Bowling Green State University Athletics
BGSU Hosts Western Michigan in Home Opener of 2002-03 Season
October 09, 2002 | Ice Hockey
Oct. 9, 2002
Bowling Green, Ohio -
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Falcons Host Home Opener on Friday (Oct. 11)
Bowling Green hosts its home opener this Friday (Oct. 11) at the BGSU Ice Arena vs. Central Collegiate Hockey Association foe Western Michigan. Face-off is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. BGSU is 7-3-0 in its last 10 home openers. The Falcons will then travel to Kalamazoo, Mich., on Saturday for a matchup with the Broncos (8:05 p.m.) at Lawson Arena.
BGSU Kicks Off CCHA Action
The visit by Western Michigan on Friday (Oct.11) to the BGSU Ice Arena will be the league-opener for both teams. WMU finished sixth last year in the CCHA with a 13-12-3 record while the Falcons were 11th with a 7-18-3 record. WMU was picked eighth in the CCHA Preseason Coaches/Media Polls while BGSU was tabbed 11th.
Falcons vs. Western Michigan (0-0-0 overall)
Bowling Green holds a 66-41-3 advantage in 110 meetings with WMU. However, the Broncos have won the last three matchups and hold a 15-6 scoring advantage in those contests. The last Falcon victory over WMU was on Feb. 23, 2001 (4-2) at the BGSU Ice Arena. WMU won a pair at the BGSU Ice Arena last season (8-1, 5-4 OT).
Bowling Green Finishes Second at Lefty McFadden Invitational
The Falcons lost 2-1 to Miami (OH) on Saturday (Oct. 5) in the championship game of the first annual Lefty McFadden Invitational in Dayton, Ohio. The tournament was held at the E.J. Nutter Center. JR forward Mark Wires scored his second power play goal of the tournament in the loss while SR Tyler Masters had 38 saves on 40 shots faced. It was the first-ever meeting between the two schools at a neutral site.
Scott Paluch Wins Coaching Debut
First-year head coach Scott Paluch (BGSU '91) won his coaching debut on Friday (Oct. 4) with a 4-1 BGSU decision over Niagara at the Lefty McFadden Invitational. Paluch became the fourth coach in BGSU's 33-year-history to win his Falcon debut behind the bench.
Falcons Win First Season Opener in Four Years
BGSU won its season opener for the first time in four years with a 4-1 victory against Niagara on Friday (Oct. 4). Bowling Green finished with two PPG, one from JR Mark Wires and another from SO Steve Brudzewski. SR Tyler Masters stopped 23 of 24 shots faced in net while the Falcon special teams killed off all four Niagara power plays. BGSU finished 2-for-4 on the power play. Also collecting goals for the Falcons were JR Roger Leonard and SO Ryan Minnabarriet. The last season-opening victory for BGSU was on Oct. 9, 1998 (4-2 over Miami).
BGSU Kicked off 2002-03 College Hockey Season
BGSU's game vs. Niagara was the season opener for all of College Hockey in the 2002-03 season. On Oct. 1, BGSU had the first exhibition game of the year, as well, with a 5-2 win over Windsor. It was the earliest beginning for BGSU in its 33 years of varsity action.
Leonard Continues Hot Hand in Opener
JR Roger Leonard picked up in the season opener (Oct. 4) where he left of in the exhibition game vs. the University of Windsor (Oct. 1). Leonard netted two power play goals in the game against Windsor and led off the scoring for BGSU in the 4-1 win against Niagara, along with assisting on Mark Wires' PPG.
Wires Starts the Season Off Right at the Lefty
JR forward Mark Wires had a successful opening weekend at the Lefty McFadden Invitational (Oct. 4-5). The Ontario native had two goals (both PPG) and an assist to help the Falcons to a second-place finish. Wires netted the game-winner in a 4-1 victory over Niagara. The two PPGs equal his amount in 38 games last season and the three points in the two games sets a new personal-best. He was named to the All-Tournament Team.
Masters Begins Senior Campaign Like the Others
SR goalie Tyler Masters registered a .953 save pct. (61 of 64) in two games last weekend, including 38 saves (on 40 shot attempts) against Miami in a 2-1 loss. He registered 23 saves (24 shots) the previous night vs. Niagara. With the 61 saves, Masters (2,819 career saves) is 100 saves behind Wally Charko (1977-81) for second place all-time at BGSU. The Miami contest marked Masters' 100th career game in the Brown and Orange.
Falcons Down Windsor In Exhib. Contest
Bowling Green defeated the University of Windsor on Tuesday night in a tune-up to the regular season, 5-2. BGSU got two power play goals from JR Roger Leonard while captain D'Arcy McConvey, SO Steve Brudzewski and SO Ryan Minnabarriet (PPG) also put the puck in the net. BGSU held a 46-15 shot advantage over the Lancers. The Brown and Orange attempted over 40 shots just twice in 40 games last season. SR Tyler Masters started the game in net for BGSU, stopping nine shots in 29:57 of action. SO Jordan Sigalet allowed the two goals by Windsor and stopped four shots in the third period (30:03). It marked the first exhibition game for the Falcons in two years and was the earliest start to a BGSU season in its 33-year history. The game also marked the first contest for head coach Scott Paluch.
Brown Defeats Orange in Annual Scrimmage
Bowling Green State University's hockey team held its annual Brown/Orange game on Sept. 28 at the BGSU Ice Arena. The Brown team came away with a 5-3 win over the Orange team in front of over 500 fans.
Registering goals for the Brown team were freshman Bryan Dobek (8:47, 1st period), freshman Ryan Barnett (4:22, 1st period) and junior D'Arcy McConvey (1:25, 2nd period). The Brown team also picked up two more points in the skills competition held at the intermission. McConvey was the fastest skater, defeating senior Tyler Knight, while the Brown team won the showdown contest, 4-1.
For the white team, Knight registered the first goal of the game at 12:18 of the first period while freshman Mike Falk added another goal at 23:25 of the second period. Transfer Alex Rogosheske won the hardest slap shot for another White team point, ripping off two shots at 85 and 84 m.p.h.
Falcons Name Captains for 2002-03 Season
The captains for the 2002-03 BGSU hockey season will include junior forward D'Arcy McConvey (captain) and junior defenseman Kevin Bieksa and senior forward Tyler Knight (assistant captains).
McConvey is the top returning scorer from a year ago, recording 11-18--29 in 40 games (36 PIM). After moving to left-wing from center in December of last year, McConvey scored 8-13--21 over the final 19 Falcon games. He finished with seven multiple-point games. He is a native of Richmond Hill, Ontario.
Bieksa played in all 40 games last season, amassing 5-10--15 with 68 PIM. The 6-foot-1 junior will anchor the Falcon blueliners this season. In the final nine games of last season, Bieksa had 3-3--6, including a goal and assist at Michigan State in the first round of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association Playoffs. He is a native of Grimsby, Ontario.
Knight is one of two seniors on this year's squad and is a three-time letterwinner. He tallied 6-11--17 last year in 40 games (18 PIM). The Kelowna, British Columbia, native had two game-winners a year ago and ended the season on a two-game scoring streak (0-2--2). He registered a goal and assist in 4-2 BGSU win at Michigan on Jan. 25.
Masters Moving Up the Ladder
Tyler Masters enters his senior campaign with a chance to own three all-time goaltending records at Bowling Green. The Calgary native is first all-time at BGSU in career save pct. (.912), second in career goals-against-avg. (2.88), and third in career saves (2,819). Only Gary Kruzich (3,580) and Wally Charko (2,919) stand ahead of Masters.
BGSU's Top-Five goalies 1) Gary Kruzich (1983-87) 3,580 2) Wally Charko (1977-81) 2,919 3) Tyler Masters (99-SA) 2,819 4) Paul Connell (1986-90) 2,442 5) Mike Liut (1973-77) 2,204
