Bowling Green State University Athletics
Alaska Fairbanks vs. BGSU Quotes
January 27, 2007 | Ice Hockey
Jan. 27, 2007
Recap | Final Stats
OPENING STATEMENT
"With everything that went on it was a really hard fought game. It was a very physical game that capped off a physical weekend. I think it was a game that despite the tie and one point at home on the weekend I thought it was an important game for our team with the way we stayed with things. Our ability to have a special teams game like that was very important for us. To be able to kill off three 5-on-3's throughout the game and score two power play goals, and most importantly to score a power play goal when it was obviously needed. I thought we had good looks on the power play at the end as well. I'm really pleased with the way our team stayed with it mentally and that allowed us a point. It hasn't been very easy for us to get and I think it's a step in the right direction."
Was it difficult to establish momentum tonight with all of the special teams?
"I know there weren't a lot of 5-on-5 chances out there. When we were 5-on-5 I thought we played pretty well. It is difficult and it chops up momentum. That's why up until the end they saw a pretty entertaining overtime as well and down the stretch with the 5-on-5 play."
Why was the goal by James Unger disallowed?
"They said the net was off. As a matter of fact they said the net was way off is what we were told. From what I understand the goaltender was coming around [to make the save] and it knocked the net off."
Can you talk about the play of Jimmy Spratt tonight?
"Jimmy Spratt had a very good weekend. Yesterday I thought he played very well and was a victim of some power play goals. Coming right back he was really good again, especially on those 5-on-3's."
What did you do differently tonight on the penalty kill?
"Up until that stretch in the third period, we were actually on the right path with our penalty kill yesterday. Then it kind of exploded on us in the third period. The only thing we tried to do better on tonight was to extend the pressure in the zone quicker. Also, to try and keep it along the wall and we released a little quicker on some back help. Other than that, what I thought was encouraging this weekend especially tonight and even last night in some situations was the amount of blocked shots and key blocked shots on the penalty kill."
Can you talk about the amount of ice time for some of you players tonight?
"I would say that [Ben] Geelan, [John] Mazzei, [Derek] Whitmore and [Brandon] Svendsen are all going to be around 20 or over 20-minutes. Geelan and Mazzei played opposite of Fraser's line the entire game and with those guys being our top four on the penalty kill there time would have been high. There wasn't really an opportunity to pay attention to it tonight because there was so much penalty killing that had to go back out there."
Can you talk about what this game means to pick up a point tonight?
"It's very crucial for a hockey team. We have been playing hard every night and we just haven't got bounces and I think this is starting up the hill and it's very crucial for a hockey team at this point."
What is your overall impression of how you played this weekend?
"We left it all out on the ice to tell you the truth. We didn't get some bounces in the first game and we took some bad penalties, myself included. But we bounced back and that was the theme tonight and I think we left it all out on the ice. We got penalties again [tonight] but we just killed them off. I'm proud of our penalty kill and the way we battled all game."
Can you talk about the play of Jimmy Spratt tonight?
"Unbelievable. I've played with him for two years and this was probably the best hockey game I have seen him play. I was very proud of him. He's been playing and he's been giving a 110-percent every game he's played this year, it's good that we can finally give him some support."
What does it mean for him to play well especially with the Falcons on the penalty kill?
"He has to stand on his head, especially on 5-on-3's. There are two guys open on every play and he's going to have to make those good saves and he did that tonight. He has to be there and he was."
What was the key to the penalty kill tonight?
"Coach [Danton] Cole switched it up a little bit. They had a couple key players on their first unit that we had to look at and we shut them down. The goals that they did score were kind of broken plays but we had really good coaching in that respect. We knew what they were bringing to us and they brought us what they video said they were I just think we were very prepared."
What do you think about all of the blocked shots?
"Blocking a shot to me is all mental. It's in your will and it's going to hurt. No matter how much padding you have it's going to hurt and blocking a shot to me has to come within your heart and that's not really a physical thing. We came out and coach said that was the key to the penalty kill and people put their body on the line. You have to do that especially on the 5-on-3. If you don't block those shots it's very hard to be successful."
