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Bowling Green State University Athletics
BGSU to Face #6-Ranked Boston College on Friday (4 p.m. CST).
December 23, 2002 | Ice Hockey
Dec. 23, 2002
Minneapolis, Minn. -
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BGSU Returns to Action
After 19 days from its last contest (5-2 loss at Notre Dame, Dec. 8), Bowling Green returns to action by competing in the Dodge Holiday Classic, hosted by the University of Minnesota (Dec. 27-28). The two-day tournament will feature the past two NCAA Division I National Champions, Minnesota (2002) and Boston College (2001), as well as Yale. BGSU plays Boston College in the first game on Friday, Dec. 27, at 4 p.m. (CST) - 5 p.m. (EST).
Falcons Make Third Appearance at Dodge Holiday Classic
BGSU will make its third appearance in the Dodge Holiday Classic, formerly known as the Mariucci Classic. In Bowling Green's previous two trips to the Dodge Holiday Classic, the Falcons have won their semifinal game and advanced to the championship game, only to lose to host Minnesota by one goal. In 1991, BGSU defeated Boston College (5-3) in the semifinal and lost to Minnesota (6-5 OT) in the championship. In 1995, BGSU defeated New Hampshire (3-2) in the semifinal and lost to the host Gophers (3-2) in the championship game.
BGSU vs. #6 Boston College (9-3-3, 6-2-1 Hockey East)
BGSU trails the overall series with Boston College, 3-7-0. Those three wins, though, have come in the last five meetings between the two schools. BC has taken the last two victories in Chestnut Hill (5-2 & 3-2), which snapped a three-game winning streak by BGSU over the Eagles. The first-ever meeting between the two schools came in the semifinal of the 1978 National Championship. BC defeated Bowling Green 6-2 in Providence, R.I. BGSU and BC met again in the NCAA Tournament in 1989 when the Eagles won the first-round series (8-5 & 4-2).
BGSU vs. #7 Minnesota (9-4-4, 6-2-2 Western Collegiate Hockey Assoc.)
BGSU trails the all-time series with the Gophers, 0-3-0. Two of those meetings have come in the championship of the Dodge Holiday Classic. In the first-ever Classic in 1991, the Gophers defeated BGSU 6-5 in overtime. Falcon goalie Angelo Libertucci and forward Martin Jiranek were named to the all-tournament team. In 1995, Minnesota defeated the Falcons 3-2. BGSU's Brad Holzinger was tabbed to the all-tournament team. The first meeting between the two schools came in the NCAA Quarterfinals on March 16, 1979, with Minnesota taking a 6-3 victory.
BGSU vs. Yale (7-4-0, 7-3-0 Eastern College Athletic Conference)
The Falcons lead the all-time series vs. the Bulldogs 4-1-0. The last two meetings between the two schools have come in holiday tournaments. BGSU defeated Yale 4-1 in the championship of the Bank One Badger Classic on Dec. 28, 1998, and won 5-3 in the consolation game of the Great Alaska Face-Off, Nov. 28, 1992. The other tournament action between the two came on Dec. 21, 1971 in the Cleveland Hockey Festival (5-3 BGSU win).
Coaching Connection Between Scott Paluch and Jerry York
BGSU coach Scott Paluch will go head-to-head with former mentor and boss Jerry York when the Falcons play Boston College in the first round of the Dodge Holiday Classic. Paluch was the associate head coach the past seven years and on the staff with York for the past eight years in Chestnut Hill, Mass., before coming to Bowling Green on April 15, 2002. Paluch played for (1984-88) and was an assistant (1990-94) under York at Bowling Green, as well. York was 342-248-31 (.576 pct.) in 15 years as head coach at BGSU, and led the Falcons to the 1984 National Championship.
Recent Bowling Green Games...
Dec. 8 - Notre Dame 5, BGSU 2 - Despite holding Notre Dame scoreless on its power plays (0-for-6) and outshooting the Irish 49-45, BGSU dropped a 5-2 decision to ND. FR Mike Falk (PPG) and JR D'Arcy McConvey (unassisted) were the two scorers for BGSU. Falk's PPG at 9:34 in the first period snapped BGSU's scoreless streak on its last 18 power plays over the previous three games. Brian Escobedo and Brett Pilkington assisted on the goal. SR Tyler Masters allowed five goals on 45 shots faced. It marked just the third time BGSU outshot an opponent this season (2-1-0).
Dec. 7 - Notre Dame 6, BGSU 3 - The two teams traded goals over the first one-and-one-half periods before Notre Dame scored four goals in the second and third periods for a 6-3 win over visiting BGSU. FR Ryan Barnett's goal at 17:02 in the first period and JR Brian Escobedo's goal at 12:06 of the second period knotted the scores at 1-1 and 2-2, respectively. The Falcons scored just once more via FR Brett Pilkington at :59 in the third period. SO Jordan Sigalet allowed six goals on 50 shots faced. Four of ND's six goals were on the power play. SO Alex Rogosheske had two assists.
Nov. 22 - BGSU 3, Michigan State 2 (OT) - BGSU overcame two deficits, including one late in the third period, to defeat MSU in overtime on a D'Arcy McConvey goal at 3:10. It was the first Falcon victory over the Spartans in 12 games, dating back to Dec. 7, 1997. SO Ryan Minnabarriet (18:31, 2nd period) and SR Tyler Knight (18:06, 3rd period) each scored goals to tie the score and McConvey's goal gave BGSU its first win in the CCHA this year. SO Jordan Sigalet stopped 29 of 31 shots for the first CCHA win of his career.
BGSU Snaps Streak On Power Play
FR Mike Falk's power-play goal on Dec. 8 at Notre Dame snapped an 0-for-18 skid by the Falcons with the man advantage. BGSU was 0-for-6 on the power play in each of its three previous games. In the last four games, the Falcons are 1-for-25 (.040 pct.) on the power play and are 11-for-72 (.153 pct.) on the season.
Falcons Taking the Shots
BGSU turned in back-to-back 40-plus nights on shot attempts at Notre Dame (Dec. 7-8). On Dec. 7, the Falcons put 43 shots on net for a then-season high. The next night, BGSU had 49 shots on goal against the Irish. The 92 shots in a two-game series were the most by the Falcons in several seasons. The 49 shots attempted on Dec. 8 were the most since BGSU had 51 at Lake Superior in a 3-2 loss last season (Nov. 24, 2001).
