From the NCHA: Flu Season: Men's Hockey hopes wins are catchy

By Brian Monahan | nchahockey.org

Swept in the season-opening series by Lawrence, which included a two-goal loss and a game where the score was tied in the second period.

Back-to-back 4-3 losses at then No. 11 St. Scholastica.

Up 3-0 on then No. 4 Adrian, only to have the Bulldogs rip the lead and eventually two conference points away in a 5-3 loss.

Heading into last weekend, Concordia-Wisconsin was 1-7. Its lone win came against NCHA newcomer Aurora. The schedule had been rough - two ranked teams on consecutive weekends, plus a non-conference game against a team getting votes in the polls - but one win in a team's first eight games stings no matter how you look at it.

So there was good reason the Falcons bus ride home from Minnesota last weekend was a little more festive than normal, having added two wins over Bethel. Yes, 3-7 looks and feel a lot better than 1-7.

"We went in knowing we needed to pull off two wins," said sophomore forward Tanner Bull, who bagged a four-point weekend for Concordia while earning Player of the Week honors. "It was a big weekend for us. The guys, we all just really performed."

Fittingly, the wins did not come easy. The teams played call-and-answer throughout the weekend, almost melding the two games together. Down 5-4 in the third period on Friday, Brandt Weldon and Anthony Pickering scored clutch goals to secure a 6-5 come-from-behind victory. On Saturday, the game was tied in the third when Bull scored the eventual game-winner at 5:59. Chris Hughes added a power play goal at 10:15 in the 3-1 final.

Maybe the Hughes goal was a sign the hockey gods have loosened their grip on CUW. A two-goal cushion in the third period? That's about as luxurious as things have gotten this year.

"We had some close ones to start," said Bull. "It was frustrating to come out with losses, but we knew we had the ability in the room to win some hockey games, and to finally do it this weekend, it was a really good feeling."

The focus now moves to how the Falcons respond to their success. They'll play host to NCHA foe Finlandia this weekend with a chance to make it a four straight wins heading into the holiday break. To go from 0-6 in mid-November to 5-7 in mid-December would be a perfect holiday gift from the team to head coach Jasen Wise.

"We know this is a big weekend, especially with the teams being in conference," said Bull. "We know we need to keep the wins coming. We've been preparing hard and we know we're capable of winning two more hockey games."

Finlandia, while not ranked, came up with a signature win earlier this year over then No. 8 St. Scholastica and are playing much better under new head coach Dane Litke. The Lions schedule has been nothing short of brutal, facing five ranked teams to open the season. And Finlandia's first three NCHA series of the year have all been against teams that hosted a Quarterfinal Playoff series last February. All reasons Concordia will have to earn its wins if it hopes to hit the holiday break on a high note.

****************** MORE WITH CONCORDIA-WISCONSIN'S TANNER BULL

On the difference between freshman and sophomore season:

I think it's more knowing the league, knowing what to expect. As a freshman, you kind of don't know what to expect, having not played teams before. This year I have more of a sense of the league and the competition.

An unsung hero for the Falcons this year:

Busta Hebda. He's the leader of our team, our captain. The guy works so hard day in and day out. 'Bus leads and we follow.

On Buster Hebda's hairstyle:

Awesome.

On how he tapes his stick, pregame:

I do it before every game. It's not really a spiritual thing, but I like to do it at the same time, as soon as I get to the rink, so I know it's ready. And I always keep my stick with me in my stall.

On how often he sharpens his skates:

It depends on how they're feeling in practice. I don't really sharpen them to often, but if I feel like I'm losing an edge out there, I'll get them done.

Any dryland during pregame:

Just the team warmup, and then I have a couple of my own stretches I do. Nothing too special.

Pregame meals:

Fridays, I wake up and make sure I have a good breakfast. Then I mix it up with lunch and dinner. I knid of combine them into one meal, mid-afternoon. I don't really have a specific meal I eat, it's just whatever I'm feeling at the time. Protein bar in the locker room.

One word to describe warm-up:

Important.

On where he ranks in terms of being vocal in the locker room:

We have a lot of good guys in our room, a lot of guys who speak up. I try to say my part and chip in when I need to.

Favorite class this semester:

Sports Law. As a business major, the law is really interesting, and involving it with sports, as a hockey player, who wouldn't like that.

Professor shoutout:

Dr. (Rob) Barnhill. I've had him for two classes so far.