Bowling Green State University Athletics
BGSU Quotes From Friday's Win Over Western Michigan
January 19, 2008 | Ice Hockey
Jan. 19, 2008
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BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Bowling Green State University hockey coach Scott Paluch and players Nick Eno and Derek Whitmore met with the media on Friday following their win over Western Michigan.
BGSU Head Coach Scott Paluch
On the games this year against Western Michigan
"There's been no difference in any of the games [against Western]. They had seven one-goal losses coming into tonight. We've been able to make the plays. We had the two overtime games earlier against them. This was no different than overtime tonight. You've got to earn wins in this league, and I'm proud we were able to do that tonight."
What led to the melee at the end of the game?
"Well everything came together quickly. At first it didn't look like much was happening, but I'm like everyone else right now. I still need to take a look at what happened, before I can really say what I think went on."
On what Derek Whitmore has meant to the team
"He's [Whitmore] a big part of our success. We went through a stretch where Derek wasn't scoring, and we didn't have the same results we had when he was scoring. He tried to do a little too much, and he wasn't as effective when he was out there. But, he's really been an outstanding leader for our team. What he means to our team - he's been extremely valuable."
What's the biggest key to having a better night tomorrow night than the previous two Saturday nights?
"It's another maturation step for our team. Earlier in the year we were able to put some wins together, but the last couple of weekends, we didn't do that. It was a different circumstance over the last two weeks that led to those losses, but if you want to move up in this league, you have to put a streak together. That right now is something as a team we have to learn to do and it's a maturation point for this group of ours."
Senior Forward Derek Whitmore
On finishing the game off
"We stuck with it tonight. We kept grinding it out. Then fortunately we were able to get those empty net goals there at the end to give us a boost going into tomorrow night."
On the play of Nick Eno in net
"He [Eno] was outstanding. The kid brings it every game. It's really nice to know that you have two solid goaltenders that are going to give you a chance to win every night with Nick and Jimmy [Spratt]. He definitely had a great game tonight and kept us in there and we were able to reward for his efforts with some goals down the stretch there."
Evaluating the power play
"It's still a work in progress right now. We had chances tonight, but it's definitely in need of some work right now. The most important thing for the 10 guys who are out there on the power play is we can't get frustrated. Our power play is still pretty good and we just need to get back to doing the basics and the little things that we were doing before. We're in a rut right now that we have to get ourselves out of, but as long as we keep doing what the coaches are telling us to do, we should be fine."
On his third hat trick of the season
"The individual stuff is nice, but I was more excited that we got the win tonight. I was going through a skid there for a while, but you have to concentrate on the little things, control the things you can control. I just wanted to control how hard I worked. I knew sooner or later I was going to get myself out of that rut. This also wouldn't be possible without the help of my linemates Todd McIlrath and Dan Sexton. We've been working really well together as a line. But it's been pretty exciting for me this year. Coming into the year, one of my mini goals for the year was to get a hat trick. Three hat tricks is pretty exciting, but I'm just glad our team is winning games."
On the melee with 12 seconds left
"There's no need for that in college hockey. Obviously, they're a desperate team, but there's no need for that. Our five guys did a good job of sticking together though and it's unfortunate that it happened, but that's hockey."
On Western's claim that a slash instigated the melee
"I didn't really see it, but I did notice there was a guy who was holding his wrist midway thru the third period there. But when we're playing hard and competing hard, there is going to be cheap shots here and there. If that's what they want to get them going, that's their team. The bottom line though is we have another game tomorrow night and we need to go up there and have another complete game to earn two more points on the road and put together a solid weekend."
Freshman Goaltender Nick Eno
How would you compare tonight's game to others you've had this year?
"I thought I played good tonight. I'd say it was just like any other game I've played this season. Individually, it was probably one of the better games I've played."
On his breakaway save in the second period
"I think what happened on that play was [Clackson] picked off one of our guy's pass and came down the ice at me. I came out and challenged him and played it like any other breakaway. He tried to go five-hole on me and made the save and I went to cover up the rebound and he just kept whacking at it. Eventually the ref blew the whistle then."
Were you looking to make him make the first move?
"Definitely. I just wanted to stay patient and wait for him to make the move. I saw him cock his stick back and I just waited until he released the puck. I'm surprised he actually shot it because I was expecting him to try and make a move on me, but I came out and challenged him pretty well. Plus our defenseman was back-checking pretty hard, so I don't think he really had a choice, but to shoot it."
