Scott Paluch (2013) - Hall of Fame - Bowling Green State University Athletics

Scott Paluch

Induction:
2013
Class:
1991

SCOTT PALUCH (hockey; 1985-88 / asst. coach; 1990-94 / head coach; 2002-09)
Paluch, a native of Chicago, Ill., was an All-American defenseman for the Falcons, and later coached the team for seven years. The top-scoring defenseman in BGSU history, Paluch was a First-Team All-America and All-Central Collegiate Hockey Association selection as a senior in 1987-88. He helped BGSU post four consecutive winning seasons and a winning percentage of .655 during his four years as a player. The Falcons won 33 games and captured the CCHA regular-season title in 1986-87, his junior year. Then, BG won 30 games the next winter, earning the program's first CCHA Tournament title with a championship-game win over Lake Superior State at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. Bowling Green earned NCAA Tournament bids in both of those seasons.

Paluch scored 169 points in 165 career games, including 61 points as a senior in '87-88. That 61-point total is the second-highest total in a season by a BGSU defenseman in history, and his 169 career points, as mentioned, is the most ever by a BG blueliner. Additionally, his career total of 48 goals is the most in history by a BGSU defenseman.

Additionally, Paluch holds program records for goals in a game (three, tied for first) and a series (four, tied for first) and assists in a series (seven) by a defenseman. His total of 121 career assists is tied for first by a BG defenseman.

Among all players, Paluch still ranks 19th in scoring among all players in BGSU history, and his assist total ties him for 11th.

His 36 career goals in CCHA games ranks him first in league history for goals by a defenseman, and he ranks third in CCHA annals in both career assists (91) and points (127) in league games by a defensemen. That point total is 14th on the BGSU list (all players). In his senior year, he had 37 assists in 31 CCHA games, the sixth-highest single-season assist total in BGSU history, and the most by a BG backliner.

Paluch helped the Falcons to one first-place finish, two second-place showings and one fourth-place effort during his four years as a player. He participated in the U.S. Olympic Festival in three consecutive years, from 1985-87, and helped Team USA to a bronze medal at the 1986 World Junior Championship. He was a member of the CCHA's All-Tournament Team in both 1987 and '88, and was named the Falcons' team MVP in the latter season.

Following his collegiate career, Paluch signed a professional contract with the St. Louis Blues. He played two seasons for Peoria, the Blues' International Hockey League affiliate. In his two seasons, Paluch played 160 games, recording 21 goals and 69 assists.

He served as an assistant coach at both BGSU (1990-94) and Boston College (1994-2002), helping BC to four consecutive Frozen Four appearances and a national title in 2001, before becoming the Falcon head coach in 2002. His seven seasons at the BG helm included the 2004-05 campaign, when the Falcons posted a 16-16-4 mark, the first season of .500 or better by the program in nine years. BG was fifth in the CCHA that season, earning a first-round home series in the conference playoffs for the first time in 10 years.

BG also hosted a first round CCHA playoff series in 2007-08 when the Falcons posted 18 wins, the most by a Falcon hockey team since 1994-95. In 2009, Paluch left BGSU to become a regional manager for USA Hockey's new American Development Model.

Paluch earned his degree in sport management from BGSU in May of 1991. He and his wife, Amy Jo (also a BGSU graduate), have three children and reside in Bowling Green. Paluch is a member of the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame.