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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Hockey Earns Season-High Ranking Of 18 In Latest Polls
December 03, 2007 | Ice Hockey
Dec. 3, 2007
USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll
(BGSUFalcons.com) - For the fourth-straight week, the Bowling Green State University hockey team is receiving national recognition due to their successful play. This week the Falcons are ranked a season-high 18th in both the USCHO/CSTV Poll and the "Power Rankings" on InsideCollegeHockey.com, while they are also ranked 21st in the latest USA Today/ USA Hockey Magazine Poll.
BG is coming off their third sweep of the season, after collecting a 3-1 victory on Friday evening at Wayne State, before finishing off the weekend with a 6-1 victory over the Warriors on Saturday at the BGSU Ice Arena. 14 different players tallied points on the weekend, as the Falcons surpassed last season's win total in the sweep, improving to 8-4-0, while sitting tied for sixth in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association at 5-3-0.
The Falcons are currently tied for ninth-nationally in scoring offense and tied for fourth in the CCHA as they are averaging 3.33 goals a game. The BG power play is then second-nationally with a conversion percentage of 27.8, as they have recorded 20 goals this season with the man-advantage, while their penalty-kill has held their opponents to just 11 (84.1% PK). Currently tied for the national-lead in power play goals is senior forward and tri-captain Derek Whitmore, who has eight. Sophomore forward James Perkin is also near the top of that national list, as he stands tied for 15th with four of his five goals coming on the power play.
Individually, Whitmore also sits tops in the country in goals per game (1.18) and is fourth in points per game with a 1.45 average. He is joined by junior defenseman Kevin Schmidt (T-34th, 1.08), freshman forward Jacob Cepis (T-75th, 0.92) and senior defenseman Mike Nesdill (T-87th, 0.89), who also don the top-100 on the list. Schmidt then leads all defensmen on the national list in points per game (1.08), while his 0.83 assists per game rank tied for 14th, as six Falcons find themselves on that list.
Between the pipes, junior goaltender Jimmy Spratt and freshman Nick Eno have helped the Falcons to a combined 2.31 goals-against average and save percentage of .903. Spratt currently holds a 3-3-0 record with a 2.50 GAA and .901 save percentage, while Eno is 5-1-0 in his freshman campaign with a 2.16 GAA and .906 save percentage.
BG will look to continue their ascent in the polls when they play host to the second-ranked Michigan Wolverines in game one Friday of a two-game home-and-home series. The two CCHA rivals will then conclude their final league series of 2007 with a 7:35 p.m. face-off on Saturday at Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor, Mich.
