Bowling Green State University Athletics
Tommy Dee Making Strides With Orange and Brown
February 01, 2007 | Ice Hockey
Feb. 1, 2007
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Tommy Dee was in and out of Bowling Green's lineup early in the season.
But by working hard every day in practice, the freshman forward has adjusted to college hockey and become a regular for the Falcons.
Dee's development has been one of the bright spots in a disappointing season for the Falcons, 5-21-1 overall and 3-16 in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.
 Tommy Dee had one goal last week versus Alaska.  |
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"I really didn't know what to expect coming in," said Dee, who played for Bismarck (N.D.) in the North American (Junior) Hockey League last season. "College hockey is much faster and quicker, and everyone has speed and skill.
"The only thing I knew I could control was working hard and I knew if I was working hard, I was doing my part. If I got in a game, I had to show I deserved to be in there and not make huge, crucial mistakes. I didn't want to give them a reason not to play me."
Dee played in just seven of BG's first 15 games. But his hard work and improvement have earned him a regular spot since and he's played in 10 straight games and 13 of the last 14.
The 5-foot-11, 179-pounder also has earned ice time on the power-play and penalty-killing units.
Dee was brought in to provide physical play and depth to the team, although he has some skill offensively. He had 15 goals and 53 assists in 58 games last season.
This season, he has two goals and two assists in 21 games, along with a respectable on-ice rating of minus-2.
"His feet are always moving, he's finishing most of his checks and he's getting a lot of shots off," BG coach Scott Paluch said. "He's earned a lot of ice time because of the combination of the work ethic and skill that he has."
