Bowling Green State University Athletics
#21 Hockey Goes Out Of Conference To Do Battle With Wayne State In A Home-and-Home Series
November 27, 2007 | Ice Hockey
Nov. 27, 2007
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - After an eight-game Central Collegiate Hockey Association stretch, the Bowling Green State University hockey team will step out of conference play this weekend to do battle with the Wayne State Warriors of College Hockey America. The Falcons and Warriors will kick-off their two-game home-and-home series with a 7:05 p.m. face-off on Friday evening at the Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum, before concluding Saturday at BGSU Ice Arena with another 7:05 p.m. start. BG, who was ranked 21st in the latest USCHO/CSTV poll, sits at 6-4-0 on the season, while the Warriors come in at 3-7-2. The series will be the last between the two schools, as WSU will be saying goodbye to hockey at the end of the season.
Complete Release in PDF Format (36 Pages)
Game #11
#21 Bowling Green at Wayne State
Nov. 30, 2007 • Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum, 7:05 p.m.
RECORDS: BGSU 6-4-0, 5-3-0 CCHA // WSU 3-7-2, 1-3-0 CHA
Television: Comcast Local: Ben Holden (Play-by-Play); Lyle Phair (Color Analyst)
RADIO:WBGU (88.1): Danny Nieves (Play-by-Play); Brian Fisher (color commentary)
Game #12
Wayne State at #21 Bowling Green
Dec. 1, 2007 • BGSU Ice Arena, 7:05 p.m.
RECORDS: BGSU 6-4-0, 5-3-0 CCHA // WSU 3-7-2, 1-3-0 CHA
Television: BCSN: Greg Franke (Play-by-Play); Buddy Powers (Color Analyst)
RADIO:WBGU (88.1): Danny Nieves (Play-by-Play); Brian Fisher (color commentary)
**There will be no Falcon Club Center Ice Club**
Radio Broadcast
This weekend's action between the Falcons and Warriors can be heard on WBGU 88.1 FM. Danny Nieves will be providing all the play-by-play of the action with Brian Fisher providing the color commentary. A pregame show will air 30 minutes prior to the opening face-off. The broadcast can be heard locally on WBGU 88.1 FM and globally on both www.bgsufalcons.com and www.bgrso.org.
TELEVISION Broadcast
Friday's action between the Falcons and Warriors in Detroit can be seen by tuning into Comcast Local, as Ben Holden (play-by-play) and Lyle Phair (color analyst) will be giving all the play-by-play of the action. For complete channel listing, you can visit www.comcastlocal.com. Saturday's action at the BGSU Ice Arena between the Falcons and the Warriors can then be seen by tuning into BCSN. Greg Franke will be providing the play-by-play of the action with former Falcon hockey coach Buddy Powers doing the color commentary. The game, which will be tape-delayed, will show at 12:30 a.m. on Sunday and again at noon.
Live Stats
Live stats for Friday and Saturday's games will be available at www.bgsufalcons.com via gametracker, which can be found on the team's schedule page.
The OPENING FACE-oFF (STORYLINES)
Looking To Get Back On The Winning Path
• The bitter taste of defeat has been with the Falcons over the Thanksgiving break, as they come into these two non-conference tilts having lost their last two games, after winning five-straight games for the first time in two seasons. After nearly pulling off three-straight CCHA sweeps for the first time in nearly 20 years, where they scored three or more goals in each game, the Falcons were held to just three goals in the past two contests. Their red-hot power play was also held to just one goal in 10 chances with the extra-man, as their penalty-kill and hard-nosed defense kept them close, holding their opponents scoreless with the man-advantage on eight opportunities. Junior goaltender Jimmy Spratt made 23 saves on 26 shots in the Falcons' 3-2 loss to Northern Michigan, while freshman Nick Eno was saddled with the first loss of his young career in a 2-1 loss at Notre Dame last Tuesday evening, making 22 saves on 24 shots.
Whitmore and Schmidt Continue To Put Up the Points
• Senior forward Derek Whitmore and junior defenseman Kevin Schmidt have continued to rack up the points this season. Whitmore, BG's returning scorer from a year ago, now has 15 points on the season, as he tallied his 12th goal of the year in BG's 2-1 loss at ninth-ranked Notre Dame. For Whitmore, he has now tallied nine goals in the last seven games, as he sits just seven goals short of his career single-season record of 19 set last season. Schmidt, who has already eclipsed his career point total for a season, added a helper on Whitmore's goal for his ninth of the season. The junior, who came into his Falcon career back in 2005 ranked as the ninth-best incoming freshman defenseman by InsideCollegeHockey.com, now stands second on the team with 12 points (3-9-12) and leads the nation for points per game by a defenseman with a 1.20 average.
Doesn't Get Any Tougher Than This
• Following this weekend's contests with the Warriors, the Falcons who are off to their best start since the 2004-05 season, will have to or could do battle against four teams currently ranked in the two national polls. First up, will be the second-ranked Michigan Wolverines, who BG will meet in a two-game home-and-home set on Dec. 7th and 8th. That will be followed by a match-up with the 12th-ranked Northeastern Huskies in the Badger Showdown in Madison, Wis., before a possible second-day match-up with the host Badgers, the current 13th/14th ranked team in the polls. BG will then start the new year by welcoming in the Miami RedHawks, who currently rank tops in the country and the league with a 13-1 record. Combined the four teams are currently 37-12-2.
A look at the FALCONS
• The Falcons of head coach Scott Paluch currently sit at 6-4-0 on the season with a 5-3-0 mark in the CCHA.
• The 6-4-0 mark gives the Falcons their best start since the 2004-05 season, when the Falcons started the year 6-3-1. The 2004-05 team became the first Falcon team to host a first round CCHA playoff series in over a decade, as they finished the regular-season in the fifth-place league slot.
• When winning at least six of their first 10 contests in the past 20 years, the Falcons have yet to finish lower than sixth-place in the final CCHA standings.
• After winning five-straight games for the first time since the 2005-06 season, the Falcons have dropped the past two games, falling 3-2 to Northern Michigan in the tail end of a two-game home series, before falling 2-1 at Notre Dame last Tuesday.
• BG is coming off a 2-1 loss at Notre Dame, which saw them play toe-to-toe with the defending league champions all the way up to the final horn. The Falcons out-shot the Irish 28-24, but a 27-save performance by Irish goaltender Jordan Pearce and a second period goal by defenseman Kyle Lawson, would prove to be the difference on the night. Lawson's goal came on a 4-on-2 breakaway after the Falcons failed to convert a great chance on a 3-on-1 in the Irish end. Senior Derek Whitmore would tally the Falcons lone goal in the game, but the Falcon power play couldn't match the strength of the penalty-kill, as it ended the night 0-5, while the Falcon PK held the Irish to 0-4. Freshman goaltender Nick Eno was saddled with his first loss in the game stopping 22-of-24 ND shots.
• Prior to losing to the Irish and Wildcats, the Falcons had won five-straight games, which included sweeps of Western Michigan and Ferris State and a game one win over Northern Michigan.
• BG is 4-2-0 on the road this season and 2-2-0 at home. In CCHA games only, BG is 2-2-0 at the BGSU Ice Arena and 3-1 on the road.
• Three of the Falcons' four losses have come to teams currently ranked in the national polls. BG has yet to loss a game decided by more than two goals.
• BG is averaging 3.1 goals a game, while they are only giving up an average of 2.6. The Falcons also own an advantage in average shots on goals this season at 30.6 to 25.0.
• The Falcon power play has gone 14-60 (.222) on the year, while the penalty-kill has held opponents to just 11 power-play goals on 58 chances (.810).
• Individually, senior forward Derek Whitmore leads the team in points with 15 (12-3-15), while junior defenseman Kevin Schmidt is second with 12 (3-9-12). Freshman forward Jacob Cepis leads all Falcon freshmen with 9 points (3-6-9), which also ranks third on the team.
• In net, the Falcons have gotten five starts from both junior Jimmy Spratt and freshman Nick Eno. The two have combined for a 2.57 goals-against average and a save percentage of .896.
• BG came into the season returning 20 letterwinners, including 11 forwards, seven defensemen and two goalies. They welcomed in seven freshmen, which includes five forwards, one defenseman and one goalie.
• The Falcons also returned 73% of their goals from last season and 78% of their points.
A look at the Warriors
• Head coach Bill Wilkinson is in his ninth-season behind the Warrior bench, where he has amassed all 116 wins the nine-year old program has had over the last eight seasons. In his time at WSU, he has led the Warriors to one NCAA appearance (2002-03), three CHA Tournament titles (consecutive years) and one regular-season crown (2001-02). Before his time with the Warriors, Wilkinson was a long-time coach at Western Michigan where he coached from 1982-1999, leading the Broncos to the NCAA Tournament on three occasions.
• This season will mark the last season of play for the Wayne State program, as they will drop the program at season's end.
• The Warriors come into the weekend fresh off a series win at St. Lawrence. WSU won 3-2 on Friday over the Saints despite being out-shot 44-15, before the two teams ended in a 2-2 deadlock on Saturday. Sophomore defenseman Jeff Caister tallied an assist on all three Warrior goals Friday, while sophomore goaltender Brett Bothwell stopped 42-of-44 shots to earn his second win of the season. On Saturday, Caister would once again record a helper as junior defenseman Matt Krug and senior forward Stavros Paskaris both tallied goals in the tie, while freshman netminder Kyle Funkenhauser made 37 stops on 39 shots.
• Caister, a CHA All-Rookie Team member a season ago, leads all WSU scorers on the season with 10 points (1-9-10). Just behind him is senior forward Mike Forgie with nine points on four goals and five assists, while senior forward Tylor Michel (2-5-7) and Paskaris (1-6-7) both have seven.
• The WSU power play, which went 1-8 against St. Lawrence, currently ranks third in the CHA at a conversion percentage of .153. The Warrior penalty-kill, which held the Saints scoreless on all 11 power plays they had last weekend, currently ranks tied for third at .781.
• The Warriors are averaging just two goals a game, while they've given up an average of 3.08 to their opposition.
• Funkenhauser has seen action in eight of the team's 13 games in net as a freshman. He currently has a 1-4-2 record with a 2.67 goals-against average and a save percentage of .907.
WAYNE STATE SERIES
• The sixth and seventh all-time meetings between the Warriors and Falcons will take place in Detroit on Friday and at the BGSU Ice Arena on Saturday.
• BG owns an all-time series lead of 3-1-1 in games played against Wayne State, including a 3-0 mark in road games. However, the Falcons haven't been able to top the Warriors on home ice where they have an 0-1-1 mark.
• The Falcons last met the Warriors during the 2004-05 season, where they posted a 7-3 win at WSU's Compuware Arena in Plymouth, Mich. (old WSU home venue), before the Warriors captured a 9-3 win at the BGSU Ice Arena to conclude the series.
• Senior defenseman and tri-captain Michael Hodgson tallied four assists in the 2004-05 series, while BG's two other senior tri-captains, John Mazzei and Derek Whitmore, each tallied a goal and an assist. Senior forward Ben Geelan also lit the lamp during the series.
• The two teams first met back on Nov. 16, 2001, in a game that ended in a 4-4 tie at the BGSU Ice Arena.
• BGSU President Dr. Sidney Ribeau (Rib-bow), who now is in his 12th-year at the university, is a graduate of Wayne State, where he earned his bachelor's degree in English and Speech Education.
FALCONS AGAINST COLLEGE HOCKEY AMERICA
• BG is 9-4-1 all-time in games against College Hockey America opponents, but 0-1 this year after a 2-0 season-opening loss at Niagara (Oct. 18).
• Last season, the Falcons tied Alabama-Huntsville 5-5 (Oct. 15) in their lone contest against a CHA opponent.
• Before their contest with the Chargers last season, the last meeting the Falcons had with A CHA opponent came back in 2004-05 when they last met the Warriors.
• Under head coach Scott Paluch, BG is 5-2-1 against CHA opponents.
FALCON OFFENSIVE NOTES
• Currently tied for 14th in the nation with a 3.10 goals per game average. The Falcons have recorded at least three goals in six of their 10 games.
• The Falcons have had a player tally a multiple-point game 24 times this season after having that happen just 31 total times last year.
• In his last seven games, Derek Whitmore has tallied 11 points on nine goals and two assists.
• In his last 17 regular season games going back to last season, Whitmore has scored 24 points (19-5--24), which includes three goals and an assist on the weekend against Northern Michigan and a goal last Tuesday at Notre Dame.
• With just 13 more goals this season, Whitmore will be tied for 19th on the all-time list for goals in a Falcon career. With 19 more points added to his current total, the senior would also become the 69th player in BGSU history to score 100 points in his career.
• If he continues his current points per game pace of 1.50, Whitmore will end this season's regular season with 51 points. That mark would tie Alex Foster for the most points in a single-season in the last 11 years, as a Falcon player has tallied 50+ points in a season just 13 times since 1990 and just once since the 1996-97 campaign. In 2005-06, Foster scored 51 points on 11 goals and 40 assists.
• Whitmore leads the nation with a 1.20 goals a game average and is tied for fourth in points per game with his 1.50 average, which ranks second in the CCHA to Michigan's Kevin Porter.
• Whitmore already has five multiple-point games after recording seven total last year.
• After recording just two points in the first five games of the season, junior forward Brandon Svendsen has picked up four assists in the last five games, including one on BG's lone goal in last Tuesday's loss at Notre Dame.
• Sophomore forward Todd McIlrath has tallied three assists for the Orange and Brown in the last three games, including two in the Falcons' 4-2 win over Northern Michigan (Nov. 16). McIlrath now has seven assists on the season, which rank second on the team behind Kevin Schmidt.
• Freshman forward Jacob Cepis had a team season-high five-game point streak snapped in the 2-1 loss at Notre Dame. Cepis had tallied two goals and six assists during that stretch.
• Cepis is currently tied for eighth in the CCHA for points by a freshmen, as he has tallied nine (3-6-9) on the season. Michigan's Aaron Palushaj currently leads all CCHA freshmen with 15 points (5-10-15) on the season.
• BG has out-scored their opponents, 9-3, in the first period the past seven games, as they were a perfect 4-0 leading at the first intermission, trailing just once during that stretch and were also tied just twice.
• Overall on the season, the Falcons own an 11-4 advantage in the first period.
• On the other hand, BG has been out-scored, 22-18, in the final two periods.
FALCON POWER PLAY NOTES
• Currently sits at a conversion percentage of 23.3, which ranks eighth-nationally and fourth in the CCHA.
• In conference games only, BG is 13-of-47 with the man-advantage, ranking second in the CCHA.
• The Falcons are 6-1 this season when they tally a goal with the man-advantage.
• Over the course of their five-game win streak, the Falcons were 12-of-32 (.375) on the power play, but over the past two games, they were just 1-of-10 (.100).
• Leading the way on the power play scoring chart is senior forward Derek Whitmore, who has tallied eight power-play points (7-1-8).
• Whitmore's seven power-play goals are currently tied for second in the country with Michigan State's Tim Kennedy and tied for second in the league just behind national leader Kevin Porter from Michigan, who has eight.
• Freshman forward Jacob Cepis (1-5-6) and junior defenseman Kevin Schmidt (1-5-6) both then have six power-play points. Just behind them, lies senior forward John Mazzei with five (1-4-5).
• 10 different Falcons have tallied points on the power play this season.
• Last season the BG power play finished with a final percentage of .093 (23-246), as the Falcons are already just nine power-play goals away from tying last season's total.
FALCON DEFENSIVE NOTES
• Currently tied for 23rd in the country in scoring defense, as BG is allowing just 2.60 goals a game.
• The Falcons scoring defense ranks fifth in the CCHA and is sixth in conference games only, allowing 2.62 goals a game in CCHA tilts.
• BG's defensive core has already tallied 24 points (5-20-25) this season after only recording 45 total points a season ago.
• The Falcons' defensive core is tied for 11th-nationally in points. Below is a breakdown of the national list.
Top Scoring Defensive Cores
Team Points
Wisconsin 47
Miami 37
Michigan State 33
North Dakota 31
Michigan 30
Canisius 28
Air Force 26
St. Cloud State 26
Massachusetts 26
UMass-Lowell 25
Bowling Green 24
RIT 24
• Junior defenseman Kevin Schmidt currently leads the country in points per game by a defenseman with a 1.20 average. His 0.90 assists per game average then ranks tied for 10th.
• Schmidt has tallied a point in 7-of-10 BG games this season.
• Schmidt broke his career single-season point mark of nine points, set last season, when he tallied his 10th point of the season in game two against Northern Michigan (Nov. 17).
• Schmidt with 12 points on the season, is on pace to be the Falcons' first 40-point defenseman since Kelly Perrault did it during the 1995-96 season. The most a BG defensemen has scored in the past five years is 25 points, scored by current Vancouver Canucuk, Kevin Bieksa, back in 2002-03.
• Junior Tim Maxwell, Schmidt's line-mate the past eight games also ranks close to the top on numerous CCHA lists. His seven points (1-6-7) rank him tied for 10th in the CCHA in points amongst defensmen, while his six assists are tied for eighth in the CCHA among blue-liners.
• Maxwell, a transfer Maine, tallied his first goal as a Falcon and just the third of his college career in BG's 4-2 win over Northern Michigan (Nov. 16).
• Maxwell has also been a big-time defensive stopper, as he has a team-high 13 blocked shots on the season with a +5 rating.
• Senior tri-captain Michael Hodgson has seven blocks on the season, which ranks third on the team behind Derek Whitmore with nine.
• The Falcons as a team are +10 at even strength, as they've out-scored foes, 17-11, in even strength hockey.
• The most shots the Falcons have given up all season is 32, which they gave up at RIT in a 5-3 win (Oct. 19).
• In the face-off battle, BG is 8-1-1 this season as only a 37-37 tie against Notre Dame (Oct. 23) and a 27-24 loss to Notre Dame last Tuesday is keeping the Falcons from having the advantage in face-offs in every game this season.
• BG has allowed a CCHA low four goals in the first period this season.
• The line of Tommy Dee, Ben Geelan and Patrick Tiesling has allowed just one goal all season.
FALCON PENALTY-KILL NOTES
• The Falcon penalty-kill is currently succeeding at a rate of 81%, which is currenlty 43rd in the country. Overall in the CCHA, the BG PK ranks eighth, but they are fourth in conference games only, killing off 84.4% of their opponents' power plays in CCHA play.
• Overall the Falcons have killed 47-of-58 power plays against them this season.
• The past two games, the Falcons killed-off all eight power plays against them, despite losing both contests.
• Teams are just 3-for-25 (.120) against the Falcons on the power play in the last five games.
• Teams have scored no more than two power-plays in a game against BG this season, as BG has allowed a team two power-play goals in a game on just three occasions.
• Last season the Falcon penalty-kill finished the year with a percentage of 80.6, as teams were 46-of-237 against them with the man-advantage.
FALCON GOALTENDING NOTES
• Both Falcon goaltenders rank in the top-10 in the CCHA in goals-against average, as Nick Eno sits sixth with a 2.40 average and Jimmy Spratt sits eighth with a 2.81 average. The two are also ranked in save percentage, as Eno is seventh with a .901 save percentage and Spratt is 10th with a .891 save percentage.
• Freshman Nick Eno currently ranks third in the country in winning percentage (.800) with a 4-1-0 record.
• Eno became the first Falcon goaltender since Bob Petrie in 1993-94 to start his career 2-0 in the BG net.
• Eno has yet to allow more than three goals in a game.
• The two Falcon goaltenders have combined for at least a save percnetage of .900 in a game five times this season. Eno has recorded three of those, while Spratt recorded two.
• Spratt had a team season-high .967 save percentage in the Falcons' 3-1 win at Ferris State (Nov. 10) where he stopped 30-of-31 shots.
