Bowling Green State University Athletics
BGSU Icers Host Michigan State (Nov. 22)
November 20, 2002 | Ice Hockey
Nov. 20, 2002
Bowling Green, Ohio -
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BGSU Plays Final Game Until First Week of December
Bowling Green hosts Michigan State this Friday, Nov. 22, at the BGSU Ice Arena (7:05 face-off) before a two-week layoff. The Falcons next play Dec. 7-8 (Saturday-Sunday) at Notre Dame. BGSU will have played two games (exhibition vs. U.S. Under-18 and MSU) in a 21-day stretch, and do not play their next home game until Jan. 3-4 when Alaska Fairbanks visits the Ice Arena.
Falcons (0-7-1 CCHA) vs. Michigan State (3-3-0 CCHA)
BGSU will play Michigan State just once this weekend on Friday, Nov. 22. It will be the first of two meetings with the Spartans this season in the BGSU Ice Arena. The other game vs. MSU will be Saturday, Feb. 8, which is the CCHA Game of the Week (broadcasted on Fox Sports Net Detroit). MSU has won six-straight vs. the Falcons and are 8-0-2 in the last 10 meetings. The last Falcon victory over Michigan State was Dec. 7, 1997 (1-0 at Munn Ice Arena). The last home victory for BGSU over the Spartans was Oct. 21, 1995 (6-2).
Last Time vs. Michigan State...
The Falcons travelled to East Lansing for a first-round CCHA Playoff series last season against MSU. BGSU held a 3-1 lead going into the third period, however, the Spartans scored two goals in the final period to send the game to overtime. Adam Hall scored at 4:57 of OT for the Spartan win. MSU held a 4-0 lead the next night before BGSU scored two third-period goals for the final 4-2 Spartan verdict. Defenseman Kevin Bieksa had a goal and assist in game one while Tyler Knight (two assists), Steve Brudzewski (goal), D'Arcy McConvey (assist) and Mark Wires (assist) also had points in the two games.
Recent Bowling Green Games...
Nov. 15 - BGSU 7, U.S. Under-18 1 (Exhib.) - BGSU scored five goals in the first period and went on to post a 7-1 exhibition win over the U.S. National Team Development Program Under-18 squad. Both JR Mark Wires (2-1--3) and JR D'Arcy McConvey (1-2--3) had three points in the first period, alone. Ryan Minnabarriet (PPG), Tyler Knight, Steve Brudzewski and Kip Horner (PPG) also scored for the Falcons. Goalie Tyler Masters played the first two periods, allowing one goal with 18 saves, while FR Bob Frazee played the third period with seven saves and no goals allowed.
Nov. 9 - BGSU 1, #6 Michigan 1 - Bowling Green got great goaltending by SO Jordan Sigalet and a goal by defenseman Kevin Bieksa to tie No. 6 Michigan at the BGSU Ice Arena. Sigalet tied a career-high for the second time this season with 48 saves while assisting on the lone Falcon goal. Michigan tied the game at 13:20 of the second period via Mark Mink's goal. It was the first time BGSU held Michigan to one goal in its last 52 meetings and it was the first time this season that UM was held under three goals.
Nov. 8 - #6 Michigan 6, BGSU 4 - Michigan scored four goals in the second period en route to a 6-4 victory over BGSU. Four different Falcons scored goals in the loss, including JR Kip Horner who netted his first collegiate goal with just six seconds remaining in the game. JR Mark Wires kicked off the scoring at just 3:17 into the first period. It was his team-leading fifth goal of the season. Other netters for BGSU came from SO Steve Brudzewski (PPG, 7:48 second period) and FR Brett Pilkington (PPG, 4:30 third period). UM had two power-play goals and a short-hander in the win. Sophomores Chris Pedota and Alex Rogosheske got their first points in the Brown and Orange with assists. SR Tyler Masters had 27 saves on 33 shots faced for BGSU.
Green (and White) Means Go for Bieksa
JR defenseman Kevin Bieksa leads the Falcons against Michigan State over the past two years with 2-2--4 in seven games. He had a goal/assist in a first-round playoff game vs. MSU last year and had the Falcons' lone goal in a 2-1 loss in the CCHA Semifinals two years ago (March 16, 2001) at Joe Louis Arena.
Knight Lights Up Against Michigan State
SR Tyler Knight has five assists in his career against Michigan State to pace the Falcons in that category. The assistant captain had two assists his freshman year in a 5-2 setback at Munn Ice Arena (Nov. 13, 1999) and had an assist in each of the two playoff games vs. MSU last season. His other assist came Dec. 2, 2000 in a 3-1 Falcon loss.
Frazee Gets First Action of 2002-03
FR goalie Bob Frazee received his first action of the season in the exhibition vs. U.S. Under-18. The Colorado Springs, Colo. native played a scoreless third period, stopping all seven shots he faced. SR Tyler Masters was in net for the first two periods, allowing one PPG on 19 shots faced.
Coach Paluch Gets Two Signees
BGSU first-year coach Scott Paluch got his first two signings as head of the Falcon program last week. Paluch got commitments from Rich Meloche (Oakville, Ontario - pronouned Melosh) and Mark Voakes (St. Thomas, Ontario). Meloche plays for the Milton Merchants of the Ontario Junior "A" and Voakes is a member of the St. Thomas Stars in the Western "B" League.
As of Nov. 16, Meloche was the top scorer for the Merchants with 38 points (21-17) in 20 games this season. His 21 goals were tops on the team and he was fifth overall in scoring in the OJPAHL. He had 24 PIM for the 17-5-1 Merchants, who led the West Conference of the OJPAHL. He played the 2001-02 season for the Merchants, finishing with 33-36--69 in 48 games, including 41 PIM. Meloche is the son of Mike and Brenda Meloche.
As of Nov. 16, Voakes was second on the St. Thomas Stars in scoring with 8-9--17 in 15 games. The St. Thomas, Ontario native is fourth on the team in penalty minutes (40) and second in assists. The Stars were 10-5-1 and fifth in the Western "B" Junior League standings. Voakes played part of last season with St. Thomas, as well. He is the son of Ron and Joanne Voakes.
Falcons Hold Michigan to One Goal
Nov. 9 was the first time in the last 52 meetings that BGSU held Michigan to just one goal (last time - Feb. 27, 1988). In fact, it was just the fourth time in the 92 meetings between the two schools that the Wolverines were held to just one goal. BGSU is 3-0-1 in those contests and have never shut out Michigan in the 31-year-history of the series. It was the second opponent this season BGSU held to one goal while it was the first time in eight games this year that the Wolverines had been held under three goals.
Falcon "Firsts" Continue...
Several Falcons recorded "firsts" in a 6-4 loss to Michigan on Nov. 8. JR Kip Horner scored his first collegiate goal with just six seconds remaining in the game while SO-transfer Alex Rogosheske and SO Chris Pedota each recorded their first points in the Brown and Orange with assists. BGSU has just three players who have not scored a point this season.
Falcon First GoalsBieksa Scores Lone Goal the Hard Way
BGSU players who have netted their first goal this season. FR Don Morrison, D Oct. 11 vs. WMU FR Mike Falk, F Oct. 18 at FSU FR Brett Pilkington, F Oct. 25 vs. Findlay (PP) FR Ryan Barnett, F Nov. 2 at Miami JR Kip Horner, F Nov. 9 vs. #6 Michigan
JR defenseman Kevin Bieksa built his team-leading points total to eight on Nov. 9 with BGSU's lone goal vs. Michigan in the first period. Bieksa leads the team in points (8), assists (5) and penalties (9), to go along with three goals. The goal broke a two-game pointless streak. Bieksa was hit on the play and did not return to the game, however.
Sigalet "Assists" In Tie With Michigan
SO Jordan Sigalet did more than record a career-tying 48 saves vs. Michigan on Nov. 9. The British Columbia native recorded his first career point with an assist on BGSU's lone goal. The last time a BGSU goalie had an assist was via Tyler Masters, as a freshman, on Feb. 18, 2000 against Notre Dame.
Brudzewski Leads Falcon Power Play
SO Steve Brudzewski continues to be a staple on the BGSU special teams. He scored his team-leading third PPG on Nov. 8 in a 6-4 setback to #6 Michigan. He also has one of the Falcons' two short-handed goals on the season. He is tied for second on the team in points (4-3--7).
Falcons Penalized vs. Miami
BGSU took a season-high 13 penalties in the 6-1 loss on Nov. 2 at Miami. Those penalties resulted in 45 minutes of penalty time, also a season-worst. Miami capitalized, finishing 4-for-7 on the power play.
Bieksa "Assists" In Win Over Findlay
JR defenseman Kevin Bieksa set a new personal-high with three assists in the 4-3 win over Findlay on Oct. 25. Bieksa assisted on BGSU's first three goals of the game and moved his assists streak to two games.
Masters Reaches 3,000 Plateau
SR goaltender Tyler Masters had 27 saves vs. #6 Michigan on Nov. 8 to give him 3,000 saves for his career. Masters passed Wally Charko (2,919) for second place on Oct. 25 vs. Findlay and is now just the second Falcon to every reach 3,000. He is 580 from former Falcon Gary Kruzich (3,580) for the all-time career saves mark at Bowling Green.
BGSU's Top-Five goalies
1) Gary Kruzich (1983-87) 3,580 2) Tyler Masters (99-SA) 3,000 3) Wally Charko (1977-81) 2,919 4) Paul Connell (1986-90) 2,442 5) Mike Liut (1973-77) 2,204
