaining. You can hear Crawford changing his tune on the call from Taffy Abel Arena. 

.@HockeyLSSU frosh Connor Milburn scores 1st @NCAAIceHockey goal on buzzer-beater, sending Friday's game vs Clarkson into OT with :01.7 remaining pic.twitter.com/EnYrnxH4Wj

— Tim Rappleye (@teeraps) October 30, 2022

The Helper

Bemidji State was also in tough shape Friday night, trailing 1-0 to No. 2 St. Cloud late in the second period. Then their splendid Swede dashed down the right side of his attacking zone, absorbed a check, and while falling, one-handed his pass across the goalmouth to the waiting Jere Vaisanen. The Finn finished with the tap-in putt to tie the game. 

Rosen with a brilliant helper, one-handed centering pass while falling. Play-of-the-week front runner, play-of-the year candidate. Search for low angle view of this. https://t.co/eJEOsvxrEE

— Tim Rappleye (@teeraps) October 29, 2022

Beavers coach Tom Serratore revealed this past week that Elias Rosen has been getting counsel from countryman Nick Lidstrom during summer practice sessions, but even Hall of Famers can’t coach that kind of magic.

The Shorty

L.A. Kings Player Personnel Director Nelson Emerson was in the Crypto.Com Arena Saturday night, sitting next to GM Rob Blake. The two Bowling Green alums were watching the hometown Kings handle the Maple Leafs when Emerson’s mobile vibrated. He checked his phone to see that his wife June had texted him. 

June Emerson was watching the FloHockey stream of the Bowling Green-Minnesota State game, and reported that their son, BGSU freshman Quinn Emerson, had just scored his first career goal for the Falcons. What dad later found out was the nature of the goal: how Quinn had simply soared through the Maverick defense for a breakaway and blew the puck through MNSU’s Keenan Rancier for a breathtaking shorthanded goal. It was a stunning display of speed.

“Ha ha,” said Emerson the elder. “He’s a nice skater,” 

Bowling Green coach Ty Eisner, a teammate of both Blake and Nelson Emerson back in the day, may have to find permanent work for the fleet youngster moving forward. 

The Schneid, Part 1

It’s impossible to tell whether or not Brendan Furry was feeling any pressure after being named the pre-season CCHA player of the year, but the fact remained that he had not scored in the campaign’s first six games. When regulation ended Friday Night in Mankato, it appeared the that streak would extend to seven. Then three-time national coach of the year Mike Hastings put Furry out for the three-on-three overtime. After receiving a pass from Lucas Sowder, Furry unloaded a heavy wrister that willed its way through the pads of Christian Stover. 

Mavericks get the second point in OT off of Furrys first goal of the season #rollmavs😈 pic.twitter.com/hjYLV6Sw9a

— Minnesota State Hockey (@MinnStMHockey) October 29, 2022

Furry scored the tying goal the next night in MNSU’s come-from-behind victory over BGSU, sounding alarms throughout the CCHA.

The Penalty

Friday night in Mankato, Maverick junior winger Connor Gregga took an offensive zone penalty late in the third period, with MNSU clinging to a one-goal lead against Bowling Green. Shortly thereafter, Austen Swankler tied the game for the Falcons, forcing overtime. Although the Mavericks eventually won, Hastings was clearly not pleased at game’s end. 

“That penalty cost us a point in the standings.” 

Hastings then vowed to dress some of the healthy scratches for Saturday’s tilt.

True to his word, freshmen forwards Adam Eisele and Luc Wilson were inserted into the lineup Saturday, and Gregga was found himself in street clothes. Eisele played a regular shift Saturday, and scored the insurance dagger in MSU’s 4-2 victory. 

Eisele with his first goal of the season gives a 4-3 lead. pic.twitter.com/mxCNq3DS5X

— Minnesota State Hockey (@MinnStMHockey) October 30, 2022

Based on how difficult it is to get into the Mavericks lineup each week, it bears watching if and when Gregga returns to game action.

The Schneid, Part 2

Entering this weekend’s play, the last time Ferris State forward Cade Kowalski scored was the 2019-20 regular season finale, before COVID. Early in the second period Friday, Ferris coach Bob Daniels threw Kowalski onto the ice to help kill a St. Thomas power play. Kowalski ended up scoring a short-handed goal, a bet Vegas would never touch based on the past two-plus seasons. The new unofficial record of days between scoring NCAA Division I goals now belongs to Kowalski, a 972-day gap between tallies. 

“That wasn’t a monkey on my back, that was planet of the apes,” said Kowalski from the Bulldogs victorious locker room. 

“The last time I scored, a flu was just a flu, masks were for Halloween and Connor McGrath was just learning how to shave.”

The Century Mark

Northern Michigan coach Grant Potulny, the man who once appeared destined to take the helm of his alma mater University of Minnesota, won his 100th game with Northern Michigan Saturday night, defeating Alaska 3-2. Potulny exuded gratitude when speaking about hitting triple figures in the win column. 

“I have been blessed to work with great coaches and talented players,” said Potulny, who along with his family, has fully embraced life in Marquette. 

He concluded Saturday’s presser with a milestone reality check. 

“You hope you can be around for the next one.”